Chadwick, Albert (Oral history)

Australian fitter served with 1 Sqdn, Australian Flying Corps in Palestine, 1916-1919

REEL 1 Background to recruitment underage as rigger with 1st Sqdn, Australian Flying Corps whilst serving at Broad Meadows Recruit Camp, Australia, c1916: passing trade tests as fitter, motorcyclist and rigger; selection criteria and role as rigger; lack of training. Period at Point Cook, 1916: origin of cadets for flying training; basic training; training aircraft; opinion of Sergeant Murphy. Journey to Egypt, 3/1916: system of temporary attachment of flights to Royal Flying Corps units; detachment of observers from Australian Light Horse; question of presence of British pilots. Detachment with Captain Richard Williams to Royal Flying Corps unit at Maham Dia during Battle of Ramani, 1916: role salvaging and repairing BE2 Cs; use of pack camels to carry equipment and spare parts to repair Martinsyde Scout forced down in Ramani sector; comparison of Australian and British ground staff. Recollections of period with 1st Australian Sqdn in Palestine, 1916-1918: role at advanced landing grounds; detachment as corporal to 7th Australian Light Horse to salvage crashed aircraft in Gaza area; detachment to 11th Australian Light Horse to provide advanced landing ground for aircraft supporting attack on Mecca including role flying as observer with Williams; status as ground staff. REEL 2 Continues: reconnaissance role of Australian Flying Corps; regular transfer of personnel to Western Front; question of recruitment of observers and pilots from Australian Light Horse; effect of re-equipment with Bristol Fighter on unit efficiency, 1918; comparison of aircraft with German aircraft; destruction of aircraft in storm and consequent re-equipment with Bristol Fighters; opinion of RE8; story of flying out with replacement tail skid to Bristol Fighter stranded in Jordan Valley and subsequent crash landing; detachment to support bombing operations against Senussi threatening blockhouse in Western Desert including journey out in armoured cars, refuelling aircraft and effect of desert conditions on driving armoured cars; question of use of Handley Page Bomber and its flight to India; opinion of Ross Smith; navigational skills of Australian Light Horse officers; relationship with pilots; opinion of various officers including Murray Jones and Waggart; Lewis gun mountings on BE2 C and Waggart's development of unsuccessful special mountings; use of aircraft engine to propel gun platform on rail tracks.