Description
Object description
British officer served with 4 and 36 Sqdns in Singapore, Malaya, 1938- 1941; served with 4 Photo-Reconnaissance Unit in Singapore, Malaya and Dutch East Indies, 1941-1942; commanded 242 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1943-1944; commanded 681 Sqdn, RAF in India, Burma and Malaya, 1945-1946
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Broadstairs, GB, 1914-1935: family; memories of German U-boat attack on Broadstairs during First World War; early interest in aviation; education. Aspects of enlistment and training with RAF in GB, 1937-1938: background to enlistment in RAF; start of flying training; attitude to service in RAF; physical training; failures during flying training; pattern of flying training; aerobatics; instruction on parachuting.
REEL 2 Continues: amusing story of tailoring for uniforms at RAF Uxbridge; arrival at flying training school near Chester; restrictions on vehicles; ground instruction; character of Hawker Audax; opinion of Hawker Fury; explanation of trim; pattern of flying training; training to fly Fairey Swordfish on floats at RAF Calshot; description of use of Queen Bee in Singapore; awareness of situation in Europe. Recollections of period as pilot with 4 and 36 Sqdns in Singapore, Malaya, 1938-1942: voyage from GB to Singapore, 1938 including amusing story relating to Arthur Harris; discussion with a Mr Hacker about German re-armament.
REEL 3 Continues: question of choice of posting; arrival in Singapore; life in Singapore; army co-operation work with 4 Sqdn using Blackburn Shark; character of RAF Seletar; story of propeller being put on a flying boat backwards; increase of strength of RAF, 1939-1941; further discussion with Mr Hacker about old friends; background to posting to 36 Sqdn; effect of war in Europe on RAF in Singapore; story of fight between RAF officers in club.
REEL 4 Continues: memories of Squadron Leader Scarf, VC; degree of contact with Chinese and Malays; amusing story of construction governor's wife's attitude to brothels; attitude of RAF to sexual relations including Mr Hacker's views; story of how officer managed to get posting to GB by dating Eurasian girl; social activities; character of Sultan of Johore; food; story of death of crew of Vickers Wildebeest; story of officer returned to GB on psychological grounds.
REEL 5 Continues: loss of flight commander John Compton in crash landing on beach; award of Distinguished Flying Cross to squadron member; loss of B Flight commander; flying North American Harvard as instructor; story of former flying instructor who raised wheels on Brewster Buffalo prior to take off. Recollections of operations as pilot with 4 Photo- Reconnaissance Unit in Singapore, Malaya and Dutch East Indies, 1941-1942: first indications of Japanese threat to colonial powers in Far East; reaction to Japanese attack on Malaya; opinion of Japanese pilots held by RAF; sleeping arrangements during Japanese air raids.
REEL 6 Continues: nature of argument in mess; performance of Brewster Buffalo against Japanese Zeros; use of drop tanks in Burma; modifications to photo-reconnaissance Brewster Buffalo; background evacuation from Singapore to Java, Dutch East Indies; flight from Singapore to Batavia; story of meeting Dutch women after attending party in Batavia; evacuation of RAF personnel by train from Batavia; evacuation from Java to Ceylon by ship.
REEL 7 Continues: opinion of Japanese entry into war. Recollections of operations as pilot with Photo-Reconnaissance Unit in India,1942: flight across India; conditions in tented camp; story of spending night in palace; story of first flight in Supermarine Spitfire; photo-reconnaissance operations over Burma; photo-reconnaissance flight over Singapore; end of tour, 12/1942; return to GB via South Africa, 1943.
REEL 8 Continues: story of alcoholic night out in Bombay, which resulted in temporary loss of sight; visits to favourite bar in hotel in Bombay. Aspects of operations commanding 242 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1943-1944: problems with nitrogen in blood during high altitude flights; initial posting to RAF Benson, 1943; story of riotous D-Day party in mess, 6/6/1944; question of nature of postings on return to GB.
REEL 9 Continues: comparison between Supermarine Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane; flying Supermarine Spitfire Mk IXX photo-reconnaissance aircraft at altitude. Aspects of operations commanding 681 Sqdn in India, Burma and Malaya, 1945-1946: return to India, 1945; opinion of Lord Louis Mountbatten; squadron movements; reconnaissance flight over Rangoon airfield; opinion of Japanese Zero aircraft; relations with US Air Force in Burma; flight as co-pilot in US Douglas DC 3 Dakota to Meiktila; flight in Lockheed P38 Lightning; prior recollections of instructor during initial flying training.
REEL 10 Continues: conditions and situation on arrival in Singapore, 1945; use of long range drop tanks on Supermarine Spitfire; story of taking photographs over Mount Everest; duties in Singapore; background to return to GB and demobilisation, 1947. Aspects of period as civilian pilot in India, 1948: background to return to India as pilot; story of first flight in Douglas DC 3 Dakota as pilot; opinion of conduct of Partition; story of problems encountered in railway carriage.
REEL 11 Continues: Reflections of period with RAF, 1938-1948: flying kit worn with constant interruptions from Mr Hacker; reasons for carrying firearm; issue of survival kits; story of RAF mutiny in India, 1946; making flight in Supermarine Spitfire after dealing with mutineers; opinion of Mr Hacker of RAF mutinies; use of silk escape maps; story of evasion exercise at RAF Benson; story by Mr Hacker of participation in evasion exercise; story of problems with fuel tanks during flight.
REEL 12 Continues: attitude towards Japanese and Germans.