Hughes Chamberlain, Robin (Oral history)

British officer served flying Vickers Fighter with 11 Sqdn, Royal Flying Corps in GB and Western Front, 1915; served flying DH2 with 24 Sqdn, Royal Flying Corps in GB and Western Front, 1915-1916

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Natal, South Africa and GB 1887-1995: background to father's move to Natal; move to GB, 1895; education. Period as lime plantation manager in Dominica, 1907-1915. Recollections of enlistment in Royal Flying Corps, 1/1915: interest in flying; prior recreational flight at Hendon Airfield, 1914; recruitment procedure. Recollections of flying training at Brooklands Airfield, 2/1915-3/1915: story of first solo flights by Lieutenant S W Caws and Hughes Chamberlain in Bristol Boxkite; question of successfully carrying out right hand turns in Bristol Boxkite; story of passing flying ticket; instructor's crash attempting right hand turns in Bristol Boxkite; memories of Major J H W Becke, Captain William Read and Captain Gordon Bell. Recollections of period flying Vickers Fighters with 11 Sqdn, Royal Flying Corps at Royal Flying Corps Stations at Netheravon, Vert Galand, Villers Bretonneux and Bertangles in Somme area, France, 3/1915-12/1915: memories of various officers; question of 'Gunbus' nickname of Vickers Fighter; memories of various officers including Captain C C Darley subsequently awarded Albert Medal; move to Vert Galand, 7/1915; question of danger of lighter than air aircraft; question of incident under attack from Fokker, 11/1915. REEL 2 Continues: question of incident under attack from Fokker, 11/1915; opinion of Vickers Fighter; question of problems with Gnome Monosoupaupe engine and visit to English licensed manufacturer; opinion of mechanics; story of reconnaissance over Cambrai, 6/11/1915, including shooting down German aircraft, evading attacks by German aircraft and oil leak during return journey; question of award of MC; question of relationship between Second Lieutenant Gilbert Insall and Major George Dawes; question of circumstances of action, 7/11/1915, for which Insall was awarded Victoria Cross; memories of Captain Hugh Champion de Crespigny; story of problems with observer during actions with German aircraft during reconnaissance flight over Ham and St Quentin. REEL 3 Continues: story of problems with observer during actions with German aircraft during reconnaissance flight over Ham and St Quentin; flying in clouds during long test flights whilst stationed at Netheravon; story of stalling, spinning and frozen fuel pump after flying into storm cloud during uneventful patrol, 9/1915; layout of Bertangles Royal Flying Corps station, return to GB, 12/1915. Recollections of period flying DH2 with 24 Sqdn, Royal Flying Corps at Hounslow, St Omer and Bertangles Royal Flying Corps Stations, 12/1915-8/1916: varied aircraft prior to arrival of DH2, 1/1916; opinion of Sopwith Camel and DH2; flight to St Omer, France, 7/2/1916; background to promotion to command B Flight; story of various delays prior to commencing flight to join 11 Sqdn in France, 7/1915; question of duration of cross Channel flights. REEL 4 Continues: Recollections of period flying Vickers Fighters with 11 Sqdn, Royal Flying Corps Vert Galand, Villers Bretonneux and Bertangles Royal Flying Corps Stations in Somme area, France, 3/1915-12/1915: German anti-aircraft fire; story of forced landing in foggy conditions and subsequent crash landing while attempting to take off at Pissy, 8/1915; testing mirror fitting, 12/1915. Recollections of period flying DH2 with 24 Sqdn, Royal Flying Corps at Hounslow, St Omer and Bertangles Royal Flying Corps Stations, 12/1915-8/1916: instructional role; question of night flying; minimal experience on DH2s prior to move to France; question of Lewis gun practice; cold conditions and clothes worn when flying; aspects of flight to St Omer, France, 7/2/1916; question of location of pressure pump in DH2 cockpit; opinion of Major Lionel Hawker; question of role escorting reconnaissance flights. REEL 5 Continues: <LONG GAP> story of engine breakdown and consequent forced landing next to Balloon Section; question of office work as flight commander; officers' mess; crash landings; early warning system of German aircraft; story of cylinder blowing out of engine and consequent crash landing, 17/6/1916; question of removal of twin Lewis gun fittings, tracer bullets and aiming guns; opinion of DH2; patrols and preliminary bombardment prior to Somme offensive, 6/1916. REEL 6 Continues: failure of infantry attack in Somme area, 1/7/1916; pilot hit by anti-aircraft fire; Major Robert Smith Barry's views on importance of flying training; account of dogfight between C Flight and 11 German aircraft over Somme area, 20/7/1916, including question of formations, difficulty in confirming victories and changing Lewis gun drums; story of initial medical treatment for foot wound after being shot down, 16/8/1916. Hospitalisation, 6/1916-5/1917. Recollections of flying Avro 504 at Special School of Flying, Gosforth, 8/1917: prior interest in Smith Barry after watching his aerobatics in 2/1916; question of lack of promotion and subsequent attachment as flight commander to 71 Sqdn, Royal Flying Corps, 11/1917. REEL 7 Continues: role of unit; story of low-level flight to Brighton; taking off from small field; talking tube and communication between pupil and instructor; attitude to instructional role; background to policy of giving pupil front seat in Avro 504; improvement to personal flying skills. Periods as instructor at Shorebury and Lotcombe Corner, ca 8/1917-10/1917: question of introduction of Smith Barry innovations; question of casualties in training; role with 3rd Training Sqdn; opinion of DH5. Period as special flight commander with 71st Sqdn/4th Australian Sqdn, Australian Flying Corps at Castle Bromwich and Bruey, France, 11/1917-2/1918: Australian composition of unit; fatal accident during flight in close formation; story of delivering Sopwith Camels to France and getting lost in fog during flight back in Sopwith Pup to GB; move to Bruey, 12/1917; initial lack of offensive role; return to GB, 2/1918; background to meeting future wife, 11/1917; practise grounds. Period as instructor and commanding 65 Training Sqdn at Dover, 3/1918-9/1918: question of problems flying Avro 504s. REEL 8 Continues: question of rolling aircraft; story of spinning two-seater Sopwith Camel. Aspects of period with 63 Sqdn, RAF at Joyce Green and Redcar, 9/1918-10/1918: proposals from Brigadier J H W Becke to form elite squadron; Armistice, 11/11/1918; reactions to formation of RAF, 1/4/1918. Post-war career: rejection of posting as Air Attaché in Paris; return to running lime plantation, Dominica, 1920; background to return to GB, 1929 <Gap and distorted recording> RAF liaison role as part of firm manufacturing gun turrets for various aircraft including Demon, Lancaster and Wellington; demonstration illustrating manoeuvrability of gun turrets; question of wartime role, 1939-1945; question of return to Dominica. REEL 9 Period as special flight commander with 4th Australian Sqdn, AFC at Bruey, France, 11/1917-2/1918: story of meeting Captain Edward Mannock; story of measures to heat and furnish officers' mess; opinion of Mannock; opinion of Major William Bishop.