Time To Remember

British officer served with Royal Naval Air Service aboard HMS Engadine based at Rosyth, GB and operating in North Sea, 1915-1916.; served flying seaplanes with RAF in North Russia Relief Force, 1919; involved in flying boat development in GB, 1920-1923; served flying Fairey Seaplane during photographic survey of air route from Calcutta to Hong Kong, 1923-1925; mission to identify airfields for air route from Calcutta to Hong Kong, 1925-1927; served flying Fairey Flying Boats during first flight to Australia, 1927-1929; served as commander of 203 Sqdn RAF in Singapore, 1929-1930

REEL 1 Pre-war interest in flying. Recruitment into Royal Naval Air Service, 10/1914. Recollections of flying training at Graham White School of Flying at Hendon; 10/1914-12/1914: opinion of Graham White Boxkite; Russian instructor; flying conditions; nature of airfield and presence of several civilian flying schools; question of engineering and theoretical flying knowledge; reactions to flying at altitude. <musical interlude> Period flying seaplanes based aboard HMS Engadine based at Rosyth and operating in North Sea, 1915-1916: difficulty in taking off during attempted raids on German coast; difficulty in countering reconnaissance role of Zeppelins with seaplanes; question of role of seaplanes in Battle of Jutland, 31/5/1916; view of Grand Fleet at sea; story of ditching on take off and rescue by Beatty's launch on Firth of Forth; story of clash with Zeppelins during attempted raid on German coast; Zeppelins and question of British airship programme; visits to London theatres during sick leave; <musical interludes>; rationing; pay. Status of RNAS and formation of RAF, 1/4/1918. Period flying seaplanes with North Russian Relief Force based at Lake Oneka, 1919: background to expedition; climate. REEL 2 Continues: climate; training Russian pilots to fly seaplanes. Role in flying boat development in GB, 1920-1923: attending aerial show in Sweden, 1923; question of co-operation with commercial airlines. Period flying Fairey Seaplanes on photographic survey based aboard HMS Pegasus surveying air routes in Far East, 1923-1925: difficulty in using Hong Kong harbour; question of subsequent development of Hong Kong; story of giving governor flight; reactions to first seaplane flight over Kuching, Borneo; <musical interlude>; surveying coast lines; Christmas celebrations; reactions of local civilians to seaplanes; stories illustrating eccentricity of local European population; story of showing seaplane to Dyak chieftain. Period selecting sites for airfields for new air route between Calcutta, India and Singapore, 1925. Recollections of Fairey Flying Boat journey from GB to Australia, 1927-1929: crews; planning overnight stops and moorings required; story of landing on River Euphrates after flying over desert; problems in refuelling; reliability of flying boats; open cockpits; restriction to daytime flying; difficulties in following isolated coast of Great Australian Bight, Australia. REEL 3 Continues: difficulties in following coast of Great Australian Bight and refuelling at Israelite Bay; amusing story of showing flying boat to Rajah's wife in purdah during stop at his palace in India; spectacular scenery; reception and inadequate moorings on first reaching Australia; flying over desert; reception at various stopping points throughout Australia; sending regular reports of conditions encountered; reaction to seeing Captain Cook's monument at Botany Bay; coral reef named after Livock; return to Singapore. Posting to command newly formed 205 Sqdn, RAF at Seleta, Singapore, 1929. Subsequent postings, 1930-1945. Comparison of flying conditions, 1928-1974. Involvement in air photography and archaeology. Comparison of flying and space flight, 1914-1974. Publication of autobiography. <Musical interlude>