Wilkinson, Rupert Clive (Oral history)

375028890
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Permitted use for these purposes:
Personal use for non-commercial research and private study and other uses under the UK’s exceptions to copyright and those exceptions to copyright in place where the user is located.
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Description

Object description

British midshipman served as pilot with 896 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm in United States of America and aboard HMS Victorious in Pacific, 9/1942-9/1943; officer served with 896 and 881 Naval Air Sqdns, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Pursuer in North Atlantic, Arctic and Mediterranean, 11/1943-11/1944

Content description

REEL 1 Background in China and GB, 1922-1940: family; education. Aspects of enlistment and training as naval airman with Fleet Air Arm in GB, 1941: selection process; fire fighting duties in Portsmouth, 1941; start of training at HMS St Vincent, Gosport; treatment by instructors; climbing mast; splicing wires. Aspects of training as pilot with Fleet Air Arm in United States of America and GB, 1941-1942: status of recruits; American attitude to nakedness; opinion of Brewster F2A Buffalo; attitude to flying; reaction of his instructor to his crashing aircraft; ground looping; selection as fighter pilot; return to GB aboard HMS Biter. REEL 2 Continues: forced landing after engine failure in Cornwall; opinion of Fairey Fulmar; attitude towards night flying; need to trust instruments. Recollections of operations as pilot with 896 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm in United States of America and aboard HMS Victorious in Pacific, 9/1942-9/1943: working up in United States of America; contrast between British and American designed naval aircraft; character of Grumman Martlet IV; nature of practice landings on aircraft carriers; accident during landing aboard USS Charger; lending of HMS Victorious as USS Robin to US Navy in Pacific; operations in South Pacific; period aboard USS Saratoga after crash on take off, 7/1943; anti-aircraft guns on board USS Casey; infestation aboard USS Saratoga, 7/1943. REEL 3 Continues: return to GB. Aspects of operations as pilot with 896 and 881 Naval Air Sqdns, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Pursuer in North Atlantic, Arctic and Mediterranean, 11/1943-11/1944: organisation of 896 Naval Air Sqdn and later amalgamation with 881 Naval Air Sqdn; attack on German battleship Tirpitz during Operation Tungsten in Norway, 3/4/1944; action in which German aircraft were successfully attacked at night; role during Operation Dragoon, invasion of Southern France, 12/8/1944-27/8/1944; damage to aircraft and casualties from anti-aircraft fire; attacks on shipping and transport in Aegean Sea, 9/1944; use of skip bombing during anti-shipping strikes off coast of Norway, 12/11/1944-14/11/1944; use of Benzedrine. Aspects of period with Carrier Trials Unit, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Pretoria Castle in GB coastal waters, 1945: duties. REEL 4 Continues: landing on with Supermarine Seafire; demobilisation; attitude to having served with Fleet Air Arm during Second World War.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1990 to the present day (production)
Creator: IWM (Production company)
McDonough, Richard (Recorder)
Wilkinson, Rupert Clive (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 2006-05-11
Dimensions: whole: Duration 120, Number Of Items 4
Catalogue number: 28936

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Wilkinson, Rupert Clive (Oral history)

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