Andrew, John Oliver (Oral history)

British officer served as observer flying Vickers Fighter with 5 Sqdn, Royal Flying Corps served as flight commander flying DH2 with 24 Sqdn, Royal Flying Corps in GB and Western Front, 1915-1916; served as flight commander flying Sopwith Camel with 70 Sqdn, Royal Flying Corps/RAF on Western Front, 1918

REEL 1 Various aspects of service with Royal Scots and Royal Flying Corps, 1914-1915: period with Royal Scots in GB, 8/1914-10/1914; background to volunteering as observer with Royal Flying Corps, 10/1914; training as observer with 1 Sqdn, Royal Flying Corps at Netheravon, 10/1914-12/1914; role as observer and weapons carried in Vickers Fighter with 5 Sqdn, Royal Flying Corps in France, 12/1914-7/1915; training as pilot in France, and with 1 <Reserve> Sqdn, Royal Flying Corps at Farnborough, 7/1915-11/1915. Period as pilot flying DH2 with 24 Sqdn, Royal Flying Corps at Hounslow, St Omer and Bertangles, 11/1915-12/1916: discussion of photographs of DH2 and variants; arrival of DH2s; pusher aircraft familiarisation flight in Vickers Fighter; question of Lewis gun training; discussion of photographs of DH2 and variants; question of fuel control and use of gravity tank when flying DH2. REEL 2 Continues: question of fuel control and use of gravity tank when flying DH2; take off procedure; method of changing Lewis gun drums in flight; question of unofficial method of fixing Lewis gun mounting into static position and firing mechanism; <short gap> compass and wicker seat fitted into cockpit floor; rudder bar fittings; seatbelts; taking over command of A Flight, 29/4/1916; question of communication with flight in action; flying uniform; necessity of fixing Lewis gun mounting; question of colour of flight strut markings. REEL 3 Continues: question of colour of flight strut markings and message bag streamers; question of Major Lanoe Hawker's demonstration of how to get out of spin, casualties through stalling on landing, prior flying school training in correcting spin and danger at low altitudes; problems with British manufactured 100 hp Gnome Monosoupape engine; situation in Somme area; combats with Fokker monoplane including Fokker markings and tactics; opinion of Albatros DI; story of shooting down Albatros of Major S Kirmaier over Les Boeufs, 22/11/1916; account of patrol with Major Lanoe Hawker and Lieutenant Robert Saundby, 23/11/1916, including initial attack on German aircraft, awareness of German ambush above decoy aircraft, diving to attempt to support Hawker and being forced to land after engine was hit. REEL 4 Continues: patrol formations and distance flown over front lines; question of escort duties; nature of ground signals indicating direction of German aircraft; gaining height above airfield before commencing patrol; formation flying; personal rigging for DH2; flight patrol formations and tactics on patrol; question of DH2 identification markings; question of identification of German units; attitude to German pilots; question of chivalrous approach to combat; question of problems with Lewis gun jamming; Hawker's invention of 'aiming off' model to demonstrate necessity of deflection shooting; importance of shooting ability; opinion of Lieutenant James McCudden; opinion of French pilots of N3 Sqdn and question of showing new aircrafts to French; question of integration of Bristol Scouts and Morane Parasols within unit; accommodation and workshops at Bertangles airfield. REEL 5 Continues: workshops at Bertangles airfield; problems with longerons cracking in bad landing; billets and A Flight mess in Bertangles village; Le Prieur rockets; question of Buckingham ammunition; importance of good eyesight; question of being shot down and damage in aerial combats; question of night flying and night flare paths; visit from French ground attack aircraft. Recollections of period flying Sopwith Camel with 70 Sqdn, RFC/RAF and 209 Sqdn, RAF in Ypres and Somme areas, 2/1918-5/1918: concentration on ground strafing role during German offensive; situation in air war, 1916-1918; question of rotary and stationary engines used in scout aircraft. Recollections of period as observer flying Vickers Fighter with 5 Sqdn at Baileuil, Poperinghe and Abeele airfields, ca 12/1914-7/1915: move to Ypres area during Second Battle of Ypres, 4/1915-5/1915; review of prior movements of 5 and 6 Sqdns; question of contacts with Hawker; initial varied types of aircraft; contact with Lieutenant Louis Strange; question of Mauser pistol and Lewis guns carried by observer; story of effects of propeller damage during combat; combat tactics. REEL 6 Continues: question of movable Lewis gun fitting; memories of Second R Lieutenant R Maxwell-Pike; question of training as pilot; memories of Majors Archibald Maclean and 'Gaffer' Board; question of loss of prototype DH2 in forced line over German lines, 9/8/1915; memories of various officers. Period as pilot flying DH2 with 24 Sqdn, Royal Flying Corps at Hounslow, St Omer and Bertangles, 11/1915-12/1916: damage to DH2 nose whilst landing, 2/1916; fatal accidents during move to France, 2/1916; question of reliability of 100 hp Gnome Monosoupape engine; question of officers' original regiments; memories of Second Lieutenant Sidney Cowan and question of fitting two Lewis guns; memories of various officers; death of Captain Marshall in flying accident whilst looping. REEL 7 Continues: question of strength of DH2; opinion of Captain Robin Hughes Chamberlain and question of his success rate in combats; role of unit in countering synchronised machine gun of Fokker Monoplane.