Walpole, Raymond Nigel (Oral history)

British officer served as pilot with 26 and 79 Sqdns, 2nd Tactical Air Force, RAF in West Germany, 1954-1959; served on exchange programme with at Shaw Air Force Base, United States Air Force in United States of America, 1959-1961; served as Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to commandant at Central Fighter Establishment in GB, 1961-1963; served as staff officer with Royal Air Force in Aden, Federation of South Arabia, 1963-1964; commanded 234 Sqdn, RAF at RAF Chivenor in GB, 1964; commanded 2 Sqdn, Royal Air Force Germany, RAF in West Germany, 1964-1967; served as staff officer with Fighter and Strike Commands, RAF in GB, 1967-1969; served as brigade support officer with 16th Parachute Bde in GB, 1969-1971; commanded 12 Sqdn, Strike Command, RAF in GB, 1972; served as staff officer with Ministry of Defence in London and National Defence College, Shrivenham, GB, 1972-1976; commanded Jaguar Wing at RAF Brüggen in West Germany, 1977-1979; served as staff officer with Ministry of Defence in London, GB, 1979-1982; served as staff officer with Royal Air Force Germany, RAF in West Germany, 1982-1984

REEL 1 Background in Sawbridgeworth and Cheshunt, GB, 1934-1951: family; early interest in aviation. Aspects of training with Royal Air Force in GB, 1951-1953: initial enlistment as navigator; pattern of flying training. Recollections of period as pilot with 26 and 79 Sqdns, 2nd Tactical Air Force, RAF in West Germany, 1954-1959: posting to 26 Sqdn; flying Hawker Hunter; interception duties; posting to 79 Sqdn, character of Supermarine Swift FR Mk.5; high speed photographic reconnaissance work; importance of in-flight reports; need to make single pass over target; turn round of photographic reconnaissance missions; photographic reconnaissance exercises; pre-planning for attack by Warsaw Pact; levels at which photographic reconnaissance flights were flown; knowledge of terrain; question of dangers of night photographic reconnaissance. Aspects of period on exchange programme with United States Air Force at Shaw Air Force Base in United States of America, 1959-1961: posting to Shaw Air Force Base; contrast between McDonnell RF-101 Voodoo and Supermarine Swift FR Mk.5; on standby to deploy to Laos, 31/12/1960; character of United States Air Force. REEL 2 Continues: United States Air Force adhering to flying rules and regulations; optical scope used on McDonnell RF-101 Voodoo; in-flight refuelling; building up flying hours. Aspects of period as Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to commandant at Central Fighter Establishment, RAF at RAF West Raynham and RAF Binbrook, GB, 1961-1963: initial reaction to posting; aircraft types flown; Aide-de-Camp (ADC) duties; promotion to squadron leader. Aspects of period as staff officer with Royal Air Force in Aden, Federation of South Arabia, 1963-1964: planning duties; situation in Aden; security precautions taken. Aspects of period commanding 234 Sqdn, Fighter Command, RAF at RAF Chivenor in GB, 1964: increase levels in flying standards of pilots; ground attack role of Hawker Hunter; suitability of airfield at RAF Chivenor. Aspects of period commanding 2 Sqdn, RAF, Royal Air Force Germany in West Germany, 1964-1967: posting to command squadron; counter-productive nature of flying hours; attitude towards centralised servicing; achieving flying hours; nature of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) photographic reconnaissance exercise. REEL 3 Continues: problems caused by the annual Royal Flush Exercise; squadron aerial combat and ground attack roles; instances of cheating that occurred during Royal Flush Exercise; nature of tactical observations; attitude towards academic competitions; leading formation of all serviceable aircraft in Royal Air Force Germany in flypast for Queen Elizabeth II; prior recollection of crash in McDonnell RF-101 Voodoo in United States of America; number of hours flown; posting of American pilots to Royal Air Force squadrons. Aspects of period as staff officer with Fighter Command and Strike Command, RAF in GB, 1967-1969: role evaluating operational readiness; shortcomings of aerial warning systems; start of airborne early warning system covering North Sea. Aspects of period as brigade support officer with 16th Parachute Bde in GB, 1969-1971: duties; parachute course; number of parachute drops made; explanation of misunderstandings between British Army and Royal Air Force over ground support; problems of obtaining photographs in the field. REEL 4 Continues: leaving 16th Parachute Bde, 11/1971. Aspects of period commanding 12 Sqdn, Strike Command, RAF in GB, 1972: posting to squadron after conversion course to Hawker Siddeley Buccaneer, 4/1972; maritime role of Hawker Siddeley Buccaneer; 'buddy-buddy' refuelling method; lack of armament and anti-aircraft fire protection; lack of experience in squadron; attending first exercise in Mediterranean; loss of his wingman and removal from squadron. Aspects of period as staff officer with Ministry of Defence in London, GB, 1972-1974: duties in operational training; posting to National Defence College, Shrivenham, GB, 1974-1976. Aspects of period commanding Jaguar Wing, RAF Brüggen in West Germany, 1977-1979: posting to command station; threat of Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) attacks; evaluation of Sepecat Jaguar crews in nuclear role; question of safeguards in operating as nuclear armed force; characteristics of Sepecat Jaguar; weapons delivery systems; background to designing 'chaff' system; question of lack self-protection measures on Sepecat Jaguar; flying characteristics of Sepecat Jaguar; question of squadron operational attitudes. REEL 5 Continues: effects of competitions on squadrons; advantages of head up displays; opinion of reconnaissance version of Sepecat Jaguar. Aspects of period as staff officer with Royal Air Force Germany, RAF in West Germany, 1982-1984: posting to West Germany after period in Ministry of Defence in London, GB, 1979-1982; duties planning exercises; question of lack of interest by North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) air forces in battle management; scenario of Warsaw Pact penetration; examples of managing exercises where units were allocated to unusual tasks; question of value of reconnaissance of targets by aircraft.