Rickman, Eric Stanley (Oral history)

British civilian cyclist messenger with 54th Surrey (Wimbledon) Bn Home Guard in Raynes Park, GB, 1940; naval airman trained at HMS Royal Arthur, Skegness and HMS St Vincent, Gosport in GB, 4/1942-8/1942; trained as pilot with No 14 Elementary Flying Training School, RAF at RAF Emdon, GB and No 31 Service Flying Training School, RCAF Kingston, Canada, 8/1942-5/1943; officer trained as pilot with No 9 Advanced Flying Unit, RAF at RAF Errol, GB, 6/1943; trained with Naval Air Torpedo School, HMS Jackdaw, Royal Naval Air Station Crail, GB, 6/1943-8/1943; served with Deck Landing Training School, HMS Peewit, Royal Naval Air Station East Haven and Naval Air Gunnery School, HMS Vulture, Royal Naval Air Station, St Merryn, GB, 9/1943-3/1944; served with HMS Blackcap, Royal Naval Air Station, Stretton and No 1 Naval Operational Training Unit, HMS Nightjar, Royal Naval Air Station, Inskip, 4/1944-6/1944; served with 854 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm, No 157 Wing, Coastal Command, RAF at RAF Hawkinge, GB, 6/1944-8/1944; served with 854 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm at HMS Ukussa, Royal Naval Air Station Katukurunda, Ceylon, 10/1944-11/1944; served with 854 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Illustrious, British Pacific Fleet in Indian Ocean, 11/1944-1/1945; served with 854 Naval Air Sqdn, 2nd Carrier Air Group, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Illustrious, 1st Aircraft Carrier Sqdn, British Pacific Fleet in Pacific, 2/1945-6/1945

REEL 1 Background in Lambeth, London and Raynes Park, GB, 1922-1940: family; father's recreational activities; relationship with father; education; sporting activities; membership of Army Cadet Corps; values of Army Cadet Corps activities; hearing declaration of Second World War during cycling holiday, 3/9/1939; period as student at art school in Clapham and evacuation of school to Northampton. Aspects of period as cyclist messenger with 54th Surrey (Wimbledon) Bn Home Guard in Raynes Park, GB, 1940: joining Local Defence Volunteers, (LDV) 6/1940; duties as cyclist messenger; incident of being blown of bicycle by anti-aircraft shell; character of Home Guard. REEL 2 Continues: hand grenade practise; method of putting out incendiary bombs on common; opinion of television series 'Dad's Army'. Aspects of enlistment as naval airman with Fleet Air Arm in Northampton, GB, 1940: reporting for call-up in Northampton; medical examination; amusing story of volunteering for Fleet Air Arm; early interest in aviation and reasons for volunteering for Fleet Air Arm; attending selection board; physical examination; deferment of service until 1942. Recollections of training as naval airman at HMS Royal Arthur, Skegness, GB, 4/1942-6/1942: accommodation; Chief Petty Officer Callahan's method of waking recruits; daily routine; instruction in Aldis Lamp. REEL 3 Continues: meals and method of washing up; attitude towards seamanship instruction; adjusting to naval life. Aspects of training as naval airman at HMS St Vincent, Gosport, GB, 6/1942-8/1942: move to HMS St Vincent; under report whilst drilling men by Chief Petty Officer Wilmott; accommodation; attending 'fart lighting competition'; frustration at lack of aviation training; affect of drilling to Royal Marine band; climbing mast; meteorology instructor. REEL 4 Continues: Recollections of flying training as naval airman at No 14 Elementary Flying Training School, RAF at RAF Elmdon, GB, 8/1942-9/1942: reporting to airfield, 8/1942; character of airfield; issue of flying equipment; familiarisation flight; character of De Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth; use of Sutton Harness; loss of sister's lucky halfpenny during aircraft's inversion on familiarisation flight; cockpit instruments; need to trust instruments; spinning aircraft; control column; aircraft colour and markings; flying circuit; controlling aircraft; straight and level flight; method of starting De Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth; taking off; making turns; approach and landings. REEL 5 Continues: taxiing aircraft; soloing; method of getting out of spin; starting engine in flight; slow rolling in De Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth during final examination; attempt to make forced landing with instructor; cross-country flights; night flying; need to trust instruments and not senses; reasons for pupils failing flying training; his aptitude for night flying. REEL 6 Continues: Aspects of voyage aboard HMT Queen Elizabeth from GB to US, 1942: arrival at Gourock, GB; embarking on board; duties on board; seasickness; train journey from New York, US to Canada. Recollections of flying training as naval airman with No 31 Service Flying Training School, RCAF Kingston, Canada, 11/1942-5/1943: initial effect of noise of North American Harvard propellers; flying training with North American Harvard; initial problems landing North American Harvard; incident when he damaged aircraft wing on landing; bombing practice; cross-country flights; landing in snow during cross-country flight to Trenton. REEL 7 Continues: lack of formation flying and subsequent training at HMS Nightjar, Royal Naval Air Station Inskip in GB, 1944; obtaining wings at end of course; staying with English family during embarkation leave in New York, US including visit to Radio City; in transit at Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada; return to GB, 5/1943. Aspects of training as pilot with No 9 Advanced Flying Unit, RAF at RAF Errol in GB, 6/1943: commissioning and appointment; use of pilot notes to convert to aircraft; starting Fairey Swordfish; characteristics of Fairey Swordfish. REEL 8 Continues: Aspects of period of torpedo training at Naval Air Torpedo School, HMS Jackdaw, Royal Naval Air Station Crail, GB, 6/1943-8/1943: technique for dropping torpedoes from Fairey Swordfish; problems of judging distance over sea; use of simulator; training to carry torpedoes; characteristics of Fairey Albacore; incident of having to force land Fairey Albacore after engine failure; aftermath of forced landing and reason for engine failure; robust character of Fairey Swordfish. Aspects of training with Deck Landing Training School, HMS Peewit, Royal Naval Air Station East Haven and Naval Air Gunnery School, HMS Vulture, Royal Naval Air Station, St Merryn, GB, 9/1943-3/1944: need for batsman in Fleet Air Arm; character of batsmen; injuries sustained from falling from stationary aircraft. REEL 9 Continues: duties driving artificial island 'HMS Spurious'; amusing story of avoiding crash into 'HMS Spurious' during Admiral's Inspection; nature of deck landings; deck landing training on HMS Argus; posting to Naval Air Gunnery School at HMS Vulture, Royal Naval Air Station, St Merryn. Aspects of period as officer with HMS Blackcap, Royal Naval Air Station, Stretton and No 1 Naval Operational Training Unit, HMS Nightjar, Royal Naval Air Station Inskip, GB, 4/1944-6/1944: conversion to Grumman Avenger; performing aerobatics in Grumman Avenger; characteristics of Grumman Avenger; crew positions; crewing up at No 1 Naval Operational Training Unit, HMS Nightjar, Royal Naval Air Station, Inskip; deck landing Grumman Avenger. REEL 10 Continues: Recollections of operations as pilot with 854 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm, No 157 Wing, Coastal Command, RAF at RAF Hawkinge, GB, 6/1944-8/1944: background to joining squadron; difference in Grumman Avenger's performance with bomb load on board; types of patrols carried out including Rover Patrols; method of attacking German coastal shipping; story of attacking two German ships in English Channel; duration of Rover Patrols; lack of briefings for operations; incident of nearly crashing aircraft whilst flying at low-level over water; effects on aircraft flying characteristics of carrying bomb load. REEL 11 Continues: incident of flying over static anti-aircraft position over Netherlands coast; end of duties over English Channel, 8/1944; distinctive markings on aircraft used during Normandy Landings; designing squadron board and crest. Aspects of period as pilot with 854 Naval Air Sqdn at Ukussa, Royal Naval Air Station, Katukurunda, Ceylon, 10/1944-11/1944: voyage from GB to India aboard HMS Activity, 9/1944; collecting Grumman Avengers in India; move to station, 10/1944; use of metal runway. Recollections of operations as pilot with 854 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Illustrious, British Pacific Fleet in Indian Ocean 11/1944-1/1945: working up for operations aboard HMS Illustrious; flying clothing worn; amusing story of briefing from Women's Royal Naval Service officer; survival equipment carried; arrester wire and crash barrier arrangement on board aircraft carriers; incident when Vought Corsair pilot was fatally injured during deck landing; crowded conditions on board HMS Illustrious. REEL 12 Continues: accommodation on board; armoured nature of aircraft carrier; memories of Captain Charles Lambe; relations between regular Royal Navy and Fleet Air Arm officers; use of catapult; story of incident when he was summoned to report to Captain Charles Lambe after mistaking merchant vessel for aircraft carrier in Pacific; problems with thick cloud cover during abortive raid on oil refinery on Sumatra, Dutch East Indies; attacking secondary target at Belawan Deli, 20/11/1944; force of tropical rainfall; role as deck officer; organisation of operations aboard aircraft carriers. REEL 13 Continues: Recollections of operations as pilot with 854 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Illustrious, British Pacific Fleet during attacks on oil refineries at Pladjoe and Soengi Gerong, near Palembang, Sumatra, Dutch East Indies, 24/1/1945 and 29/1945: intelligence briefing for raids; first raid on Pladjoe, 24/1/1945; character of briefing by commander officer Lieutenant Commander William 'Charlie' Mainprice; shaking off Japanese fighter; loss of commanding officer Lieutenant Commander William 'Charlie' Mainprice and second pilot Sub-Lieutenant Roland Armstrong to balloon cable during raid on oil refinery at Soengi Gerong, 29/1/1945; bombing pump house and flying through cloud made by burning oil; sight of Grumman Avenger in shallow dive; loss of waterbottle through cockpit window; reasons for loss of commanding officer; degree of anti-aircraft fire over target. Recollections of operations as pilot with 854 Naval Sqdn, 2nd Carrier Air Group, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Illustrious, 1st Aircraft Carrier Sqdn in Pacific, 2/1945-6/1945: going ashore in Freemantle, Australia, 2/1945; story of landing in small town in Australia and reception there; flying down main street in Australian town at six feet; role of squadron in attacking airfields on Sakishima Gunto Islands, Japan; taking off to rising sun, 26/3/1945. REEL 14 Continues: Japanese anti-aircraft fire over Hirara Island, Japan; spotting commanding officer Lieutenant Commander Frederick Nottingham's aircraft was on fire after raid on Ishigaki Island, Japan; role as safety aircraft; rescue of commanding officer by American submarine; ignorance of Americans about role of Fleet Air Arm during Okinawa campaign; sight of Chinese mainland during raid on Shinchiku Island off Formosa; length of time over targets; anti-aircraft damage to his aircraft's wing during raid on airfield on Ishigaki Island; degree of excitement in diving aircraft; Kamikaze attack on aircraft carrier and damage to ship, 6/4/1945; problems with HMS Illustrious' propellers; return to GB, 6/1945. Aspects of period as pilot with Fleet Air Arm in GB, 1945-1946: posting to HMS Shrike, Royal Naval Air Station, Maydown, Northern Ireland; character of Fairey Barracuda; role as anti-submarine bombing instructor at HMS Urley, Royal Naval Air Station, Ronaldsway, Isle of Man; story of collision between submarine and motor torpedo boat during anti-submarine exercise. REEL 15 Continues: recovery of his watch after submarine collision; aftermath of submarine collision incident; final appointment with HMS Jackdaw, Royal Naval Air Station Crail, 1945-1946; attitude to having served with Fleet Air Arm during Second World War; story of flying a North American Harvard to 18,000 feet during training in Canada.