Moore-Searson, Leslie Donald 'Don' (Oral history)

British civilian member of Air Training Corps in GB, 1939-1943; student with University Naval Division in Edinburgh, GB, 1943; naval airman served with Royal Naval Air Station, Lee on Solent and HMS St Vincent at Gosport, GB, 9/1943-2/1944; trained as pilot with 12 Elementary Flying Training School at Goderich and 31 Standard Flying Training School at Kingston, Canada, 1944; officer trained as pilot with 9 Advanced Flying Unit at RAF Tealing, GB, 12/1944-2/1945; served with Royal Naval Air Stations, Crimond, Easthaven and Ronaldsway in GB, 3/1945-11/1945; served on station flight duties at Royal Naval Air Station, Arbroath, GB, 1945-1946; served as pilot with 814 Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm at Royal Naval Air Station, Trincomalee, Ceylon, 6/1946-9/1946; served with 814 Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Venerable in Far East, 1946-1947; served with 814 Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Vengeance in Mediterranean and on Malta, 1947-1948; served as Link Trainer Instructor at Royal Naval Air Stations Culdrose and Stretton in GB, 4/1948-7/1948; trained as instructor with Central Flying School at RAF Little Rissington, GB, 1948- 1949; served as instructor with Operational Flying School, Royal Naval Air Station, Lossiemouth, GB, 1949-1950; attended 7 Long Jet Course at Royal Naval Air Station, Culdrose, GB, 10/1950; served with Naval Air Fighting Development Unit at RAF West Raynham, GB, 1950-1951; served with 800 Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm at Royal Naval Air Station, Ford and aboard HMS Eagle in GB coastal waters and Mediterranean, 1951-1953; served as instructor with 759 Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm at Royal Naval Air Stations Culdrose and Lossiemouth in GB, 1953-1954; attended Westland Wyvern Conversion Course at Royal Naval Air Station, Ford, GB, 10/1954-12/1954; served with 813 Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm at Royal Naval Air Station, Hal Far in Malta, 1954-1955; served with Staff of Senior Naval Officer, Northern Ireland at HMS Sea Eagle, Londonderry, Northern Ireland, 1955-1956; commanded 759 Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose, GB, 1956-1958

REEL 1 Background in Whitton and Brampton, 1925-1943: family; education; early interest in aviation; membership of Air Defence Cadet Corps and Air Training Corps; first flight with Alan Cobham's Flying Circus; continuing interest in aviation; sight of German Junkers Ju 88 crashing near Whitton; attitude to declaration of Second World War. Recollections of period as NCO with Air Training Corps in GB, 1939-1942: activities with Air Training Corps; helping clear up after aircraft had dumped it's load of incendiaries; description of the Link Trainer; making up ammunition belts; bombing up Short Stirling; opinion of Short Stirling; sight of Short Stirling ground looping; awareness of casualties amongst RAF aircrew at RAF Whitton; impressions of Vickers Wellington; braking systems on Short Stirlings and Avro Lancasters; reasons for joining Fleet Air Arm. REEL 2 Continues: ground instruction; handling weapons; instruction on aircraft recognition; aiding RAF funding activities. Recollections of period as student with University Naval Division in Edinburgh, 2/1943-9/1943: character of university scheme; attending selection board on volunteering for Fleet Air Arm; types of questions asked on selection board; reception on arrival in Edinburgh; nature of training establishment; daily routine; plotting training; degree of naval training; the Arthur's Seat run and other sporting activities; use of seamanship manual; nature of training programme and instructors; drill training and saluting. REEL 3 Continues: graduation. Aspects of period as naval airman at Royal Naval Air Station Lee-on-Solent, Gosport, 9/1943- 11/1943: duties; activities; element of frustration; medical examination; dental work carried out; accommodation; lack of opportunities for recreational activities; bomb damage in Portsmouth. Aspects of period as naval airman at HMS St Vincent, Gosport, 11/1943-2/1944: joining pilots course; pattern of training; stripping down Vickers K gun blindfolded; instructors; ship recognition; question of drafting to Far East; drilling course; daily routine; rowing in cutters; impressions of Chief Petty Officer Wilmott; adjusting to naval lifestyle; opinion of skills learnt as naval airman; examinations at end of course; degree of frustration; drafting onto Commonwealth Training Plan in Canada. REEL 4 Continues: Aspects of journey from GB to Canada, 1944: drafting to RAF Heaton Park, 2/1944; embarking aboard Acquitania at Greenock; role as captain of the heads; manning anti-aircraft guns; arrival in New York; train journey from New York to Moncton, Canada; move to Goderich. Recollections of flying training as naval airman with 12 Elementary Flying Training School, Goderich, Ontario, Canada, 4/1944-6/1944: nature of airfield and surrounding area; accommodation; civilian instructors; ground instruction in theory of flight, meteorology and navigation; pattern of training; attitude towards ground instruction; start of flying instruction; differences between Canadian and British built De Havilland Tiger Moths; De Havilland Tiger Moth cockpit instruments; communications between pilot and instructor; character of De Havilland Tiger Moth; swinging propeller to start engine; first flight; restrictions on flying over Goderich. REEL 5 Continues: maintaining straight and level flight; turning aircraft; climbing and descending; effects of gravity on pilot; sensitivity of controls; confidence in flying abilities; glide approaches and side slipping; judging distance to ground from air on landing; pattern of early flying training; stalling the aircraft; recovering from stall; spinning aircraft and recovery; problems with landing; rapid removal of those who failed the course; taxiing the De Havilland Tiger Moth; taking off; threats during take off including what to do on engine failure; soloing 12/5/1944. REEL 6 Continues: taking twelve hour test; navigating across country; landing away from base; instruction in forced landings; incident of actual forced landing on canopy collapse; threats to forced landings; formation flying with two aircraft; accidents; unofficial dogfighting practice; technique for getting out of inverted spin; visibility in the De Havilland Tiger Moth; effect of wind on an aircraft; instrument flying; leave in US; Chief Flying Instructors test; flick rolling aircraft; slow and barrel rolls; looping aircraft; attitude to flying De Havilland Tiger Moth. Recollections of flying training as naval airman at 31 Standard Flying Training School, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, 6/1944-10/1944: flying North American Harvard II. REEL 7 Continues: pattern of training including ship and aircraft recognition; first flight with RAF NCO pilot; instructor's backgrounds; ratio of dual instruction to solo flying; adjusting to flying North American Harvard; visibility and taxiing; use of retractable undercarriage; cross country flights; pre-flight checks; operating variable pitch propeller; noise produced by aircraft; air to air gunnery practice; bombing practice; continual assessment and allocation to torpedo bombing training; night flying practice. REEL 8 Continues: flying at night in Canada without blackout; night time cross country exercises; failure rate on course; smell and feel of the North American Harvard and other American aircraft; aircraft individual personalities; dealing with carburettor icing; problems with icing on wings; lack of air combat practice during training; award of wings and promotion to acting petty officer; reaction to acquiring wings; attitude to getting into operational training; voyage from Canada to GB aboard Mauritania. Period attending Commissioning Board at HMS Macaw, 12/1944: commissioning board; reaction and family's reaction to his commissioning. Aspects of flying training at 9 Advanced Flying Unit at RAF Tealing, 12/1944-2/1945: snowy conditions; landing in icy conditions; selection to fly Fairey Barracudas; posting to instrument course at RAF Hinstock, course at Greenwich and night. REEL 9 Continues: Aspects of period of Operational Flying Training at Royal Naval Air Station Crimond, Aberdeen, 3/1945-4/1945: character of Fairey Barracuda; crew of Fairey Barracuda; use of pilot notes; starting engine of Fairey Barracuda; boosting Rolls Royce Merlin XXXII engine; first flight in Fairey Barracuda including stalling and landing; use of Armstrong Whitworth Whitley to demonstrate engine handling characteristics of Fairey Barracuda; method of measuring wind direction and speed at sea; night flying; formation flying. Aspects of deck landing training at Royal Naval Air Station, Easthaven, Angus, GB, 4/1945-6/1945: carrying out Assisted Dummy Deck Landing Exercises; bombing practice; method of approach during bombing practice; technique for night bombing. REEL 10 Continues: technique for night time formation flying; batsman's use of illuminated bats for night time landing; role of batsman and signals used; deck landings on aircraft carrier HMS Smiter; reaction to first deck landing on board; spending night on board HMS Smiter; flying mail to Royal Naval Air Station Donabristle; taking off from HMS Smiter; arrangement of arrester wires; operating arrester hook; attitude to having completed deck landings. Aspects of operational training at Royal Naval Air Station, Ronaldsway, 6/1945-11/1945: journey to Isle of Man; crewing up; anti-submarine bombing practice; proposed role for invasion of Japan; simulating dropping B bomb; blacking out during dive attacks; sensations whilst diving aircraft. REEL 11 Continues: judging approach angles in Fairey Barracuda; initial problems with dive brakes on Fairey Barracuda; flying with crew; pilot who landed in southern Ireland; opportunity to fly Fairey Swordfish; gunnery practice for telegraphist air gunner; end of war and cancellation of drafting to HMS Colossus. Aspects of period on station flight duties at Royal Naval Air Station Arbroath, 11/1945-4/1946: duties; types of aircraft flown; flight down to RAF Whitton; conversion course to Airspeed Oxford; character of Airspeed Oxford; story of problems with brake pressure in Airspeed Oxford during flight to Little Snoring; handling of Airspeed Oxford; character of Fairey Firefly; transfer from Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve to Royal Navy; conversion course to Fairey Firefly Mark I at Royal Naval Air Station, Easthaven, 4/1946- 6/1946; differences between US and British naval aircraft cockpit instrumentation. REEL 12 Continues: character of flights from GB to India and onto Ceylon, 1946; impressions of India. Aspects of period as pilot with 814 Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm at Royal Naval Air Station, Trincolmalee, 6/1946-9/1946: accommodation on station; problems with thieving monkeys; squadron change over to Royal Navy personnel; first senior pilots lack of flying skills; reasons for Royal Navy recruiting pilots directly into Fleet Air Arm; rocket projectile firing practice; formation flying in finger four and use of cross over turns; aerial combat practice; Fairey Firefly's armament; low level flying; flying in tropical conditions; flying clothing worn; survival kit carried. REEL 13 Continues: provision of dingy and its operation; dingy drill. Recollections of period as pilot with 814 Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Venerable in Far East, 1946-1947: joining aircraft carrier, 9/1946; move to Singapore; presence of Japanese POWs in Singapore; firing rockets into Malayan jungle; swinging compasses ashore; damage to his aircraft in Hong Kong; character of HMS Venerable; nature of ablutions on board; ward room; taking of salt and anti-malarial tablets; conditions on board in tropical climate; organisation of flying operations; storage of aircraft; preparations for flying off; operation of catapult; folding of Fairey Firefly's wings and securing their spread. REEL 14 Continues: presence of Japanese shrine near airfield on Singapore; ashore in Singapore; character of Mobile Airfield at RAF Kai Tek in Hong Kong; rations in Hong Kong; method of increasing beer ration; effects of lack of flying practice; damage to his aircraft aboard HMS Glory; use of aircraft lighter to transport aircraft to carrier; fixing points for craning aircraft on board; composition of and relations with ground crew; role of engineering officer; character of operational flying; return voyage to GB including bad atmosphere in Cairo. Period as pilot with 814 Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm at Royal Naval Air Station Eglington, 5/1947-9/1947: reforming of squadron; introduction of new Fairey Firefly FR 1s. Aspects of period as pilot with 814 Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Vengence and on Malta, 1947-1948: embarking aboard HMS Vengence; flying from Malta; lack of flying from HMS Vengeance; posting to Royal Naval Air Station Tak Kali; contrast between RAF and Fleet Air Arm methods of landing; amusing story return voyage from Malta to GB aboard Taranto. REEL 15 Continues: Period as Link Trainer Instructor at Royal Naval Air Stations, Culdrose and Stretton, 4/1948-7/1948: attitude towards duties; obtaining posting to Central Flying School; character of Link Trainer. Aspects of period training as instructor with Central Flying School at RAF Little Rissington, 7/1948-1/1949: pattern of course and its importance; character of Percival Prentice; flying characteristics of De Havilland Mosquito; flying De Havilland Vampire Mark III; character of De Havilland Vampire Mark III; sensation of taking off in jet aircraft in comparison with piston aircraft; visibility in De Havilland Vampire Mark III; flying at high altitude; need to watch fuel consumption in jet aircraft; flying Avro Lancaster. REEL 16 Continues: assessment and examination during course; instrument rating examination; examination by instructors; results of Fleet Air Arm pilots on course; significance of completing course; use of 'patter' to explain flight to students; importance of Qualified Flying Instructor qualification. Aspects of period as instructor with Operational Flying School, Royal Naval Air Station, Lossiemouth, GB, 1/1949-10/1950: role of Qualified Flying Instructors; ground instruction with students in crew room; degree of danger; varying student abilities; reasons for failing students; problems students faced with landings; story of pilot who had problems landing on aircraft carriers; importance of pilots understanding and enjoying flight; need for pilots to be youthful; students who were natural flyers. REEL 17 Continues: Aspects of period on 7 Long Jet Course at Royal Naval Air Station, Culdrose, 10/1950: purpose of course; high level navigational training; flying with oxygen; effects of oxygen starvation; introduction of pressure breathing. Aspects of period test flying with Naval Air Fighting Development Unit at RAF West Raynham, GB, 11/1950-5/1951: development of snake climbing pattern and landing; use of sector beam; story of incident when he forced landed low in fuel in zero cloud cover; characteristics of Supermarine Attacker. REEL 18 Continues: Recollections of period as pilot with 800 Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm at Royal Naval Air Station, Ford and aboard HMS Eagle in GB coastal waters and Mediterranean, 1951-1953: brief period aboard HMS Starling prior to posting to squadron; problems with fuel supply from belly tank in Supermarine Attacker; incident when he had problems with fuel supply; incident when his control panel froze; problems with icing; dealing with problems encountered with Supermarine Attacker; Supermarine Attacker's armament; length of working up process; ring bolt problem aboard HMS Eagle; adoption of American batting system; working with US and Netherlands during Operation Mainbrase in North Sea; flying combat air patrols in cold weather; target practice; opinion of Supermarine Attacker; incident when spent cartridge flew into pilots windscreen; aircraft camouflage; immersion suits; helmets; use of catapult to take off from aircraft carrier; incident when American exchange pilot ditched from carrier; loss of aircraft during fly past for Marshal Tito in Mediterranean. REEL 19 Continues: dealing with engineering problems encountered with Supermarine Attacker. Aspects of period as instructor with 759 Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm at Royal Naval Air Stations Culdrose and Lossiemouth in GB, 1953-1954: instructional duties; problems with Gloster Meteor T VII; location of instructor in aircraft and visibility; un-pressurised nature of aircraft; flying at altitude; characteristics of Gloster Meteor; students adjusting to flying jet aircraft; pattern of instruction; students need to adjust to effect of G force; slowing down in jet aircraft in comparison with piston engined aircraft; instructing on navigation on the climb; low flying over sea; threat of bird strikes and precautions taken on airfields; reasons for move from Culdrose to Lossiemouth; story of loss of pilot during flight with students from Culdrose to Lossiemouth; character of twin seat De Havilland Vampire T22s. REEL 20 Continues: flying over Spithead Review; incident when fire warning light came on during flight; ease of instructions in De Havilland Vampire T22; opinion of De Havilland Vampire T22; gliding experience at Lossiemouth. Aspects of period as pilot with Westland Wyvern Conversion Course at Royal Naval Air Station, Ford, 10/1954-12/1954: background to development of Westland Wyvern; vices encountered during development of Westland Wyvern; incident leading to development of ejector seat to work underwater; operation of Martin Baker Ejector Seats; solving of fuel starvation problem; problems with leading edge of wings on Westland Wyvern; character of Westland Wyvern. Aspects of period with 813 Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm at Royal Naval Air Station Hal Far, Malta, 1954-1955: operating with tank units in Libya; stay with tank unit in desert. REEL 21 Continues: reaction to driving Centurion Tank; co-operation with French Navy during Operation Sea Lance at Bizerta; problems of getting back to airfield at Bizerta; problems with hydraulics on return flight to Malta; attempt to mine royal yacht entering Valetta harbour. Period as officer with Staff of Senior Naval Officer, Northern Ireland at HMS Sea Eagle, Londonderry, Northern Ireland, 1955-1956: attitude to non-flying duties; amusing incident of alarm at barracks. Recollections of period as commanding 759 Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm at Royal Naval Air Station, Culdrose, 1956-1958: instructing duties; flying Firefly Firefly T7; opinion of Fairey Gannet; role as commanding officer; integrating German pilots attached to squadron; skills of German observers; training observers; problem with Fairey Gannet; visibility Fairey Gannet; reasons for leaving Fleet Air Arm, 10/1958.