Description
Object description
British officer served as pilot with Fighter Command in GB, 1953-1961, served as Director of Forward Planning, RAF in GB, 1975; Air Officer Commanding 38 Group RAF in GB, 1977-1980; Assistant Chief of Defence Staff, Policy in GB, 1982; served as Assistant Chief of Staff (Policy) at Supreme Headquarters, Allied Powers, Europe in Belguim, 1983-1984; served as Deputy Chief in Command, RAF Strike Command in GB, 1984-1986.
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Peru and GB, 1931-1952: family; education. Aspects of period as pilot with Fighter Command, RAF in GB, 1952-1961: role as fighter pilot; aircraft types flown; problems with Gloster Javelin and English Electric Lightning; prime role of fighter aircraft; Soviet Air Force probing of GB defensive air space; reality of Soviet threat in the post-war period; later occasion when he intercepted a Soviet Air Force Tupolev Tu-16 'Badger' aircraft whilst serving as commanding officer of 92 Sqdn, RAF at RAF Geilenkirchen, West Germany, 1966; question of sparking off Third World War. Aspects of period as staff officer with Air Secretary's Department, RAF in GB, 1961-1963: question of Soviets being able to deliver knock out blow; fear of Soviet attack during Cuban Missile Crisis, 16/10/1962-29/10/1962; approved methods of attacking Soviet Air Force bombers; possible role of Warsaw Pact countries in Soviet attack; question of contacts with Soviet Air Force personnel.
REEL 2 Continues: dangers of visiting Soviet Union during Cold War. Aspects of period with Defence Policy Staff in GB, 1968-1971: possible routes of Soviet attack on GB; degree in confidence in strength of British air defences; participation in air defence exercises; lack of effect of political demonstrations on armed forces; question of nuclear policy; work lecturing university audiences on nuclear issues. Aspects of period commanding No 38 Group, RAF in GB, 1977-1980: posting to group; role of group. Aspects of period as Director of Forward Policy in GB, 1/1975-11/1975: role and duties. Aspects of period as staff officer with Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Mons, Belgium, 1983-1984: role and workings of organisation.
REEL 3 Continues: importance of trans-national contacts within North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO); question of absence of military caste in GB; opinion of the role of military colleges. Recollections of period as Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Policy) during Falklands War in GB, 4/1982-6/1982: his role during war; lecturing on war; impact of first Avro Vulcan attack on Stanley Airfield; role of British Aerospace Harrier GR.3 of No 1 Sqdn, RAF in supplementing Fleet Air Arm British Aerospace Sea Harriers; question of possibility of diplomatic solution over conflict; main lesson learnt from the conflict.
REEL 4 Continues: performance of AIM-9 Sidewinder Missile during Falklands War. Aspects of period as Deputy Commander in Chief of Strike Command, RAF in GB, 1984-1986: co-ordinating role of Strike Command.