Interview with Charles Hawthorn

British telegraphist/air-gunner served with 764 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm in GB, 10/1941-1/1942; served with 810 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm in GB and aboard HMS Illustrious in Indian Ocean, 1/1942-12/1942; served with 796 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm at Royal Naval Air Station Tanga, East Africa, 12/1942-1/1943; served with 776 Naval Air Sqdn and 728 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm in GB and Mediterranean, 6/1943-5/1945.

REEL 1 Background in Liverpool, GB, 1922-1940: family; education; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; period aboard training ship Bounty for ten day course, 1939; volunteering for Royal Navy, 10/1940. Aspects of training as telegraphist/air gunner with Fleet Air Arm in GB, 1941-1942: telegraphist/air gunner training with HMS St Vincent, Gosport and HMS Kestrel, Royal Naval Air Station Worthy Down; gunnery course with HMS Vulture, Royal Naval Air Station St Merryn, 9/1941; reading of Official Secrets Act due to secrecy surrounding ASV radar; training with 764 Sqdn, Pembroke Dock, 10/1941-1/1942: problems of re-starting Walrus aircraft engines in Tenby Bay. Recollections of operations with 810 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Army in GB and aboard HMS Illustrious in Indian Ocean, 1942: joining squadron to operate in Fairey Swordfish aircraft, HMS Daedalus, Royal Naval Air Station Lee-on-Solent, 5/1/1942; fire aboard HMS Illustrious which destroyed aircraft off Freetown, Sierra Leone, 3/1942; nature of operations using Fairey Swordfish during invasion of French Madagascar, 5/1942. REEL 2 Continues: living conditions for telegraphist/air gunners aboard HMS Illustrious; role of HMS Illustrious after loss of HMS Hermes in Indian Ocean, 9/4/1942; narrow escape from ditched aircraft in Indian Ocean, 4/7/1942; drafting to 796 Naval Air Sqdn at Royal Naval Air Station Tanga, Tanganyika, 12/1942-1/1943; voyage aboard HMT Ranchi from East Africa to GB, 2/1943. Recollections of period as telegraphist/air gunner with 776 Naval Air Sqdn and 728 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm in GB and Mediterranean, 1943-1945: joining 776 Naval Air Sqdn at HMS Ringtail II, Royal Naval Air Station Woodvale, 6/1943; role of squadron; memories of Admiral Max Horton; target towing work, RAF Speke 1944; service with 728 Naval Air Sqdn in Mediterranean, 1944-1945. Aspects of post-war service with Fleet Air Arm in GB, 1945-1947: nature of anti-submarine training; comradeship amongst ex-telegraphist/air gunners; question of telegraphist/air gunners not attending crew briefings in early stages Second World War.