Lygo, Raymond Derek (Oral history)

British naval airman trained as pilot with Fleet Air Arm in GB and Canada, 1942-1944; officer served as pilot with 887 Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm in Northern Ireland and aboard HMS Indefatigable in Arctic, Indian Ocean and Pacific, 1944-1945; served as instructor with Central Flying School, Little Rissington and with 799 Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm at Royal Naval Air Station, Lee on Solent, GB, 1946-1949; attached to VF 172 Sqdn, US Navy in US and Mediterranean, 1949-1950; commanded 759 Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm at Royal Naval Air Station, Culdrose, GB, 1951-1952; served aboard HMS Veryan Bay in West Indies, 1953; served as instructor with Jet Conversion Unit, Royal Naval Air Station, Lossiemouth, 1953; commanded 800 Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm in GB and aboard HMS Ark Royal in Mediterranean, 1954-1956; served as Staff Aviation Officer at Royal Naval Air Station, Yeovilton, GB, 1956-1957; served as staff officer with Director of Air Organisation Training at Admiralty, London, GB, 1958-1959; served as Staff Aviation Officer to Flag Officer Aircraft Carriers in Atlantic, 1959-1961; commanded HMS Lowestoft in GB coastal waters, Atlantic and West Indies, 1961-1963; commanded Royal Naval College, Greenwich, GB, 1964; Deputy Director of Naval Warfare at Admiralty. London, GB, 1964-1966; commanded HMS Ark Royal in GB coastal waters and Mediterranean, 1969-1971; served as Flag Officer Aircraft Carriers in GB, 1971-1973; served as Director General Naval Manpower and Training at Admiralty, London, GB, 1973-1975; served as Vice Chief of Naval Staff, 1975-1978. Civilian Managing Director and Chief Executive of Dynamics Group, British Aerospace, 1978-1982; Manager Director and Chief Executive of British Aerospace, 1982-1989

REEL 1 Background in Ilford and Orpington, GB, 1924-1942: family; employment with Times Newspaper; membership of Air Training Corps. Aspects of enlistment with Fleet Air Arm in GB, 1942: selection process; initial failure of eyesight test; reasons for enlisting in Fleet Air Arm; memories of attempting to get home during German Air Force attacks on London. Aspects of training as naval airman with 45 Pilots Course, Fleet Air Arm at Royal Naval Air Station, Lee on Solent and HMS St Vincent, Gosport, 1942-1943: reception on arrival, 11/1942; character of training; taking drill; attitude to naval service; memories of Chief Petty Officer Wilmott; character of training. Recollections of flying training with Fleet Air Arm at RAF Sealand, 1943: initial ground instruction; collision with aircraft during training. REEL 2 Continues: characteristics of De Havilliand Tiger Moth; gliding approach and landing; taxiing De Havilland Tiger Moth; turning aircraft; cockpit instruments; spinning and recovery; pattern of training prior to soloing; reaction to soloing; opinion of De Havilland Tiger Moth as trainer; character of flying equipment; forced and precautionary landing practice; side slipping; learning airmanship; low flying; story of forced landing in North American Harvard whilst instructor at Royal Naval Air Station Lee on Solent; how land looks from air; failure rate during flying training. REEL 3 Continues: Recollections of flying training in Kingston, Canada, 1943: voyage from GB to New York; story of accidental visit to brothel; pattern of training at Kingston; characteristics of the North American Harvard; formation flying; instrument flying and need to trust instruments; night flying; selection for fighter pilot training; opinion and character of ground instruction. REEL 4 Continues: pre-flight checks on North American Harvard; post flight debriefing; degree of confidence in flying skills at end of course; reaction to receiving wings at end of course; leave in US at end of course; status of naval airmen on voyage back to GB. Aspects of flying training at RAF Errol, GB, 1943: comparison between North American Harvard and Miles Master; familiarisation to GB weather conditions; night flying; promotion to sub-lieutenant at Royal Naval Air Station, Lee on Solent on return to GB; status of petty officer pilots; purchase of naval uniform. Aspects of period as pilot with Naval Air Fighter School at Royal Naval Air Station, Yeovilton, GB, 1944: making choice of Supermarine Seafire; first instructional flight; characteristics of Supermarine Seafire; personal technique devised for dummy deck landings; impressions of Supermarine Seafire; method of approach. REEL 5 Continues: deck landings on HMS Ravenger on River Clyde; injuries sustained during crash during deck landings; gunnery practice; instructors; operating Supermarine Seafire's hook; operating at full power; arrangement of arrester wires and barrier on aircraft carriers; importance of maintaining stall speed on landing. Aspects of period as pilot with 766 Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm in Speke, 1944: general flying duties; character of Boulton Paul Defiant; flying the Blackburn Skua; flying Stinson Reliant; flying aircraft with gunnery drogue; some pilots 'collecting' of aircraft types. REEL 6 Continues: Recollections of operations as pilot with 887 Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm in Northern Ireland and aboard HMS Indefatigable in Arctic, 1944: flight to Northern Ireland; reception on arrival at squadron at Royal Naval Air Station, Eglington, Northern Ireland; training with 894 Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm; embarking on board HMS Indefatigable; conditions on board carriers; relations with ground crew and ships' crew; Captain Peter Graham's response to lack of tyres in Arctic; problems of landing on with tinted goggles; duration of patrols in Arctic; use of long range fuel tanks; attitude to flying high altitude combat air patrols; main threats to convoys in Arctic; role of squadron in attacking German airfields; technique for attacking airfields and coastal shipping. REEL 7 Continues: problems with contaminated aircraft fuel; dealing with staff officer who made remarks about his flying; use of alcohol amongst pilots; prevalence of smoking in Royal Navy; briefing for attacks on airfields in Norway; method of attacking airfields and returning to carrier; difficulty of identifying targets on ground; lack of feedback after raids on Norway; source and accuracy of intelligence; conserving ammunition; lack of difficulty finding carrier; role as commanding officer's wingman; formations flown; weather prediction and cases when weather closed in; landing on in Arctic conditions. REEL 8 Continues: Recollections of operations as pilot with 887 Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Indefatagable in Indian Ocean and Pacific, 1944-1945: problems with weather during flight from Lee on Solent to embark on HMS Indefatagable; ashore in Alexandria, Egypt; arrival in Ceylon, 12/1944; loss of fellow pilot in accident; method of operating combat air patrols over fleet; attacks on Indonesian oil fields; provision of survival aids prior to attacks on Formosa; use of Supermarine Sea Otter for air sea rescue; awareness of Japanese treatment of captured aircrew; role of fleet train; accident during transfer between ships; contact with US personnel and islanders in Pacific; difficulties of operating in Pacific; move to Royal Naval Air Station Nowra in Australia; kamikaze attack on carrier. REEL 9 Continues: taking off during kamikaze attack; aftermath of the kamikaze attack; attitude to end of the Second World War; taking short service commission during return to GB aboard HMS Implacable. Aspects of period as instructor with Central Flying School, Little Rissington and 799 Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm at Royal Naval Air Station, Lee on Solent, GB, 1946-1949: appointment to flying instructors course; types of pilots attending course; appointment as instructor; instructing pilots; grounding senior officer; flying and instructing on Avro Lancaster and De Havilland Mosquito; how his dog Buck enjoyed flying; contrast in attitudes in Fleet Air Arm and RAF; reasons for high number of accidents in post-war Fleet Air Arm; flying jet aircraft in contrast to piston engined aircraft; problems of flying aircraft to limit in RAF on Empire Flying Course, 1949. Recollections of period as pilot on attachment to VF 172 Sqdn, US Navy in US and Mediterranean, 1949-1950: appointment to US; joining US Navy squadron. REEL 10 Continues: incident of attempting to land on single engine on McDonnell Banshee; flying from USS Philippine Sea; landing McDonnell Banshee after his wingman aircraft burst a tyre; relations with US personnel; abortive attempt to demonstrate interception of high level US Air Force bombers; operating from USS Coral Sea in Mediterranean, 1950; award of US Occupation of Europe campaign medal; character and performance of McDonnell Banshee. REEL 11 Continues: Aspects of period as commanding officer of 759 Sqdn, Royal Naval Air Station, Culdrose, GB, 1951-1952: initial duties at Naval Air Fighter School,; attempts to find accommodation in Cornwall; problems of centralised maintenance; formation of 759 Sqdn; building squadron morale; use of De Havilland Vampire trainers; amusing story of attending meeting about status of squadron commanders; story of attempt to use articulated lorry to land aircraft on during air day; instructing Stan Lennon to fly in Hawker Sea Fury after he had injured his leg in Korea; running around of HMS Wave in St Ives; social activities; character of De Havilland Sea Hornet and Blackburn Firebrand; problems with radiator with Supermarine Seafire Mk XVII; cockpit in De Havilland Vampire trainer; contrast in commanding ships and squadrons. REEL 12 Continues: Aspects of period as officer aboard HMS Veryan Bay in West Indies, 1953: reception on arrival; method of dealing with stoker who wanted to go ashore during stoppage of leave; appointment as gunnery officer and taking charge of boys division; story of lecturing boy seamen on sexual education; relations with ship's officers; need to find money for wife's emergency operation; obtaining watch keeping certificate; amusing story of captain's short sightedness; story of docking in Portuguese anchorage; return to GB. Aspects of period as instructor with Jet Conversion Unit at Royal Naval Air Station, Lossiemouth, 1953: duties; amusing story of conversation about his instructional manner; degree to which information was passed on in Fleet Air Arm; story illustrating lessons learnt about obtaining information during purchase of helicopters; opinion of Hawker Sea Hawk. REEL 13 Continues: Recollections of period as commanding officer of 800 Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm in GB and aboard HMS Ark Royal in Mediterranean, 1954-1956: characteristics of Hawker Sea Hawk; attending Day Fighter Leaders course; formation of squadron; background of squadron pilots; flying jet aircraft from aircraft carriers in comparison with piston engined aircraft; night flying exercises with Hawker Sea Hawk; introduction of landing aids and steam catapultson HMS Ark Royal; degree of dangers of flight deck with jet aircraft in comparison with piston engined aircraft; character of HMS Ark Royal; motivation of naval personnel; relations between Royal Navy and Fleet Air Arm personnel. REEL 14 Continues: operating Hawker Sea Hawk from HMS Ark Royal; launching jet aircraft in harbour; loss of squadron member; problems with fire warning light; character of squadron. Aspects of period as Staff Aviation Officer at Royal Naval Air Station, Yeovilton, GB, 1956-1957: duties; memories of Charles Evans; flying Supermarine Seafire on airday; attitude towards staff work; opinion of De Havilland Sea Venom. Aspects of period as staff officer with Director of Air Organisation Training at Admiralty, London, GB, 1958-1959: appointment to duties; increasing professionalism in Fleet Air Arm; types of aircraft flown by Fleet Air Arm; effects of financial cutbacks on Fleet Air Arm; amusing story of senior officers response to civil servant request for carpet. REEL 15 Continues: ruse to aid departmental drinking; quality of aircraft carriers. Aspects of period as Staff Aviation Officer to Flag Officer Aircraft Carriers in Atlantic, 1959-1961: role of Fleet Air Arm; opinion of US Navy capablities; description of CDS radar system; character of exercises; conversion course to helicopters at Royal Naval Air Station, Culdrose and types flown, 1959; opinion of Westland Whirlwind; flying helicopters. Recollections of period commanding HMS Lowestoft in GB coastal waters, Atlantic and West Indies, 1961-1963: background to taking command; standing by during building on River Clyde; role as captain of ship; working up at Portland. REEL 16 Continues: effects of illness of ship's First Lieutenant; move to Gibraltar; amusing story of joke played on Flag Officer Gibraltar and Admirals visit to Spain; duties in West Indies; story illustrating differences between commanding officers; role of captain in making a happy ship; his advice to crew in French port; method of apologising to French admiral after visit by crew; fostering of crew spirit. REEL 17 Continues: introduction of new plotting table; problems with boilers on visit to US. Aspects of period as Commander of Naval College, Greenwich, GB, 1964: attitude to appointment; reception on arrival; amusing story relating to his steward; attempts to reform aspects of the college including wine supplies. Aspects of period as Deputy Director of Naval Warfare at Admiralty. London, GB, 1964-1966: appointment to position; situation with aircraft carriers and aircraft on his appointment; effects of change of Government on naval budget; inter-service rivalry with RAF; dealing with Denis Healey. REEL 18 Continues: question of capablities of RAF to defend Royal Navy vessels; question of operational capacity of aircraft carriers; power of Rolls Royce during the debate over introduction of McDonnell- Douglas Phantom; nature of politics surrounding the debate over aircraft carriers; outcome of the defence cuts on the Fleet Air Arm; reputation of Westlands; meeting with pilot who had been flying Sikorsky Sea King helicopter in US; visit to US to fly Sikorsky Sea King and dealing with specifications with Westlands; character of Sikorsky Sea King; way in which Westlands specified their helicopters; question of putting Rolls Royce Spey engine into McDonnell-Douglas Phantom. REEL 19 Continues: effects of Healey defence review; problems of European collaboration in aircraft design; reasons why French dominated aircraft projects; failure of joint European projects. Aspects of period as commander of HMS Ark Royal in GB coastal waters and Mediterranean, 1969-1971: appointment as captain; extending of carriers' commission; state of Fleet Air Arm during early 1970s; changes in aircraft carrier design; role commanding an aircraft carrier; motivation of crew. Aspects of period as Flag Officer Aircraft Carriers in GB, 1971-1973: appointment to role; contact with US aircraft carriers and lessons learnt; US view of Fleet Air Arm. REEL 20 Continues: Aspects of period as Director General Naval Manpower and Training at Admiralty, London, GB, 1973-1975: appointment to role; innovations he introduced. Aspects of period as Vice Chief of Naval Staff in GB, 1975-1978: appointment; character of Royal Navy's role during Cod War; tactics employed by Icelandic gunboats during the Cod War; question of separate service establishments; decision to leave Royal Navy. Aspects of period as Managing Director and Chief Executive of Dynamics Group, British Aerospace, 1978-1982: background to joining company; initial duties; reception as managing director at Hatfield; re-organisation of Hatfield site including meeting staff; question of status of former government employees; question of discussing the potential privatisation of the company in 1979. REEL 21 Continues: background to appoinment of Chairman of British Aerospace; account of privatisation of British Aerospace; question of British Aerospace's approach to civil aircraft market; dealing with the Ministry of Defence; appointment to Chief Executive of company; dealing with European project; French attitude towards aircraft development. Aspect of period as Manager Director and Chief Executive of British Aerospace, 1982-1989 decision to concentrate manufacture in north of GB. REEL 22 Continues: development in mine warfare; background to selling of Scottish Aviation Jetstream; fate of British Aerospace on his leaving the company; contract with Saudi Arabia Government; question of buying Rover; activities at British Aerospace; leaving British Aerospace.