Norman, Daniel Patrick (Oral history)

British officer served as pilot with 888 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm in Malaya and Dutch East Indies, 1946; served with 827 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Triumph off North and South Korea, 8/1950-9/1950

REEL 1 Background in GB, 1925-1939: family; education. Recollections of period as schoolchild in GB, 1939-1943: hearing church bells during false invasion scare at Twyford, 9/1940; German Air Force low-level attack on Brighton, 1941; collecting war debris including paying for piece of Handley Page Hampden bomber; ambition to become Fleet Air Arm pilot. Aspects of period of flying training with Fleet Air Arm with Towers Scheme in United States of America, 1944-1945: opinion of course; United States Navy approach to discipline; reception from American civilians and service personnel; nature of American training establishments; emphasis on Japanese aircraft and ship recognition; memories of VE Day at United States Navy Naval Air Station Brunswick, Maine, 8/5/1945. Aspects of period as pilot with Fleet Air Arm in Ceylon and Singapore, Malaya, 1945-1946: posting to HMS Ukussa, Royal Naval Air Station Katugarunda, Ceylon, 1945; move to Singapore, 1946; behaviour and treatment of Japanese prisoners of war at HMS Sembawang, Singapore, 1946; reaction to dropping of atomic bombs, 8/1945. REEL 2 Continues: reaction to VJ Day, 15/8/1945; opinion of Grumman Avenger. Recollections of operations as pilot with 888 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm in Malaya and Dutch East Indies, 1946: role trying to spot insurgent camps; weather and flying conditions in Malaya; organisation of photo-reconnaissance work; encounter with Japanese pilot flying from airfield in Java, Dutch East Indies during Indonesian insurrection, 1946. Aspects of period as pilot with School of Naval Air Warfare School, HMS Vulture, Royal Naval Air Station St Merryn, GB, 1948-1950: flying Supermarine Seafire; opinion of Blackburn Firebrand; contrast between flying American and British aircraft; problems of flying Blackburn Firebrand especially during deck landings; appointment to 827 Naval Air Sqdn to fly Fairey Firefly from HMS Triumph off North and South Korea. REEL 3 Continues: Recollections of operations as pilot with 827 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Triumph off North and South Korea, 8/1950-9/1950: flight from GB to Japan; ground attack on Wonsan, North Korea; orders to intercept sampan traffic; disintegration of attack button during attack on sampan; sight of sign 'leper colony' painted on building; deck landing problems on HMS Triumph; use of black and white recognition stripes on aircraft; narrow escape from attack by United States Navy aircraft from USS Lake Champlain; support from aircraft carrier crew; opinion of Fairey Firefly Mk 1; lack of Communist aircraft and anti-aircraft fire; trigger-happiness of ships during landings at Inchon, South Korea, 15/9/1950-19/9/1950.