Interview with Maurice William Henley

British civilian in Lewisham, London, GB, 1939-1941; naval airman trained as pilot with Fleet Air Arm in GB and Canada, 1942-1943; officer served as pilot with 813 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Campania in Arctic, 1944-1945; commanded 893 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Eagle during Operation Musketeer in Mediterranean, 10/1956-11/1956

REEL 1 Background in Lewisham, London, GB, 1923-1941: family; education. Aspects of period as civilian in London, GB, 1939-1941: brief evacuation to Ticehurst, 1939; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; memories of school visit to Germany, 1936; role as air raid warden with Air Raid Precautions; effect of stick of German Air Force bombs which landed in Lee; incendiary bomb which fell in garden of family home; bombing of Waterloo Railway Station, London; effects of German Air Force attacks on employment with National Provincial Bank and rail commuting between Lee and Waterloo Railway Station, London. Recollections of enlistment and training with Fleet Air Arm in GB and Canada, 1941-1943: background to enlistment and call-up, 1941; training on Isle of Wight, GB, 1942; flying training at No 31 Service Flying Training School, RCAF at RCAF Kingston, Canada; nature of voyage from Canada to GB; training in GB, 1942-1943; flying Fairey Swordfish including clothing worn, technique for dropping torpedoes and landing on aircraft carriers. REEL 2 Continues: involvement in training of telegraphist air gunners at HMS Kestrel, Royal Naval Air Station Worthy Down, summer 1943; practising torpedo attacks at night at HMS Nightjar, Royal Naval Air Station Inskip, summer 1943. Recollections of operations with 813 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm in GB and Arctic, 1943-1945: joining squadron at HMS Merlin, Royal Naval Air Station Donibristle; use of rocket projectiles for anti-submarine work; characteristics of Fairey Swordfish Mark III; means of communicating with ships; technique for air attacks on German submarines; convoy work from HMS Campania, summer 1944; living conditions aboard HMS Campania; Convoy JW 60 to Murmansk, Soviet Union, 15/9/1944-23/9/1944; contact with Soviet Navy off Vidyaevo Bay, 9/1944; anti-snorkel work, 10/1944; Convoy JW 62 to Soviet Union, 29/11/1944-7/12/1944; German Air Force's reluctance to attack Convoy JW 62, 29/12/1944-7/12/1944; question of darkening ship in high latitudes in winter; layout of convoys. REEL 3 Continues: Convoy RA 62 from Soviet Union to GB, 10/12/1944-19/12/1944; his sinking of German submarine U-365 by dropping depth charges during Convoy RA 62, 13/12/1944; abortive anti-shipping strikes off Norway, 28/1/1945; sea and weather conditions during Convoy JW 64, 3/2/1945-15/2/1945; effect on health of active service. Recollections of operations as commanding officer of 893 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Eagle during Operation Musketeer in Mediterranean, 10/1956-11/1956: embarkation aboard HMS Eagle, summer 1956; opinion of De Havilland DH.116 Sea Venom; reaction to Suez Crisis; character of HMS Eagle; role of squadron. REEL 4 Continues: squadron observer who lost his leg during ground attack on Egyptian Air Force Almaza Airfield; attitude towards having served with Fleet Air Arm during Second World War.