Quill, Jeffrey Kindersley (Oral history)

British officer served as pilot with 17 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 9/1932-12/1933; served with Meteorological Flight at RAF Duxford, GB, 12/1933-12/1935; civilian test pilot with Vickers-Armstrong Ltd in GB, 1/1936-8/1940; officer served as pilot with 65 Sqdn, No 13 Group, Fighter Command, RAF in GB during Battle of Britain, 8/1940; served as test pilot with Vickers-Armstrong in GB, 8/1940-10/1943; officer served as test pilot with Fleet Air Arm in GB, 11/1943-4/1944

REEL 1 Background in Littlehampton, GB, 1913-1931: family; education; early interest in aviation; taking short service commission in RAF, 1931. Aspects of period as pilot with 17 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 9/1932-12/1933: posting to squadron, 9/1932; character of squadron; question of inadequacy of RAF equipment and use of Bristol Bulldog; redeployment of RAF fighter squadrons after 1933; Air Defence of Great Britain exercises, 1932-1933; sound detection system. Aspects of period as pilot with Meteorological Flight, RAF at RAF Duxford, GB, 12/1933-12/1935: posting to flight, 12/1933; work of Meteorological Flight. Recollections of period as test pilot with Vickers-Armstrong Ltd in GB, 1/1936-8/1940: background to leaving RAF, 12/1935. REEL 2 Continues: question of obtaining permanent commission in RAF; memories of Phillip Sassoon; role as assistant to Joseph 'Mutt' Summers at Brooklands, Weybridge; aircraft types handled; characteristics of experimental fighter Vickers Venom; impressions of Joseph 'Mutt' Summers; work as test pilot measuring performance and handling characteristics; first news of Supermarine Spifire prototype, 1935; first flight of Supermarine Spitfire at Eastleigh, 5/3/1936; initial disappointment at Supermarine Spitfire's maximum speed; modifications and role of flush riveting. REEL 3 Continues: memories of R J Mitchell and question of accuracy of his portrayal in film 'First of the Few'; R J Mitchell's interest in test flights; problems with Supermarine Spitfire's narrow stability margins; opinion of Rolls Royce Merlin Engine; placing of first RAF order for Supermarine Spitfire; doubts about cost of production and maintenance of Supermarine Spitfire; flying the Supermarine Spitfire; visibility problems on taxiing Supermarine Spitfire. REEL 4 Continues: reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939. Recollections of operations as pilot with 65 Sqdn, No 13 Group, Fighter Command, RAF in GB during Battle of Britain, 8/1940: volunteering for fighter squadron; joining squadron at RAF Hornchurch, 5/8/1940; problem of gaining sufficient height from RAF Manston; memories of Adolph 'Sailor' Malan; opinion of German Air Force; first encounter with German Air Force Messerschmitt Me 109 fighters; comparison between Supermarine Spitfire and Messerschmitt Me 109; combat advice given by squadron pilots; problems of being attacked from behind; questions of operating as wings; comparison of role of Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire during battle. REEL 5 Continues: presence of inexperienced pilots in squadron and squadron losses; impressions of Air Vice Marshal Keith Park; reasons for problems of aileron control on Supermarine Spitfire; opinion of calibre of German pilots; attitude towards Germans; lack of sense of importance of Battle of Britain; opinion of Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Recollections of period as test pilot with Vickers-Armstong Ltd in GB, 8/1940-10/1943: return to Vickers-Armstrong, 24/8/1940; reclarification of operational problems of Supermarine Spitfire including windscreen visibility and ammunition counters; degree of success he had during Battle of Britain; meeting with Lord Beaverbrook. REEL 6 Continues: development of canon armament for Supermarine Spitfire; vulnerability of Supermarine factory at Wooston and it's dispersal, autumn 1940; development of Supermarine Spitfire Mks V and IX; introduction of Rolls Royce Griffin Engine into the Supermarine Spitfire; story of how Group Captain Harry Broadhurst took prototype Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX on an operation; test demonstration between prototype Supermarine Spitfire Mk XII, Hawker Typhoon and Focke Wulf 190 at Farnborough, 7/1942. Aspects of period as test pilot with Fleet Air Arm in GB, 11/1943-4/1944: Royal Navy's fighter policy; invitation to join Fleet Air Arm to help develop carrier-borne fighter aircraft; development of Supermarine Spiteful. REEL 7 Continues: post-war development of Supermarine E10/44 into Supermarine Attacker using wing from Supermarine Spiteful. Reflections on period as test pilot with Vickers-Armstrong Ltd: visit to Nazi Germany, 1935; memories of Charles Lindbergh's visit to Supermarine factory at Eastleigh, 1939; question of pre-war security at Supermarine factory at Eastleigh.