Description
Object description
British officer trained as pilot in GB and under Arnold Scheme in US and Canada, 1942-1943; served as pilot with 15 Sqdn RAF in GB, 1943-1945
Content description
REEL 1: Background in Northern Ireland, 1918-1942: family; education; employment in Lloyd's Bank, London; interest in flying. Aspects of period as fitter with RAF in GB, 1942: description of training as fitter; posted to 15 Sqdn, RAF 1942; type of aircraft; description of first experience of flying in trainer; guard duty; amusing story of photographs; story of test flight on Sterling; re-mustered for air crew. Aspects of period training as pilot with RAF and RCAF in GB, US and Canada, 1942-1943: posted to Carlisle and description of training on De Havilland Tiger Moth; solo flying and landings; posted to US on Arnold Scheme and description of sea journey, 1942; conditions aboard ship; opinion of food and accommodation.
REEL 2 Continues: posted to RCAF Moosejaw, Canada, for further training on De Havilland Tiger Moth and North American Harvard; description of training including night flying; problem of cold and starting engines; attitude to low flying; opinion of instructor; received wings and commissioned; navigation course on Prince Edward Island, 1943; memory of atomic bomb, 8/1945. Recollections of operations as pilot with 15 Sqdn RAF in GB, 1943-1945: training on Vickers Wellington and Avro Lancaster.
REEL 3 Continues: training on Airspeed Oxford; further description of navigation course; problem of emergency landings in fog and use of Gee; use of navigational skills in post-war employment; opinion of North American Harvard; memory of co-pilot; problem of anti-aircraft fire; opinion of effectiveness of radar; question of accuracy of bombing and use of photography; attitude to role as bomber pilot; question of large formations of bombers.
REEL 4 Continues: story of low-level raids on submarine pens and oil refineries in Bordeaux; problem of anti-aircraft fire penetrating aircraft; problem of aircraft icing up; description of gardening missions over Kiel Canal; problem of flying in bad weather; description of slipstream. Aspects of post-war employment as civilian pilot with BOAC. Reflections on period of war service.