Lamb, Eric Stanley (Oral history)

British boy entrant with RAF in GB, 1948; aircraftman served as electrical mechanic with RAF Horsham St Faith in GB, 1948-1949; electrician served with 66 Sqdn, RAF at RAF Linton on Ouse, GB, 1950-1951; served with 33 Sqdn, RAF in Malaya, 1951-1953; served with 94 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1953-1954; NCO served with Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force in Hong Kong, 1954-1956; civilian worked for British European Airways and British Airways in GB, 1957-1984; secretary of British Airline Operators at Heathrow Airport, 1984-1993; general manger with Atlantic Air BVI in British Virgin Islands, 1993-1994

REEL 1 Background in Langden, GB, 1931-1939: family; education. Aspects of period as schoolboy in GB, 1939-1945: ten month evacuation to Weston super Mare; return to Barking; V1 raids during second evacuation to Tonbridge, 1944; wartime education; employment in garage, 1945-1947. Aspects of enlistment and training as boy entrant with RAF in GB, 1948: recruitment and selection procedure at RAF North Weald; basic training at Weston-super-Mare, 2/1948; accommodation; issue of uniform, kit and bedding; description of term 'biscuits'; pay and quality of rations; character of instructors; training as electrical mechanic; passing out at RAF Locking, 8/1948. Aspects of period as aircraftman with RAF Horsham St Faith, 1948-1949: posting to station; starting to play rugby; applying for fitters course at RAF Melksham. REEL 2 Continues: attending fitters course at RAF Melksham. Aspects of period as electrician with 66 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1950-1951: initial posting to squadron at RAF Duxford; move to RAF Linton on Ouse; electrician duties; applying for overseas posting and preparations. Voyage from GB to Singapore aboard troopship. Recollections of period as electrician with 33 Sqdn, RAF in Malaya, 1951-1953: posting to RAF Butterworth; description of train journey from Singapore to Kuala Lumpar; character of RAF Butterworth; living conditions at camp at RAF Butterworth; armament of Hawker Tempest Mk Vs; layout of airstrip; method of arming rockets on Hawker Tempest Mk V prior to take off. REEL 3 Continues: briefing of pilots by army officer; role of RAF and Royal Australian Air Force in attacking suspected insurgents; starting Hawker Tempest Mk V; deployment of squadron; converting to De Havilland Hornet; accident with Vickers Varsity on airfield; dealing with aftermath of accident with De Havilland Hornet; accidental death of motor transport officer. Aspects of period as electrician with 94 Sqdn, RAF at RAF West Malling in GB, 1953-1954: attitude to home service; flights in Gloster Meteor; squadron routine; posting to RAF Calne. Aspects of period as electrician with RAF Seletar, Malaya, 1954: aircraft maintained. Aspects of period as NCO with Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force in Hong Kong, 1954-1956: composition of squadron; attitude to serving with squadron; maintenance of work on Supermarine Spitfire; role of squadron; incident of pilot landing Supermarine Spitfire standing up. REEL 4 Continues: accident with squadron North American Harvard; duties; posting to RAF Coltishall on return to GB. Aspects of service with RAF in GB, Malaya and Hong Kong, 1948-1956: period on reserve; playing rugby for RAF. Recollections of period as civilian with British European Airways and British Airways in GB, 1957-1984: aircraft types worked on as electrician; work as planner rate fixer; becoming planning engineer; work on turn round of aircraft; ground handling planning; work as planning superintendent at Heathrow Airport; long term planning; retirement, 1984; transfer of barrage at Heathrow Airport; role of Airline Operators Committee. Aspects of period as secretary of the Airline Operators Committee at Heathrow Airport in GB, 1984-1993: work as secretary of after retirement from British Airways, 1984. REEL 5 Continues: trips with Airline Operators Committee; retirement, 1993. Aspects of period as general manager with Altantic Air BVI in British Virgin Islands, 1993: organisation of airline; setting up Airline Operators Committee; financial problems with airline and loss of aircraft; taking on work on cleaning contract at Heathrow on return to GB.