Lewis, Gwilym Hugh (Oral history)

British officer served as pilot with 32 Sqdn, Royal Flying Corps in GB and on Western Front, 5/1916-11/1916; served as instructor with Aerial Gunnery School, Royal Flying Corps at Loch Doon and with Central Flying School, Royal Flying Corps at RFC Upavon, 2/1917-served with 40 Sqdn, Royal Flying Corps/Royal Air Force on Western Front, 1917-1918

REEL 1 Aspects of period as schoolchild at Marlborough College, Marlborough, GB, 1914-1915: question of correct pronunciation of name Gwilym; question of enlistment; Officer Training Corps activities. Recollections of recruitment and training with Royal Flying Corps, 1915-1916: prior commission and training with Northamptonshire Regiment, 9/1915; commanding officer's reaction to application to transfer to Royal Flying Corps; necessity of learning to fly at personal expense at Hendon Aerodrome, 10/1915; flying training at RFC Farnborough, 1/1916-2/1916; nature of flying training at Hendon Aerodrome; flying training at Central Flying School, Royal Flying Corps at RFC Upavon, 2/1916-5/1916; flying characteristics of Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2a; looping Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2c; flying Vickers F.B.5. Recollections of operations as pilot with 32 Sqdn, Royal Flying Corps in GB and Western Front, 5/1916-11/1916: posting to newly formed 32 Sqdn, Royal Flying Corps at RFC Netheravon, 5/1916: keenness to fly Airco DH.2; opinion of Major Lionel Rees; preference for Airco DH.2 to Bristol Type 32 Bullet; flight across English Channel; obtaining nickname 'Cherub'; line patrols; nature of first air combat with German LFG Roland C.II; prior recollection of spin during training at Central Flying School at RFC Upavon; success of Airco DH.2 in countering threat of Fokker Dr.I; successful liaison with bombing and army co-operation squadrons. REEL 2 Continues: contact with Lieutenant-Colonel Hugh Trenchard; situation at Vert Galand Airfield; reasons for squadron replacing 60 Sqdn, Royal Flying Corps on Somme, France; sight of infantry; supporting tank attack at Flers, France, 15/9/1916; ground crew; arrival of brother Lieutenant Edmund Lewis; arrival of new German fighters; German fighter aces; air situation, late 1916; acting as patrol leader; state of morale; visits to Amiens, France; drinking habits; effects of strain of air combat; daily patrols; formation flying; size of Vert Galand Airfield; air situation, 10/1916-11/1916; opinion of Manfred von Richthofen; question of lack of publicity given to British fighter aces; opinion of German aces; medical evacuation with appendicitis to GB, 11/1916. REEL 3 Continues: interviewer reads letter from ground crew; relations with ground crew; hospitalisation with appendicitis in GB. Aspects of period as instructor with Aerial Gunnery School, Royal Flying Corps, Loch Doon and Central Flying School, Royal Flying Corps, RFC Upavon, GB, 2/1917-12/1917: construction of Aerial Gunnery School at Loch Doon; disciplinary offence; pressure as commander of training flight to turn out more pilots; corrective course in advanced flying at No 1 School of Special Flying at Gosport. Recollections of operations as flight commander with B Flight, 40 Sqdn, Royal Flying Corps/Royal Air Force in France, 12/1917-7/1918: military and air situation, 12/1917; reception at squadron; opinion of Major Edward Mannock; relations with flight NCOs and ground crew; question of personal mechanical knowledge; opinion of Major Edward Mannock. REEL 4 Continues: tactical importance of Major James McCudden, Captain Albert Ball and Major Edward Mannock; shooting down German aircraft during patrol with Captain John Tudhope; unit morale; difficulty in shooting down German aircraft; situation on Western Front, 3/1918; success of ground strafing missions to stop German offensive, 3/1918; joint patrols with C Flight; success in protecting new pilots; taking over as temporary squadron commander following death of Major Leonard Tilney during dogfight, 9/3/1918; opinion of Major Roderic Dallas, question of his solo patrols and story of his dropping boots as joke during attack on German airfield; opinion of Captain George McElroy; story of Major Edward Mannock warning Captain George McElroy of dangers of ground fire, 7/1918