Parker, Douglas Granger (Oral history)

British officer served as pilot with 884 Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm in GB and aboard HMS Victorious in Mediterranean, 1942; served with 833 Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Stalker in Mediterranean, 1943; served with 1845 Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm in US, 1944; commanded 1842 Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Formidable in the Far East, 1944-1945

REEL 1 Background in GB, 1919-1939: family; education; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939. Enlistment and training with Fleet Air Arm in GB, 1940-1941: call-up to Royal Navy, 6/1940; flying training at Elementary Flying School, Elmdon; first solo flight, 3/1941; state of morale amongst trainees; operational training with Fairey Battles at 1 Service Flying Training Sqdn at Netheravon; conversion to Hawker Hurricanes with 760 Sqdn at RNAS Yeovilton; move to 772 Sqdn at RNAS Macrahanish. Period as officer with 884 Sqdn in GB, 1942: basing of unit at RAF Turnhouse; regular appearance of German reconnaissance aircraft 'Weather Willie'; embarking aboard HMS Victorious, 23/7/1941; contrast between landing on board HMS Argus and HMS Victorious; work of batsmen on aircraft carriers. Recollections of operations as officer with 884 Sqdn aboard HMS Victorious in Mediterranean, 1942: character of Operation Pedestal; his shooting down of two Italian torpedo- bombers, 12/8/1942. REEL 2 Continues: U-boat attack on HMS Eagle, 8/1942; opinion of Fairey Fulmar; how HMS Victorious left the convoy in Sicilian Narrows; Italian aircraft losses, 12/8/1942; flying Supermarine Seafire Mark Two C during Operation Torch; intercepting Junkers JU 88 shadower aircraft; narrow escape from torpedoing by Vichy French submarine; treatment of British POWs by Vichy French; abortive plan to use squadron against U-boats in Atlantic. Aspects of operations as officer with 833 Sqdn during Salerno landings in Italy, 9/1943: attachment to squadron aboard HMS Stalker; problems of landing on carriers flight decks; use of Benzedrine. REEL 3 Continues: story of accidental shooting down of US aircraft at Castel Benito. Period with 1845 Sqdn in US, 6/1944-8/1944: formation of squadron in Maine; working up with Vought Corsairs; opinion of Vought Corsair; voyage aboard HMS Slinger to Far East, autumn 1944. Recollections of operations as commanding officer with 1842 Sqdn aboard HMS Formidable in Far East 1945: character of Operation Iceberg with British Pacific Fleet; Japanese method of repairing runways; kamikaze attacks on HMS Formidable off Okinawa; endurance of US aircraft used in Pacific; reason for absence of Japanese fighter opposition; targets in Japan; system of picking up ditched aircrew; anticipation of character of invasion of Japan. REEL 4 Continues: fear of falling into Japanese captivity; lack of air defence over Japan, summer 1945; thousand bomber raids on Japan; relations between British and US navies; attitude towards Japanese; reaction to dropping of atomic bombs on Japan; lack of impact on VE Day, 5/1945; attitude to 1945 Election.