Description
Object description
American civilian officer served as instructor and pilot with Air Transport Auxiliary in GB, 1941-1945
Content description
REEL 1 Background to construction and dedication of Air Transport Auxiliary memorial in Millville, United States of America, 1978-1980. Background in United States of America, 1909-1939: family origins; childhood illnesses; family circumstances; education; career ambition to fly; application to join Air Transport Auxiliary through Clayton Night Committee; background to learning to fly.
REEL 2 Continues: Aspects of enlistment and training with Air Transport Auxiliary in United States of America, Canada and GB, 1940-1941: departure from Grand Central Station in New York, United States of America; reasons for joining Air Transport Auxiliary, 12/1940; anti-British sentiment in United States of America, 1940; question of possibilty of transferring to United States Army Air Force later in war; attitude to serving as instructor with Air Transport Auxiliary; German bombing; clash with instructor during flight test in Canada; reporting to Montreal, Canada; flight test on arrival at ATA White Waltham; instructional work; organisation at ATA White Waltham; training process; issue of uniform; incident of becoming lost flying Supermarine Spitfire.
REEL 3 Continues: Recollections of period as instructor and pilot with Air Transport Auxiliary in GB, 1941-1945: number of hours flown as Class 5 pilot; instructional duties; his flying technique and attitude to flying; use of handling notes; flying last flight aircraft; documentation carried; story of female pilot delivering Short Stirling to Royal Air Force airfield; question of prejudice shown towards female pilots; reasons for accidents; status as civilian pilots; crash landing in Lockheed Hudson; wheels up landing in North American Harvard; recreational activities; pay; attitude of American civilians to war effort witnessed during leave; request to be taken off instructional duties; posting to No 16 Ferry Pool ATA Kirkbride; reasons for resigning over promotion.
REEL 4 Continues: attitude towards Jackie Cotton's promotion; personal effects on war; flights to south coast during run up to D-Day; ferry flights to North West Europe; leaving Air Transport Auxiliary, 8/1945; obtaining employment on return to United States of America; flying his aircraft; treatment by civilians in GB during service with Air Transport Auxiliary; reads dedication from his book; explains interest in poetry; reads poem 'On Convoy' which was read out on British Broadcasting Corporation during Second World War; reads other poems written whilst in service with Air Transport Auxiliary.
REEL 5 Continues: reads extracts from his unprinted book.