Barker, Raymond Joseph (Oral history)

British naval writer served aboard HMS Victorious, 1st Aircraft Carrier Sqdn, British Pacific Fleet in Pacific, 3/1945-8/1945

REEL 1 Recollections of operations as naval writer aboard HMS Victorious, 1st Aircraft Carrier Sqdn, British Pacific Fleet in Pacific, 3/1945-8/1945: 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 aircraft carrier, 1/4/1945; character of Vice Admiral Philip Vian; casualties during Kamikaze attacks on carrier, 4/5/1945 and 9/5/1945; reaction to Kamikaze attacks; nature of Kamikaze attacks, 9/5/1945; attempts of Japanese interpreters on board to contact Kamikaze pilots; attitude towards Kamikaze pilots; contrast between British and American aircraft carrier flight decks; question of casualties if Japan invaded. REEL 2 Continues: belief that Japanese population had different outlook towards life than Allies; reasons for receiving stand-off orders, 7/1945-8/1945; reaction to dropping of atomic bombs on Japan, 8/1945; censoring letters; receiving ceasefire signal from American Admiral William Halsey.