Wells, David Roy 'Bim' (Oral history)

British officer served as pilot flying Avenger with 828 Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Implacable in Far East, 1945-1946

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Leicester, 1924-1942: family background and social circumstances; education and sporting activities; reactions to outbreak of war, 3/9/1939; interest in flying; activities with Air Training Corps, 1939-1942, including visits to airfields, first flights, nature of training and football activities; acting as senior pupil in support of teacher at junior schools during German air raids; food rationing; work as junior audit clerk, 1941-1942; fire watching duties at offices. REEL 2 Continues: story of brother's evacuation from Dunkirk, France, 6/1940; background to volunteering to join Fleet Air Arm, Royal Navy, 10/1941, including prior interview, failing lung test during medical and acceptance only for training as telegraphist/air gunner on 'Y' entry scheme; call up 12/1942. Recollections of period of basic training at HMS Royal Arthur Shore Station, Skegness, 1/1943-2/1943: meeting friend; chalet accommodation; kitting out; food rations; drill; fire watching; PT and question of level of physical fitness; seamanship including slinging hammocks; story of guarding deserter; relationship with recruits and instructors. Recollections of period at HMS St Vincent Shore Station, Gosport, 2/1943-5/1943: nature of station; opinion of Chief Petty Officer Wilmot; Morse code, signalling and navigation training. REEL 3 Continues: boat drill; question of remustering as pilot/observer; Lewis gun training; visits to dance halls; drinking habits; wireless training; church parade; mast drill; assessment and attending selection board for remustering; acceptance for training as pilot/observer despite failing lung test. Periods awaiting draft at Lee on Solent and Heaton Park, Manchester, ca 6/1943-9/1943. Voyage aboard Mauretania to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, ca 9/1943. Period at Monckton, ca 9/1943: reactions to VD film; train journey to US. Recollections of flying training with US Naval Air Service, Grosseile, Michigan, US, 10/1942-1/1944: nature of base; opinion of Boeing N2S Trainer; familiarisation flight; use of Gosport tube. REEL 4 Continues: opinion of dual instructor while learning basic flying skills; system of assessment by instructors and initial problems with landings; flying controls; first solo flight; emergency landing practice; aerobatics including inverted spin, slow roll, falling leaf, loop, Immelmann turn and sideslip; ground instruction including aircraft recognition, theory of flying and engines; formation and night flying practice; room inspection and reactions to US discipline; confinement to camp during race riots in Detroit; recreations including visits to Detroit, drinking habits and relationship with US woman; food rations; casualties in flying accidents; flying instrument training on Link Trainer. REEL 5 Continues: local leave; train journey to Florida. Recollections of flying training on Vengeance SNV1 and Harvard SNV Trainers at various satellite airfields of US Naval Station, Pensacola, 1/1944-6/1944: flying Vengeance from Suffley airfield; use of Link Trainer; move to fly from Whiting and Corry airfields; opinion of Harvard; cross-country flights; gunnery practice at ground and drogue targets; mock air fights; relationship with US trainee pilots; award of wings and promotion to midshipman, 16/6/1944; reactions to assignment for service on torpedo bombers. Recollections of period flying training on Grumman Avenger at US Naval Base, Fort Lauderdale, 7/1944-9/1944: nature of Avenger including initial problems with landings and cockpit controls; use of oxygen masks at altitude and tests in pressure chamber to show effect of oxygen deprivation. REEL 6 Continues: ground training in torpedo firing on scooters and in Link Trainer; practice torpedo firing runs; carrying US air gunners for rear gun practice firing at drogues; dive bombing practice; anti-submarine exercises; use of wing guns; navigation flight training towards Bahamas and question of Bermuda Triangle myths; night flying; evacuation of aircraft on hurricane warning; fighter evasion tactics. Period at US Naval Station, Lewiston, 9/1944-11//1944: forming crew with observer Midshipman Tony Younger and rear gunner; nature of training; story of period marooned at Megantic, Canada during flight in rough weather across mountains; simulated deck landings and role of batsman in guiding approach; successful deck landing practice on HMS Charger; story of visit to jazz club during visit to New York. REEL 7 Voyage aboard Aquitania to GB, 11/1944. Period at Inskip, 12/1944-1/1945: leave; continuation training; fatal accident in Irish Sea; deck landing practice on HMS Smiter; embarkation leave; promotion to acting sub-lieutenant, RNVR. Period with 828 Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm at Hatstone, Kirkwall Island, Orkneys and Fern, 1/1945-3/1945: conversion of unit from Barracuda to Avenger Mk I; replacement rear gunner Leading Hand Durnell; move to Fern. Recollections of period flying Avenger I and II with 828 Sqdn, FAA aboard HMS Implacable, 3/1945-8/1945: landing procedure on joining ship off East Scotland; nature of carrier and crew morale; anti-submarine patrols in Atlantic; passing through Mediterranean; running aground in Suez Canal; period at Trincomalee, Ceylon, 4/1945; arrival replacement pilots including friend; method of taking off and problems in rough seas; role of arrestor wire and wire barrier on landing; storage of Avengers; visit to Australia; period ashore at Jervis Bay including reactions to VE Day, 8/5/1945, routine and pleasant lifestyle. REEL 8 Continues: rejoining carrier; move to join British Pacific Fleet; story of Avenger falling over side into sea due to catapult malfunction, rescue by destroyer, transfer back to carrier and subsequent inquiry; night strike against Japanese installations on Truk Island, 15/6/1944, including prior briefing, flying kit, checking aircraft prior to take off, attack formations, dive bombing attack on oil tank, Japanese anti-aircraft fire and return to carrier; cabin accommodation; uniforms; nature of officers' wardroom including food, drinking habits and recreations; opinion of Lieutenant Commander Alan Swanton and senior pilot Lieutenant Reg Elliott; background to replacement of Avenger Mark I with Avenger Mark II. REEL 9 Continues: move to Marus, Admiralty Islands; replacement crews and aircraft; composition of fleet carriers in British Pacific Fleet; engine problems and seagoing repairs; size of aircraft strike force on joining US Fleet; story of accidental night landing on HMS Formidable; opinion of Commander Charles Evans and Admiral Vian; role of 'ground crew'; question of unit night strike role; strike on Tokushima airfield, Shikoku Island, Japan, 24/7/1945, including prior removal of observers from Avenger crews and consequence importance of rendezvous, briefing, personal morale, flight out in flight formations covered by Seafires. REEL 10 Continues: strike on Tokushima airfield, Shikoku Island, Japan, 24/7/1945, including Japanese AA fire, dive bombing in from line astern formation, success in bombing barrack block, rendezvous, importance of return in formation to avoid confusion with Kamikaze attacks, use of carrier homing beacon and debriefing; second strike on Tokushima airfield, 25/7/1944, including increased Japanese AA fire, absence of Japanese fighters and attempt to bomb Japanese aircraft on ground; strike on Japanese shipping at Harmima Bay, Hondu Island, 28/7/1945; jettisoning bombs after failure to locate target, 30/7/1945; rendezvous with fleet 'supply train'; nature of Kamikazi attacks; personal morale; reactions to use of atomic bomb, 6/8/1945; strikes on shipping at Kessennuna and Onagawa Wan, 9/8/1945-10/8/1944; return of British Pacific Fleet to Australia; drinking rum during VJ Day celebrations, 15/8/1945; reactions to use of atomic bombs. REEL 11 Continues: reception on arrival at Sydney, 24/8/1944; visits to bars in Sydney. Periods ashore at Schofield and Nowra airfields, 8/1945-11/1945: re-equipment with Avenger III; opinion of Lieutenant Commander Bobbie Bradshaw and question of him flying under Sydney Harbour bridge; move to Nowra; role as sports and welfare officer; organising squadron dance; low level cross country flights; story of attending military funeral; effects of active service experiences; story of near accident after throttle failure; celebration formation flights over Sydney. Period aboard refitted HMS Implacable, 11/1945-12/1945: open day and party on visit to Melbourne; relationship with Australian civilians. Recollections of period with 820 Sqdn aboard HMS Indefatigable during voyage to Portsmouth, GB, 12/1945-3/1946: story of close escape whilst on deck handling duties as Seafire crash landed on deck. REEL 12 Continues: South African hospitality during visit to Capetown, South Africa; dumping Hellcats at sea following end of US Lend Lease arrangement; paying off pennant on arrival at home port Portsmouth; clash with Customs over stockpiled luxury food. Period on leave in Leicester, 3/1946-7/1946: difficulty in getting food home and family reactions to luxury foods; return of old comrade. Demobilisation at Warrington, 7/1946: retaining items o kit; demob suit. Post-war career: failed attempt to secure work as commercial pilot; question of studying geology; career as chartered accountant; question of physical and mental effects of war service; relationship with old comrade; membership and activities of Fleet Air Arm Officers Association, 828 Sqdn Association, HMS Implacable Assoc and HMS St Vincent Association.