Interview with Leslie Bailey

British naval airman trained as observer with Fleet Air Arm in GB, 1/1940-4/1941; officer served as observer with 825 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Victorious in North Atlantic, 5/1941 and aboard HMS Ark Royal in North Atlantic and Mediterranean, 6/1941-10/1941 including sinking south east of Gibraltar, 14/11/1941; served with 700 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Howe in GB coastal waters and Arctic, 1942-1943; served with 891 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm in United States of America and aboard HMS Shah, Eastern Fleet in Indian Ocean, 10/1943-12/1944; served as staff officer to Flag Officer Naval Air Stations and to Rear Admiral Reserve Aircraft, Fleet Air Arm in GB, 1945

REEL 1 Background in Wombwell, GB, 1922-1939: family; education; interest in aviation; attempt to obtain employment with Imperial Airways; applying to join Royal Air Force; degree of knowledge of political situation in Europe; personal and parent's attitudes towards his wish to join armed services; reaction to declaration of Second World War, 3/9/1939. Aspects of training as naval airman with Fleet Air Arm at HMS St Vincent, Gosport, GB, 1/1940-2/1940: call-up for service with Fleet Air Arm, 1/1940; reception; accommodation and use of hammocks; origins of fellow recruits; volunteering for observer training; drill; navigation training including finding strength and direction of wind. REEL 2 Continues: rations; recruits who could not adjust to basic training; character of instructors; opinion of training; story of signalling from Supermarine Walrus; need for observers to be more proficient in Morse Code than pilots; usefulness of training. Aspects of training as naval airman on Naval Gunnery School, HMS Excellent, Whale Island, GB, 2/1940-3/1940: attending gunnery spotting course at HMS Excellent; role of observer in spotting for ship's guns; accommodation; presence of zoo on island; armament training including Lewis Gun. REEL 3 Continues: Aspects of training as observer with 750 and 751 Naval Air Sqdns, Fleet Air Arm in GB, 1940-1941: German Air Force attacks on HMS Peregrine, Royal Naval Air Station, Ford, 18/8/1940 and HMS Condor, Royal Naval Air Station Arbroath, 10/1940; pattern of training; navigating over sea; posting to RAF North Coates. Aspects of operations as observer with 825 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Victorious in North Atlantic, 5/1941: embarking aboard HMS Victorious; attacks on German battleship Bismarck, 25/5/1941; weather conditions; nature of anti-aircraft fire from German battleship Bismarck, 25/5/1941. Aspects of operations as observer with 825 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Ark Royal in North Atlantic and Mediterranean, 6/1941-10/1941 including sinking south east of Gibraltar, 14/10/1941: embarkation aboard HMS Ark Royal, 6/1941; nature of operations; torpedoing of aircraft carrier by German submarine U-81 and abandoning ship, 13/10/1941; Italian Air Force torpedo attacks; air submarine reconnaissance patrols; survivors leave; further details of torpedoing of carrier. REEL 4 Continues: patrolling from Gibraltar; use of radar; fate of squadron comrades during Channel Dash in English Channel, 12/2/1942; memories of Lieutenant Commander Eugene Esmonde; character of aircraft carrier HMS Argus. Aspects of operations as observer with 700 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Howe, Home Fleet in GB coastal waters, North Sea and Arctic, 1942-1943: operational patrols off coast of Norway; opinion of Supermarine Walrus; problems operating in northern waters; threat from German capital ships. Aspects of operations as observer with 851 Naval Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm in United States of America and aboard HMS Shah, Eastern Fleet in Indian Ocean, 10/1943-12/1944: joining squadron in United States of America, 10/1943; voyage to Indian Ocean, 1/1944; squadron success against German submarine U-198 off Seychelles, 12/8/1944; opinion of Grumman Avenger; contrast between American and British designed carrier aircraft; use of radar; return to GB, 12/1944. Aspects of period as staff officer to Flag Officer Naval Air Stations, Fleet Air Arm in GB, 1945: appointment. REEL 5 Continues: duties. Aspects of period as staff officer to Rear Admiral Reserve Aircraft, Fleet Air Arm in GB, 1945: appointment; duties disposing of Lease-Lend aircraft; reaction to end of Second World War, 15/8/1945; applying for university education; attitude to having served with Fleet Air Arm during Second World War.