Description
Object description
British officer served as engineering officer with Fleet Air Arm in North Africa, Middle East, GB and Trinidad, 1941-1950; served as engineering officer with Fleet Air Arm attached to Royal Australian Navy in Korean War, 1950-1951
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Stepney, London, GB, 1919-1939: family; education. Recollections of period with Fleet Air Arm in North Africa, Middle East, GB and Trinidad, 1939-1945: posting to North Africa as engineer; recovery of Fairey Albecore from front-line; test flying aircraft in Lebanon; problems returning to GB, 1943; dropping agent behind Axis lines in desert; postings in GB, 1943-1945; duties closing down station in Trinidad; pattern of career, 1946-1965.
REEL 2 Continues: Recollections of enlistment and training with Royal Navy in GB, 1939-1940: background to joining Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, 1939; early interest in aviation; selection procedure; Mrs Tunstall description of his pay limitations; flying kit worn; adjusting to service life; incident of discipline at Royal Naval Air Station Gosport; fate of fellow recruits; experiences during Korean War.
REEL 3 Continues: pattern of flying training; background to allocation as engineering officer with Fleet Air Arm in North Africa, 1941-1943 including encounter with German fighter during flight near Tobruk; amusing story of instructor's comments during training; training accident; story of recovering Fairey Albecore aircraft in North Africa; Mrs Tunstall's description of marriage at Crail, 1940; deck landings.
REEL 4 Continues: Aspects of period as engineer officer with Fleet Air Arm in North Africa, 1941-1943: arrival in Egypt, 5/1941; allocation to test flying duties; return to GB, 1943; effect of putting paraffin on Fairey Swordfish wings; investigation into engine failure problem with Fairey Albecore; desert conditions; initial impressions of Egypt; meeting with fellow cadets in Egypt; behaviour of Australians in North Africa; support received from Indian 5th Div. Aspects of period as officer with Fleet Air Arm, 1945-1950: story of closing down naval station in Trinidad, 1945.
REEL 5 Continues: sight of aftermath of atomic bombing of Hiroshima; roles on recruitment on maintenance duties; watch- keeping duties on board destroyer. Aspects of attachment to Royal Australian Navy during Korean War, 1950-1951: background to drafting to Australia; repair to battle damaged aircraft aboard HMAS Sydney; contrast of maintenance duties during Second World War and Korean War; effects of operating aircraft in cold weather during Korean War; clothing worn; opinion of Montgomery in North Africa.
REEL 6 Continues: incident when aircraft filled with smoke. Aspects of various postings with Fleet Air Arm in GB, 1951-1965: pattern of career; planning duties in Plymouth, 1961-1962; duties at Ministry of Defence in London, 1963-1964; opinion of aircraft carrier debate, 1960s; civilian career on leaving Royal Navy.