Bradbury, Anthony Arthur (Oral history)

British air fitter served with Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Venerable, Pacific Fleet in Far East, 1946-1947; served aboard HMS Vengeance on voyages to South Africa and Arctic, 1948-1949

REEL 1 Recollections of background in Hampstead, London, 1925-1943: family background; review of father's military service, 1914-1918; social circumstances; education and attending Regent Street Polytechnic, 1936-1939; work as baker's delivery boy; developing interest in Royal Navy; evacuation to Kettering, 9/1939-5/1940, including reactions and reception, 1/9/1939, billets and relationship with family, reactions to outbreak of war, 3/9/1939, part-time education at Kettering Grammar School, digging field for vegetables and relationship with local school children; return to Hampstead, 5/1940; work as baker's delivery boy; street air raid shelter; use of Hampstead Tube Station as air raid shelter. REEL 2 Continues: blackout; nature of German air raids and question of using air raid shelter, 9/1940; view of raid and effects of bombing, 7/9/1940; work on lathe in light engineering factory, 1940-1943; father's anti-war opinions and consequent opposition to Bradbury joining RN at 16; question of reserved occupation status; background to call up for RN and father's reaction, 9/1943. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine during training at HMS Gosling I and V Shores Station, Warrington, 9/1943-11/1943: reception and role of unit; kitting out; hut accommodation; reception from Captain Freyberg; instructors and class leader; food rations; cleaning room. REEL 3 Continues: decisions parade; drill; gas mask training; naval history lectures; rifle and bayonet training; PT including boxing, route marches and cross country runs; question of seamanship training; question of selection as air fitter; relationship with recruits and class leader; question of bromide in tea; relationship with instructors and story of making mistake on drill parade; playing hockey; preparing for kit inspections; canteen; visits to Warrington pubs; cases of desertion; passing out parade. REEL 4 Continues: weapons firing course at Sealand including Lewis gun and hand grenades. Recollections of training as air fitter at Fulham, London, 12/1943-2/1944: role of civilian instructors; training and testing in filing, drilling, mechanical drawing and soldering; general training; German air raids and practical joke played on master of arms; scandal involving officer; abortive selection of specialisation in air frames. Recollections of period training as air fitter electrics at Henlow and Melksham, 3/1944-9/1944: conditions of service; theoretical lectures in electricity; use of batteries; practical experiences on DC 12 volt aircraft circuits; bombing release gear electrics. REEL 5 practical training on aircraft wiring; relationship with RAF NCO instructors and comparison with treatment given to RAF mechanics under training; story of destruction of flagpole; lectures from officers; examinations. Period in Bedhampton Camp, 9/1944-1/1945: German air raids; search for bailed out German crew. Recollections of period as air fitter electrics working on Mustangs at Redhill and Keevil, 1/1945-3/1946: hut accommodation and use of bicycles; work on aircraft instruments; increased use of soldering; common electrical problems; daily inspections; weekly inspections in repair shop; relationship with RAF personnel; assisting with quarterly inspections; VE Day, 8/5/1945; move to Keevil, 5/1945; visits to pub and story of assisting farmer with harvest. REEL 2 Continues: return of POWs; move to Keevil, 5/11945; learning to drive aircraft refuelling bowser tractor; role of RN officer; question of Far East posting including rumours of Japanese treatment of POWs, intended role on forward naval air bases and reactions to VJ Day, 15/8/1945; demobilisation arrangements and extension of service; rundown of camp, 1946. Preparations for draft to Far East at Lee on Solent and Chatham, 4/1946-5/1946. Voyage aboard HMS Fencer to Ceylon, 5/1946-6/1946: presence of missionaries on ship; conditions; question of seasickness. Period in Holding Camp at Maharagama, Ceylon, 6/1946: guard duties; relationship with Ceylonese civilians. Recollections of service aboard HMS Venerable with British Pacific Fleet in Far East, 7/1946-2/1947: train journey; first impressions. REEL 7 Continues: initial role as leading air fitter to air staff assisting 814 and 802 Sqdns; Fleet Air Arm; prevalence of damage through poor deck landings by Fireflys and Seafires; cannibalising spare parts; assisting airframe fitters in repairing propellers; messdeck an moving ashore when in port; hammocks; food and messing system; promotion to acting petty officer and posting to 814 Sqdn; replacement of Fireflys; voyage to Hong Kong; difficulty in getting sufficient aircraft ready for action exercises during aircraft carrier exercises; story of observer regularly flying with inadequate pilot; effect of typhoons; recreational visits to Hong Kong and New Territory; stories of shore patrol in China Fleet Club, Victoria, 24/12/1946. REEL 8 Continues: friendship with PO with war service experience; nature of PO mess ad role as mess caterer; duties as PO air fitter; VD problem; relationship with RN ratings and story of intervention of Captain; story illustrating effects of war on religious beliefs; reduction in Pacific Fleet. Voyage back to GB, 2/1947: damage control lectures; story of dumping US Avengers overboard; visits ashore; stories of chief petty officer shaving off beard; paying off ship, 4/1947. Period at HMS Culdrose, Lee on Solent, 4/1947. Period at Lossiemouth, 5/1947-5/1948: background to extension of service as regular; routine duties; role in charge of electricians. REEL 9 Continues: attack of pneumonia; volunteering for overseas service. Period at Eglington, Derry, Northern Ireland, 5/1948-8/1945: role preparing aircraft for service aboard HMS Vengeance; opinion of assisted take-off equipment (TARTOG; prior courses on Sea Fury electrics; opinion of Sea Fury; recreational visits to Eire; relationship with Irish civilians. Recollections of period with 802 and 815 Sqdns, FAA aboard HMS Vengeance on voyages to South Africa and Arctic, 8/1948-3/1949: conditions; role as petty officer mess caterer and relationship with supply assistant; working up flying exercises off Western Scotland; introduction of lights system to replace 'batsmen' deck landing officer and improvements to aircraft landings; visit to Scapa Flow; visit to Freetown, Sierra Leone including stories of friends' visit to brothel and civilian hospitality; failure to get ashore during visit to St Helena; cases of male prostitution amongst crew; reception on arrival at Cape Town including civilian hospitality and flying displays; visit to East London. REEL 9 Continues: return to Cape Town; role boosting British ties with South Africa; return route; drowning accident; return to Portland; preparing for Artic trip at Yeovilton, 11/1948-1/1949; Arctic including effects on flight deck and flying conditions; fatal crash landing of Sea Otter and loss of submarine officer; scraping ice off flight deck; difficulty in judging distances at sea; pack ice bow damage; scientists checking trial results; return to pay off at Rosyth, 3/1949. Period at Culdrose, Lee on Solent, 3/1949-3/1950: routine duties; story of solving problem encountered in changing aircraft batteries. Demobilisation, 3/1950: question of remaining as regular; demob suit; payment. Post-war career: question of work checking asbestos in ship engine rooms or return to light engineering factory; clerical work for Kemps Directory. REEL 11 Continues: career working with aviation firm, helicopter manufacturer and electronics firm, 1951-1990; commitments during service with Royal Fleet Reserve, 1950-1954; service with as petty officer electrician 1834 Sqdn, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, Yeovilton, 1954-1955, including prior interview, status as volunteer, weekend commitments, duties servicing aircraft electrics, question of standard of pilots and casualties, deployment to Germany, 1954 and disbandment of unit; service with RNVR based at Benson, 1955-1957, including role instructing on aircraft electrics, deployment to Malta, 1955, disbandment of RNVR flying squadrons, 1957; retraining and service as petty officer ship electrician with RNVR at HMS Wessex Shore Station, Southampton, 1957-1977, including work on HMS Warsash, story of being seasick and enjoyment of RNVR service.