Barker, Raymond Joseph (Oral history)

British writer served aboard HMS Victorious in Pacific, 1945

REEL 1 Recollections of operations as writer aboard HMS Victorious in Pacific, 1945: reaction to joining British Pacific Fleet in Pacific, 3/1945; problems with carrier’s rudder; role of British Pacific Fleet, 1945; degree of contact with Americans, 1945; watch and action stations; attitude towards Japanese kamikaze strategy; first kamikaze attack on carrier, 4/1945; character of admiral; casualties during kamikaze attacks on carrier, 5/1945; reaction to kamikaze attacks; nature of kamikaze attacks, 9/5/1945; attempts of Japanese interpreters to contact kamikaze pilots; attitude towards kamikaze pilots; contrast between British and American carrier flight decks; question of casualties if Japan invaded. REEL 2 Continues: question of belief that Japanese population had different outlook to life than Allies; reasons for receiving stand-off orders, 7/1945-8/1945; reaction to dropping of atomic bombs, 8/1945; censoring letters; receiving ceasefire signal from US Admiral William ‘Bull’ Halsey.