Description
Object description
American commander of USAF Greenham Common air base, Berkshire, 1983-1986
Content description
REEL 1 Aspects of career in USAF, 1964-1993: engineering work; knowledge of Cold War. Recollections of posting to Greenham Common air base, 1983-1986: research for post of Commander of Greenham air base; Cold War situation, summer 1983; question of US intentions re Cruise missiles; question of impact of Cruise on Soviet Union; condition of air base on arrival; relations with local people; reasons for having American shops within base; attitude towards living conditions of women at Peace Camp; first impressions of the Peace Camp.
REEL 2 Continues: attitude of American personnel towards Peace Camp; research into British common law and rights of Greenham women; assignment of responsibility for areas out side Control Command Centre and Gamma to British Authorities; details of security systems at base; attempt to break into Gamma area of base by Greenham women; integration of American and British forces at Greenham.
REEL 3 Continues: integration of American and British forces; overcoming cultural differences; problems of integration at NCO level; presence of families of US personnel at base; educational and other facilities; nature of American military culture; opinion of Thames Valley Police and MOD Police.
REEL 4 Continues: opinion of MOD police; 2 Para's method of dealing with Greenham women; arrival of missiles and story of Greenham vehicle that broke through fence; visits to base by government minister Michael Hesletine; security and question of occasions when using force of arms would be justified; problem of handling Greenham women; attitude of Greenham towards women in base; impressions of types of women at Peace Camp.
REEL 5 Continues: large weekend actions at Peace Camp and blockades of base; talking to new base personnel about Greenham women and their rights; regular penetration of perimeter fence by Greenham women; security risk posed by large demonstrations; description of one woman dubbed 'Iron Jaw'; birth of baby in Peace Camp; relationship between military and local population; attitude of local population towards nuclear weapons and Greenham base; cruise convoy exercises.
REEL 6 Continues: opinion of Greenham women's attempts to disrupt cruise convoys; convoy exercises on Salisbury Plain; attacks on convoys by Greenham women on return journey to base; concerns about safety of women during actions; publicity surrounding Peace Camp; communication within Peace Camp; intelligence networks organisation by US military; impact of Greenham women on life at Greenham air base; memories of talking to and respect for one particular Greenham woman; recognition of women's right to protest.
REEL 7 Continues: attempts of himself and Michael Marsh (RAF Commander) to protect Greenham women's rights; relationship with Michael Marsh; atmosphere at Greenham during US bombing of Libya; opinion of Greenham women's arguments against Cruise missiles; attitude towards Western tactics against Soviet Union during Cold War; opinion of Greenham women's attitudes towards nuclear weapons; knowledge of demonstrations at other military bases; question of Greenham women's position in nuclear crisis; unpredictable nature of Greenham women's actions; attitude towards verbal abuse by Greenham women; attitude towards living conditions at and appearance of Peace camp.
REEL 8 Continues: attitude towards and impact of open lesbian acts towards base personnel; divisions among Greenham women; lack of American involvement in court cases against Greenham women; attitude of son and daughter towards time at Greenham base; attitude towards period at Greenham; question of whether time has changed his attitudes; attitude of military towards nuclear weapons; attitude towards claims that electromagnetic rays used against Greenham women; question of use of dogs by military; attitude towards media coverage of situation at Greenham.
REEL 9 Continues: media coverage of Greenham; visit to Greenham by American treaty negotiating team; attitude of British Defence Secretary, Michael Hesletine, towards Peace Camp; opinion of Michael Hesletine; division of responsibility for costs between US and GB; question of impact of Peace Camp on successful operation of base and end of Cold War; impact of Greenham women on him personally; question of organisation of Greenham women; attitude towards possible deployment in Britain.
REEL 10 Continues: attitude towards period at Greenham; role of wife, Judy, at Greenham; attitude towards leaving Britain. Aspects of his involvement in Vietnam war: attitude towards American involvement in Vietnam; lack of clear objective; opinion of American tactics; development of more mature approach to war; attitude towards US anti-Vietnam war protesters at the timeand in the 1990s.