Gick, Philip David (Oral history)

617866009
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Use this audio under Non-Commercial licence

Embed this sound recording for online use under the IWM Non-Commercial Licence
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© IWM

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.

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Use this audio under Non-Commercial licence

Embed this sound recording for online use under the IWM Non-Commercial Licence
By embedding this audio file you agree to the terms and conditions of the IWM Non-Commercial Licence, including your use of the attribution statement specified by IWM. For this item, that is:

© IWM

Accepted Non-commercial Use

Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
Use on websites that are primarily information-led, research-oriented and not behind a paywall.
Use on personal social media accounts, provided the individuals are not promoting themselves commercially.
Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.

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Description

Object description

British officer trained as pilot with Fleet Air Arm in GB, 1939-1941; served with 825 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Victorious in North Atlantic and aboard HMS Ark Royal in Mediterranean, 5/1941-11/1941 including sinking south east of Gibraltar, 14/11/1941; commanded 815 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm in Western Desert, 12/1941-12/1942; served as Commander (Flying) aboard HMS Vindex in North Atlantic and Arctic, 12/1943-10/1944

Content description

REEL 1 Background in GB, 1913-1938: family; education. Recollections of period as officer with Fleet Air Arm in GB, 1938-1941: reasons for enlistment in Fleet Air Arm, 1938; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; attitude of most naval personnel towards Fleet Air Arm's role; torpedo training, 1939-1941; station moves; technique for dropping torpedoes; qualities required of torpedo bomber pilots; opinion of Fairey Swordfish. Recollections of operations with 825 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Victorious and HMS Ark Royal in North Atlantic and Mediterranean, 5/1941-11/1941: working up at HMS Landrail, Royal Naval Air Station Machrihanish; joining HMS Victorious, 5/1941; attack on German battleship Bismarck in North Atlantic, 5/1941; opinion of battleship Bismarck; night-time anti-submarine work in Mediterranean flying from HMS Ark Royal; sinking of HMS Ark Royal, 14/11/1941. REEL 2 Continues: Recollections of operations commanding 815 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm in Western Desert, 12/1941-12/1942: night-time anti-submarine work in Mediterranean; night attack on U-652 in middle of convoy sailing to Tobruk, Libya, 6/1942; problems of operating from desert bases including Sidi Birani; invaliding home; use of Benzedrine by Fleet Air Air pilots. Recollections of operations as Commander (Flying) aboard HMS Vindex in North Atlantic and Arctic, 12/1943-10/1944: prior staff duties working on introduction of Merchant Aircraft Carrier (MAC) at Admiralty; night-time anti-submarine work in North Atlantic. REEL 3 Continues: problems posed by German submarine 'Schnorchel'; degree of success achieved against German submarines; Soviet concert party, Murmansk; Soviet Union; orders to go to Far East, 1944; period at School of Naval Air Warfare, HMS Vulture, Royal Naval Air Station, St Merryn, 1944-1945. Liberation of Hong Kong, 8/1945 including re-establishment of law and order. Duties with Admiralty appointing Fleet Air Arm aircrew for Korea at Admiralty in London, GB, 1950-1952.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1990 to the present day (production), Second World War (content), Second World War (association)
Creator: IWM (Production company)
Wood, Conrad (Recorder)
Gick, Philip David (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 1991-06-20
Dimensions: whole: Duration 85, Number Of Items 3
Catalogue number: 12097

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Gick, Philip David (Oral history)

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