Description
Object description
British naval airman trained with Fleet Air Arm at Royal Naval Air Station GB, 1942-1943; officer served as observer with 831 Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm in GB and aboard HMS Victorious in GB coastal waters, off Norway and Far East, 1944; served as Assistant Operations aboard HMS Victorious, 1944-1945. Various postings with Instructor Branch, Royal Navy in GB and Malta, 1945-1964
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Sunderland and Loughborough, GB, 1920-1939: family; education; period as student in Loughborough, 1939-1941. Aspects of enlistment and training with Royal Navy in GB, 1941-1942: reasons for choosing Royal Navy; background to recruitment as air fitter; period in Portsmouth Barracks; duties on Isle of Wight and at Royal Naval Air Station, Lee on Solent; recruitment as observer in Fleet Air Arm. Aspects of training as observer with Fleet Air Arm in GB, 1942: pattern of training; signal training; training at Royal Naval Air Station, Arbroath including air to air gunnery; course losses; character of instructors.
REEL 2 Continues: problems with nightflying; communication between pilot and observer in Fairey Swordfish; opinion of Fairey Swordfish; problems learning Morse Code; incidents during navigation at night; relations with officers; married accommodation in Arbroath; progress of war; preference to flying in Fairey Swordfish as opposed to Westland Lysander; navigational tools. Aspects of period as observer with 831 Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm in GB, 1943-1944: posting to squadron at Royal Naval Air Station, Lee on Solent after commissioning; replacement of squadron aircraft with Fairey Barracuda; problems with Fairey Barracuda; character of his pilot; training for night dive bombing.
REEL 3 Continues: volunteering for sea service on convoy to Iceland; problems with new aircraft's wings. Recollections of operations as observer with 831 Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Victorious during attacks on Tirpitz in Norway and in Far East, 1944-1945: embarking on board HMS Victorious, 1/1944; reception on arrival; accommodation on board; use of hangar; character of the wardroom; presence of Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve personnel on board; first landing on carrier; flying off carrier; landing on carrier; aircraft armament; anti-submarine patrols.
REEL 4 Continues: formation of wing for attack on Tirpitz, 4/1944; bombs carried on operation; forming up after taking off from carrier; weather conditions and sight of anti-aircraft fire; attack on Tirpitz; return to carrier; visit by King George VI at Scapa Flow; hospitalisation. Recollections of operations as Assistant Operations Officer aboard HMS Victorious in Far East and Pacific, 1944-1945: accidental loss of 831 Sqdn aircraft in Mediterranean during voyage to Far East; loss of his pilots; reasons for change in role to Assitant Operations Officer; duties; attacks on Palembang on route to Australia; ashore in Australia.
REEL 5 Continues: sailing on Manus, Admiralty Islands; role of Task Force 57; first attack on carrier by kamikaze aircraft; duties organising combat patrol; Japanese use of glider bombs; action station in operations room; carrier's armament; resuce of downed pilots in Japanese inland sea after dropping of atomic bomb; relations with US Navy personnel; acquiring jeep; reaction to end of the Second World War; orders from Admiralty on end of the Second World War; return to GB; leaving ship. Recollections of period as officer with Instructor Branch of Royal Navy, 1946-1964: reasons for return to Royal Navy; duties as instructor officer aboard HMS Howe.
REEL 6 Continues: attitude to service aboard HMS Howe; move to Royal Naval Air Station, HMS Gamecock, 1953; training Wrens; attending nuclear and chemical course; training Royal Marines; quality of marines trained; story of padre reaction to telling marine's family of his death during Suez operation.
REEL 7 Continues: posting to Malta; quality of recruits at HMS St Vincent, early 1960s; syllabus taught at HMS St Vincent; attitude to serving at HMS Raleigh; quality of recruits at HMS Raleigh; question of return to civilian life, 1964