Description
Object description
British officer served as pilot with 65 Sqdn, No 11 Group, Fighter Command, RAF in GB, 7/1938-5/1940; served as pilot with and commanded 92 Sqdn, No 11 Group, Fighter Command, RAF in GB, 5/1940-10/1940 including Battle of Britain; commanded 72 Sqdn, No 11 Group, Fighter Command, RAF in GB, 2/1942-12/1942
Content description
REEL 1 Aspects of period as pilot with 65 Sqdn, No 11 Group, Fighter Command, RAF at RAF Hornchurch, GB, 7/1938-5/1940: flying the Supermarine Spitfire Mks I and II; pleasures of service life prior to Second World War; anticipations of German Air Force attack on Fighter Command. Aspects of operations as pilot with 92 Sqdn, No 11 Group, Fighter Command, RAF in GB, 5/1940-8/1940: duties with squadron prior to 8/1940; dangers of night flying. Aspects of operations as pilot with 65 Sqdn, No 11 Group, Fighter Command, RAF over Dunkirk, France, 5/1940: role of RAF at Dunkirk; success of Boulton Paul Defiants; sight of beaches; nature of aerial combat over Dunkirk including vulnerability of Dornier Do 17; wish to attack Junkers Ju 87 Stuka. Recollections of operations commanding 92 Sqdn, No 11 Group, Fighter Command, RAF during Battle of Britain, 9/1940-10/1940: background to becoming acting squadron leader after Squadron Leader Phillip 'Sandy' Sanders accident, 20/9/1940; excitement of battle; Royal Air Force advantages during battle; role of fighter controllers; tactics employed during battle including head on attacks; sight of German Air Force formations.
REEL 2 Continues: location of aerial engagements; question of pilot experience; lack of sense of occasion during battle; confidence in Royal Air Force's ability to prevent German invasion; numbers of German Air Force and Royal Air Force aircraft involved in engagements; character of German Air Force formations; comparison between handling characteristics of Messerschmitt Bf 109 and Supermarine Spitfire; attitude towards Germans; question of shooting at parachuting pilots; circumstances of being shot down, 15/10/1940; medical treatment at Royal Naval Hospital, Chatham; civilian attitude towards battle and fighter pilots; attitude towards film presentations of Battle of Britain; story of the Battle of Barking Creek, 6/9/1939.
REEL 3 Continues: question of age of pilots and opinion of Squadron Leader Adolph 'Sailor' Malan. Recollections of operations commanding 72 Sqdn, No 11 Group, Fighter Command, RAF in GB, 2/1942-12/1942: attempt to escort Fairey Swordfishes during attacks on Prinz Eugen and Gneisanau during Channel Dash, 2/1942; sight of Fairey Swordfishes of 825 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm attacking Prinz Eugen; performance of Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX; story of loss of squadrons during poor visibility; formation of Royal Air Force Eagle squadrons.