Description
Object description
South African officer served as pilot with 603 Sqdn RAF in GB including Battle of Britain, 1940
Content description
REEL 1 Story of nickname; memory of Alan Cobham's air show and ride in Avro Mongoose; story of applying for short service commission, 8/1938. Aspects of training with RAF in GB, 1939-1940: training on Tiger Moths at Waltham and Maidenhead: posted to No 13 Elementary Flying School, Drem, Scotland; question of pay; posted to 11 Group pool, Cardiff; training on Harvards and Hurricanes; posted to 32 Sqdr, Biggin Hill; opinion of aerodrome; story of forced landing; posted to 603 Sqdr in Scotland; comparison of flying Spitfire and Hurricane; accommodation in mill. Aspects of operations with 603 Sqdr RAF in GB, 1940: description of shooting down German aircraft; story of CO and bullet in radiator; story of problem with undercarriage and bailing out; injury to knee; casualties in squadron; formation flying; question of experience; importance of height in combat; daily routine; question of Navy firing on own aircraft; communications with ground and navigation; story of being shot down; damage to aircraft; memory of landing in field and civilians having picnic; problem of damage to ailerons; description of scramble procedure; setting course and nature of defensive and offensive operations; question of flying in formation; description of take-off from Hornchurch; colour codes for sections; role of Tail End Charlie; question of height and speed; description of Spitfire Mk2 constant speed propeller; problem with controls at high speed; use of trim to control speed; opinion of ground crew; description of VHF and radio sets; story of bailing out during night exercise, 4/1940; problem with parachute and injury to knee.
REEL 2 Continues: memory of Broody Benson; casualties; question of confirmed kills and claiming money; amusing story of Turkish baths; attitude to death; reason for pilots being known as 'Brylcreem Boys'; question of age of pilots; tactics in combat; question of press coverage; memory of Scott Morgan; tiered heights in formation; question of claiming kills; description of engagement with Me 109s and problem of locating airfield; attitude to importance of Battle of Britain; opinion of organisation of Fighter Command and use of radar; problem of lack of trained pilots; opinion of Dowding and Park; attitude to Big Wing formation; question of fear.