Interview with Robert McCandless

British naval airman trained with No 45 Pilots Course, Fleet Air Arm at HMS Daedalus, Royal Naval Air Station Lee-on-Solent and HMS St Vincent, Gosport, GB, 11/1942-1/1943; trained as pilot with Fleet Air Arm at No 19 Elementary Flying Training School, RAF at RAF Sealand, GB and No 31 Service Flying Training School, RCAF Kingston, Canada, 2/1943-9/1943; officer trained with Fleet Air Arm at No 9 Advanced Flying Unit, RAF at RAF Errol, Naval Air Torpedo School, HMS Jackdaw, Royal Naval Air Station Crail and HMS Peewith at Royal Naval Air Station, East Haven in GB, 1943-1944; served with 827 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm at HMS Sparrowhawk, Royal Naval Air Station Hatston, GB and aboard HMS Furious off Norway, 6/1944-10/1944; served with 827 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm at RAF Beecles and RAF Langham in GB, 11/1944-12/1944; served with 827 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm at HMS Landrail, Royal Naval Air Station Machrihanish, GB, 1945; served with 827 Naval Air Sqdn, 14th Carrier Air Group, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Colossus, 11th Aircraft Carrier Sqdn, British Pacific Fleet in Pacific, 6/1945-8/1945; served with 1830 Naval Air Sqdn, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve at HMS Sanderling, Royal Naval Air Station Abbotsinch and 1831 Naval Air Sqdn, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve at HMS Blackcap, Royal Naval Air Station Stretton in GB, 1948-1951; served with 801 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Indominable and HMS Glory in Mediterranean, 1/1952-10/1952; served with 801 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Glory off North and South Korea, 11/1952-5/1953; attended Jet Conversion Course at HMS Goldcrest, Royal Naval Air Station Brawdy, GB, 1953-1954; served as instructor with 738 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm at HMS Fulmar, Royal Naval Air Station Lossiemouth, GB, 1954-1955; served with 810 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Albion during world tour, 1955-1956; served with 810 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Bulwark during landings at Suez, Egypt, 11/1956; served as naval training officer at RAF Valley, GB, 1957-1958; commanded 738 Naval Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm at HMS Fulmar, Royal Naval Air Station Lossiemouth, GB, 1958-1959; served as Flight Deck Officer aboard HMS Hermes in GB coastal waters, 1960-1961; served as naval liaison officer with Central Fighter Establishment, RAF at RAF West Raynham, GB, 1962-1963; served as staff officer with Admiralty, London, GB, 1964-1966; served at HMS Daedalus, Royal Naval Air Station Lee-on-Solent, GB, 1966-1967

REEL 1 Background in Cambus, GB, 1924-1942: family; father's employment; effects of Depression on area; farm work during holidays; family home; recreational activities; education; sporting activities; membership of Air Training Corps (ATC) and flight in Fairey Swordfish; sight of Amy Johnston's aircraft; degree of anticipation of Second World War; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939; employment in brewery including work in maltings and laboratory; batches of beer brewed; attitude to working in brewery. Aspects of enlistment in Fleet Air Arm in GB, 11/1942: call-up, 2/11/1942; selection board; question of qualities required of pilots by Fleet Air Arm. REEL 2 Continues: Aspects of training as naval airman at No 45 Pilot Course at HMS Daedalus, Royal Naval Air Station, Lee-on-Solent and HMS St Vincent, Gosport, GB, 11/1942-1/1943: arrival at HMS Daedalus; drill and small arms training; move to HMS St Vincent; pattern of training; familiarisation with ropes and wires; problems of wearing white band in hatband; liberty boats; relations between recruits; reasons for not issuing hammocks; messing facilities; teaching facilities; signals training; arms instruction; character of instructors; memories of Chief Petty Officer Wilmott; coaching fellow recruits on use of Sten Gun; discipline; latrines; adapting to lack of privacy; degree of contact with officers; daily routine including taking parades. REEL 3 Continues: aircraft recognition. Recollections of flying training as naval airman with Fleet Air Arm at No 19 Elementary Flying Training School, RAF at RAF Sealand, GB, 2/1943-4/1943: character of his instructor; ground looping; familiarisation with cockpit of De Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth; taxiing aircraft; stalling; air awareness and practising forced landings; communicating with Gosport Tubes; taking off and landing; sideslipping aircraft; De Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth's lack of vices; soloing aircraft; reasons for failure rate on course; question of pilots developing fear of flying. REEL 4 Continues: pattern of training after soloing; instrument flying; character of cockpit instruments; degree to which instruments had to be trusted; aerobatics; navigation training; use of prominent landmarks during navigation training; spinning aircraft and recovery; low-level flying; restrictions on low-level flying; character of final flying examination at end of course; reaction to passing course; move to Blackpool. Aspects of period in transit at RCAF Moncton, Canada, 5/1943: voyage aboard HMT Queen Mary from GB to United States of America; train journey from New York, United States of America to RCAF Moncton, Canada. REEL 5 Continues: amusing story of enjoying comedian during review 'Meet the Navy'. Recollections of flying training as naval airman with Fleet Air Arm at No 31 Service Flying Training School, RCAF Kingston, Canada, 6/1943-9/1943: relations with Canadian civilians; character of North American Harvard; formation flying; degree of flying with instructors; use of log book; North American Harvard's lack of warning when stalling; check list on coming into land; landing aircraft and procedure followed on landing including debriefing; checking A700 forms prior to flying aircraft; fitting parachute and aircraft inspection prior to flight; method of getting engine running; need to repeat procedure if engine not running correctly; use of batsman. REEL 6 Continues: ground instruction including signals, aircraft and ship recognition; ground navigation exercises; parachute training; technique for landing by parachute in water; method of leaving aircraft by parachute; night flying; signals from ground on landing; use of satellite airfield at RCAF Gananoque; flying conditions in summer; failure rate; relations with instructors; mock dogfighting; selection of pilots for specific tasks on return to GB; question of selection criteria for commissioning of officers; preference for fighter pilot duties. Aspects of flying training as officer with Fleet Air Arm at No 9 Advance Flying Unit, RAF at RAF Errol, 1943: flying Miles Magister; opportunity to fly Hawker Hurricane; familiarisation with British aircraft. REEL 7 Continues: Recollections of period as officer with Fleet Air Arm at Naval Air Torpedo School, HMS Jackdaw, Royal Naval Air Station Crail in GB, 1943-1944: converting to Fairey Barracuda; familiarisation flights; flying with dummy torpedo; character of Fairey Barracuda; need for installation of turbine with Rolls-Royce Merlin Engine fitted in Fairey Barracuda; reputation of Fairey Barracuda; types of torpedo attacks practiced; use of dive brakes and elevator trim; method of attacking ships with twelve aircraft; activating torpedo; method of assessing speed, direction and avoiding target; pulling out of dive; reasons for accidents during training; night torpedo training; loss of unit observer during night torpedo practice; assessing results of torpedo drops; reasons why pilots didn't like aircraft; G-force at play on aircraft and pilot; numbers of accidents with Fairey Barracuda. REEL 8 Continues: opinion of assessment of torpedo training. Recollections of training as officer with Fleet Air Arm at HMS Peewit, Royal Naval Air Station East Haven, GB, 1944: move to station; method of assessing dive-bombing training on River Tay; technique for dive-bombing; effect of wind on dive-bombing; releasing bombs during practice; blacking out at bottom of dive; incident of looping in dive; loss of starboard wing and observer during dive-bombing practice on River Tay, 26/4/1944; period in water in flying kit after bailing out; need to get back to flying after accident; investigation into flying accident; role of Deck Landing Control Officer (DLCO) on deck landing; technique for landing aircraft on aircraft carriers; fatigue for batsman; marking of airfield for dummy landings; landing aircraft in three point attitude; use of barriers on aircraft carriers; contrast between Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm methods of landing aircraft; deck landings on HMS Ravager. REEL 9 Continues: Recollections of operations as pilot with 827 Naval Air Sdqn, Fleet Air Arm at HMS Sparrowhawk, Royal Naval Air Station Hatston, Orkney Islands, GB and aboard HMS Furious off Norway, 6/1944-10/144: hearing news of D-Day landings during ferry crossing, 6/6/1944; reception on arrival; crewing up; character of HMS Sparrowhawk, Royal Naval Air Station Hatston; anti-submarine training practise; location of observer and pilot in Fairey Barracuda; role of observer; first anti submarine operation in which he needed to search for HMS Furious; description of B Bomb; practice attacks on island shaped like German capital ship; attack on German battleship Tirpitz during Operation Goodwood in Kaafjord, Norway, 22/8/1944; second attack through box barrage on German battleship Tirpitz during Operation Goodwood, Kaafjord, Norway, 24/8/1944; use of reconnaissance photographs prior to attack; leaving Kaafjord after attack; character of HMS Furious; flying from HMS Furious including use of lift. REEL 10 Continues: training to get time down for landing on aircraft carrier; flying off at Scapa Flow, GB; accommodation aboard aircraft carrier; effect of smoking in ward room; playing deck hockey; hangar storage; method of getting aircraft into hangar; opinion of maintenance crews; incident when machine guns from fighter in hangar were accidentally fired into ward room; securing aircraft to deck; conditions for maintenance crews on flight deck; organisation of squadron; relations with ground crew and telegraphist air gunner; flight in poor weather from HMS Merlin Royal Naval Air Station Donibristle to HMS Sparrowhawk, Royal Naval Air Station Hatston; role of observer; calculating wind direction at sea; method of taking bearings; problems of fatigue whilst flying. REEL 11 Continues: anti-submarine patrols off Norwegian coast, 9/1944-10/1944. Aspects of operations as pilot with 827 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm at RAF Beecles and RAF Langham in GB, 11/1944-12/1944: night-time anti-shipping patrols along Dutch coast from RAF Beecles; use of radar; need to avoid belt of anti-aircraft guns; move to RAF Langham; amusing story of action against shipping; duration of anti-shipping patrols; relations with Royal Air Force personnel. Aspects of period as pilot with 827 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm at HMS Landrail, Royal Naval Air Station Machrihanish, GB, 1945: flying from HMS Landrail, Royal Naval Air Station Machrihanish to HMS Sanderling, Royal Naval Air Station Abbotsinch; need to use landmarks; problems of flying in bad weather; duties at station waiting for HMS Colossus; brief move to RAF Ballyhalbert; night landing practice on HMS Colossus. Aspects of period as pilot with 827 Naval Air Sqdn, 14th Carrier Air Group, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Colossus, 11th Aircraft Carrier Sqdn, British Pacific Fleet in Pacific, 6/1945-8/1945: relations with Egyptians; problems operating in sandy environment in Egypt on route to Pacific, 5/1945; bombing practice on towed target; collision with aircraft. REEL 12 Continues: landing damaged aircraft on airfield; details of collision; investigation in flying accidents; problems operating Fairey Barracuda in warmer climates; amusing story of attending victory celebrations in Egypt, 5/1945; effect of ship passing through Suez Canal, 5/1945; problems taking off in tropical environment; effect of heat on metal runways in Ceylon, 6/1945; move to Australia, 6/1945; flying ashore to Jervis Bay, Australia; reaction to dropping of first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, 6/8/1945; collecting former prisoners of war from Korea; removal of air division at Hong Kong, 8/1945; operating as shore policemen at Kowloon, Hong Kong; story of searching block of flats in Kowloon, Hong Kong, 8/1945; move to Ceylon; attempt to loop Fairey Barracuda flying from aircraft carrier, 25/9/1945; reception in South Africa, 1/1946; recreational activities in South Africa. REEL 13 Continues: reasons for ditching of American Lend-Lease aircraft from ship; amusing story of naked swimming in South Africa; visit to Johannesburg, South Africa; return to GB, 3/1946; demobilisation, 1946. Aspect of period with 1830 Naval Air Sqdn, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve at HMS Sanderling Royal Naval Air Station Abbotsinch and 1831 Naval Air Sqdn, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve at HMS Blackcap, Royal Naval Air Station Stretton in GB, 1948-1951: employment as civilian brewer; flying Fairey Firefly; organisation of squadron; use of black tube on radar screen; flying Supermarine Seafire; interception exercises over North Sea; 1830 Naval Air Sqdn exercise on Malta; move to brewery in Liverpool; joining 1831 Naval Air Sqdn at Royal Naval Air Station Stretton to fly Hawker Sea Fury; reasons for volunteering to rejoin Fleet Air Arm, 12/1951; amusing story of removing Christmas decorations in mess at HMS Seahawk, Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose, 12/1951. REEL 14 Continues: Aspects of period as pilot with 801 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Arm aboard HMS Indomitable and HMS Glory in Mediterranean, 1/1952-10/1952: story of bailing out in water of Hawker Sea Fury from HMS Indomitable; subsequent problems getting out of parachute; medical treatment in GB; fighter tactics practiced and methods of firing at aircraft; problems of getting good shots on target; opinion of Hawker Sea Fury; problems of landing Hawker Sea Fury on aircraft carriers; types of accidents that occurred on flight deck of aircraft carriers. REEL 15 Continues: marriage at Lee-on-Solent and honeymoon on Malta; amusing story of hitching lift to aircraft carrier; nature of HMS Glory's flight deck; accommodation on board ship; problems with smoking in ward room; provision of steward; relations between sea and air branches; playing volleyball in hangars; voyage from Mediterranean to Japan, 10/1952. Recollections of operations as pilot with 801 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Glory off Korea, 11/1952-5/1953: proportion of Second World War veterans in squadron; emphasis on passing on intelligence; beard growing competition, 12/1952; intelligence briefing prior to start of operations; importance of keeping atmosphere light in squadron; Combat Air Patrols (CAPs) over aircraft carrier; primary and secondary targets; bombs carried including use of delayed action bombs; attacking railway tunnels; difficulty of destroying bridges; attacking troop concentrations and ox carts. REEL 16 Continues: role interdicting supplies; attacks on stores by side of railway; mistake of attacking positions twice in which his number two was shot down; lack of meteorological information; occasion when flight of aircraft landed on the aircraft carrier in poor weather; speed with which aircraft could be landed on flight deck; need for crew of aircraft carriers to work efficiently; rivalry between HMS Ocean and HMS Glory over number of sorties flown in a day; problems flying night ground attack operations; question of fatigue; bombing railway tunnels; activities on leave in Japan; role of HMS Unicorn in resupplying carriers in Japan; life span of Hawker Sea Fury on operations; individual aircraft with problems; detecting problems. REEL 17 Continues: effect of weather on operations; weather conditions over Korea; flying in icy conditions; flying in divisions of four aircraft; flying Combat Air Patrols (CAPs) over front line and method of attacking targets; role of carrier bourne ground liaison officer; feedback from army personnel on ground attacks; nine day period spent on American aircraft carrier; United States Navy's reaction to speed of Fleet Air Arm deck landings; United States Marine Corps' operating of Vought Corsair over Korea; difference in deck approach between United States Navy and Royal Navy; preference for using Fairey Firefly for rocket attacks; performance of Fairey Firefly; lack of threat of friendly fire; story of spotting fall of shot for battleship USS Missouri; targets bombarded by United States Navy ships; relations with Americans; American pilots' lack of communication discipline. REEL 18 Continues: tactics employed by Chinese MiG 15 jets; dealing with attack from MiG 15; chances of hitting jets and having dogfights; degree to which MiG 15s were a threat to piston engined aircraft; sight of aircraft crashing near aircraft carrier and loss of pilot; procedure for ditching; attitude in which aircraft would ditch; practising with Rocket Assisted Take Off Gear (RATOG) in Mediterranean prior to going to Korea; use of catapults; duration of patrols; rate at which aircraft would leave aircraft carrier; sequence and rate of landing on. REEL 19 Continues: clearing debris from deck after mishap; arrival back in GB; attitude towards operational flying; need to watch pilots for over stimulation; officer who admitted to not being able to fly again; debriefing after operations; size of operational area. Aspects of flying training as officer with Fleet Air Arm, 1942-1944: use of Link Trainer; use of Torpedo Attack Teacher at Naval Air Torpedo School, HMS Jackdaw, Royal Naval Air Station Crail; question of need for training practice for operations; flying the Hawker Sea Fury that now resides in Fleet Air Arm Museum. Recollections of attending Jet Conversion Course at HMS Goldcrest, Royal Naval Air Station Brawdy, GB, 1953-1954: attitude to jet conversion training with Gloster Meteor T.7; problem with cockpit misting on landing with Gloster Meteor T.7; handling rudder controls. REEL 20 Continues: pattern of instruction; character of jet engines; speed of Gloster Meteor T.7 in contrast to Hawker Sea Fury; visibility from cockpit; use of tricycle undercarriage; speed on take off and rate of climb; control of jet engine; experimental work on jet aircraft landings on aircraft carriers; ease with which jet aircraft could land on aircraft carriers; introduction of landing lights on aircraft carriers; reasons for higher stall speed of jets; story of occasion when arrester wire parted during his landing on aircraft carrier. REEL 21 Continues: Recollections of period as instructor with 738 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm at HMS Fulmar, Royal Naval Air Station Lossiemouth, GB, 1954: posting to squadron after jet engine course at Rolls-Royce Ltd; memories of Lieutenant Commander Peter 'Hoagy' Carmichael; characteristics of Hawker Sea Hawk; attitude to night formation flying; nature of flying from station Lossiemouth; story illustrating Hawker Sea Hawk's offensive capabilities during landings at Suez, Egypt, 11/1956; armament of Hawker Sea Hawk; harmonisation of guns; role of range assessors; factors involved in dive-bombing targets; lack of impression of speed above a thousand feet; explanation of trim on aircraft. REEL 22 Continues: lack of restrictions on training; qualities needed in ground attack pilots; assessing pilots for operational duties; attitude towards instructing role; fate of pilots who did not make the grade; opinion of characteristics of De Havilland DH.115 Sea Vampire T.22; annual testing of pilots on instrument flying; introduction of ejector seats; training on ejector seats; description of operation of ejector seats; evolution of flying headgear and clothing; introduction of G Suits. REEL 23 Continues: Recollections of period as pilot with 810 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Albion during world tour, 1955-1956: working up on HMS Albion; character of HMS Albion; number of deck landings without accident; use of rescue helicopters; developments that increased safety and efficiency; cocktail parties in Mediterranean; amusing story of encounter in Karachi, Pakistan; loss of aircraft in monsoon weather in Hong Kong; amusing story of comments made by pilot who was waiting for a long time to land on; question of bad planning for operations near Hong Kong. Recollections of operations as pilot with 810 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Bulwark during landings at Suez, Egypt, 11/1956: working up in Mediterranean; attitude towards impending Operation Musketeer; tactics employed to keep down Egyptian casualties; Egyptian anti-aircraft strength; photo-reconnaissance of targets; sources of intelligence about Egyptian Air Force; lack of operational experience of Egyptian Air Force pilots; operating Combat Air Patrols (CAPs) over front line. REEL 24 Continues: close support operations for army; ground liaison officer; interdiction operations; exercises practiced in GB to locate targets; reaction to the allocation of important target to newly formed squadron for first sortie; secondary targets; lack of friendly fire incidents and contact with French Air Force; effects of lack of air opposition; attempts to keep Egyptian casualties down to minimum; markings on aircraft; question of aims of the Operation Musketeer; difficulties of achieving maximum effort during operations; tactics employed by aircraft carriers; signals and communications used between aircraft; incident of escorting United Nations Douglas DC-3 when his cockpit pressure failed. REEL 25 Continues: return to GB at end of Operation Musketeer. Aspects of period as naval training officer at RAF Valley, GB, 1957-1958: duties; organising passing out parades; behaviour of Welsh civilians; contrast in how he received his wings and passing out parade; flying overloaded De Havilland DH.89 Dominie from RAF Valley to RAF Lossiemouth; stories illustrating character of De Havilland DH.98 Dominie. Recollections of period commanding 738 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm at HMS Fulmar, Royal Naval Air Station Lossiemouth, GB, 1958-1959: appointment to command squadron at station; characteristics of De Havilland DH.112 Sea Venom; problems training in night fighters tactics at station; firing guided missiles; opinion of radar on board aircraft; reasons for not having enough airworthy aircraft. REEL 26 Continues: relations with Commander Air. Recollections of period as Flight Deck Officer (FDO) aboard HMS Hermes in GB coastal waters, 1960-1961: problems moving large aircraft on flight deck; discovery of paint not adhering to flight deck; repainting of flight deck; role of Flight Deck Officer (FDO); organisation of flight deck party; problems for tractors and aircraft caused by Supermarine Scimitar spewing fuel on flight deck; use of forklift trucks; accident with forklift truck; co-operation with stokers and air engineers working on flight deck; dangerous nature of flight deck; character of emergency barrier; time taken to get emergency barrier ready; occasion when emergency barrier fell on him during speed trials; communications with rest of flight deck party. REEL 27 Continues: accident to airman on flight deck; investigation into aircraft damaged on flight deck; fatal Fairey Gannet accident; catapult accident with Blackburn Buccaneer; method of catapulting aircraft from flight deck; story accident on flight deck whilst directing aircraft during catapult operation; injuries sustained during incident; clothing worn on flight deck; film made called 'Know Your Navy'; reaction of family to his injuries. Aspects of period as naval liaison officer with Central Fighter Establishment, RAF at RAF West Raynham, GB, 1962-1963: opinion of duties; question of role of Fighter Command, RAF; attempts by English Electric Lightning pilots to develop methods to intercept Soviet Air Force reconnaissance aircraft. REEL 28 Continues: visits to RAF Dunsfold to see Rolls-Royce Thrust Measuring Rig 'Flying Bedstead' and Hawker P.1027 and subsequent drawing up plan for vertical take off aircraft; reaction to senior RAF and Royal Navy officers to his presentation on vertical take off aircraft; amusing story of stores officer who did not want to move to RAF Binbrook; commuting between RAF West Raynham and RAF Binbrook. Aspects of period as staff officer with Admiralty, London, GB, 1964-1966: duties; false claim made by Royal Air Force that they could protect the Royal Navy anywhere in the world; recruitment problems for Fleet Air Arm; question of problem of colour blindness amongst recruits; bureaucracy in Civil Service; question of working practices in Admiralty. REEL 29 Continues: report on salaries of non-commissioned officers promoted to commissioned officers; problems faced by those promoted to commissioned officer from lower deck; age restrictions introduced for flying officers. Aspects of period as officer with HMS Daedalus, Royal Naval Air Station, Lee-on-Solent, GB, 1966-1967: relations with chief petty officer; use of station sailmaker; supervising of civilian workers; cleanliness of messes; removal of lime scale from urinals; problems with stained mattresses; use of Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes (NAAFI); attitude to serving on station; preparations for inspections; importance of cleanliness in Royal Navy; use of 'scran' bag system. REEL 30 Continues: unfairness of promotional system in Fleet Air Arm; leaving Fleet Air Arm, 7/1967; career prospects on leaving service; connections with Royal Naval Air Station Lee-on-Solent; attitude to serving in Fleet Air Arm, 1942-1967; prior recollections of flying Hawker Hunter at Central Fighter Establishment, RAF at RAF West Raynham.