Description
Object description
British officer served as pilot with 603 Sqdn, Fighter Command, RAF in GB, 1941-1942; served and 69 Sqdn, Air Headquarters Malta, RAF on Malta, 1942-1943; served as pilot with 682 Sqdn, RAF in Italy, 1943-1945; civilian test pilot with Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd in GB, 1945-1966
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Hanwell, GB, 1921-1939: family; early interest in aircraft; employment at W.H Cullen grocers; decision to join Royal Air Force. Aspects of enlistment and training with Royal Air Force in GB, 1940-1941: joining Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 7/1940; contrasts between civilian life and service life; training; learning to fly at Fairoaks near Woking; training at RAF Hullavington. Aspects of operations as pilot with Sqdn 603, Fighter Command in GB, 1941-1942: posting to squadron, 10/1941; flying Supermarine Spitfire; description of fighter operations. Recollections of operations as pilot with 69 Sqdn, Air Headquarters Malta, RAF on Malta, 1942-1943: journey to Malta via Gibraltar, 4/1942; arrival on Malta, 4/1942; joining squadron.
REEL 2 Continues: training in photographic reconnaissance; locating German gliders in Sicily, Italy; attempts to protect Malta from German invasion; reconnaissance of airfields and German shipping; impact of destruction of Axis convoys; attitude towards photo-reconnaissance role; rationing of food supplies; opinion of Wing Commander Adrian Warburton; account of narrowly escaping being shot down on mission over Italy; description of typical photographic operation.
REEL 3 Continues: description of preserving engine for maximum efficiency; question going to lavatory during flight; photo-reconnaissance work up to invasion of Sicily, 7/1943; attitude towards period in Malta; fate of commanding officer Wing Commander Adrian Warburton. Aspects of operations as pilot with 682 Sqdn in Italy, 1943-1944: description of reconnaissance over Corsica, France and Yugoslavia; difficulty of locating targets in Yugoslavia. Recollections of period as test pilot with Vickers-Armstrongs (Aircraft) Ltd in GB, 1945-1966: opinion of Jeffrey Quill; characteristics Supermarine Attacker; testing the Supermarine Spiteful and the Supermarine Seafang.
REEL 4 Continues: various aircraft that never went into service; attitude towards Supermarine Spitfire trainer; flying with former Battle of Britain pilots; attitude towards flying career; retirement of Jeffery Quill and his replacement Mike Lithgow; development of the Supermarine Attacker; mysterious accidents with Supermarine Attacker; contrast between propeller and jet engined aircraft; incident of successful emergency landing in an Supermarine Attacker with a damaged wing and receiving the George Medal for his bravery.
REEL 5 Continues: delivering Supermarine Attacker to Pakistan; rejection of production aircraft delivered to Air-Vice Marshal Richard Atcherley; development of the swept wing Supermarine Attacker; problems during development of Supermarine Swift; development of the Supermarine Scimitar.
REEL 6 Continues: memories of Chief Designer, Joe Smith; contrast between Joe Smith and R J Mitchell; atmosphere within company; opinion of Jeffery Quill; memories of test pilot, Gordon Horne; friendship with John Derry; memories of test pilot, John Judge; aircraft industry and technology then and now; development of Hovercraft, 1961.