Description
Object description
British officer trained as observer with Royal Navy Observer School, HMS Seahawk, Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose and 766 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm, HMS Heron, Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton in GB, 1957-1958; served as observer with 894 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Eagle in Mediterranean and Far East, 1958-1960; served with 890 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm in GB and aboard HMS Hermes in Mediterranean and Far East, 1960-1962; served with 831 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm at HMS Seahawk, Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose in GB, 1962-1963; served with 809 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm in GB, 1963-1964
Content description
REEL 1 Background in GB, 1938-1956: family; education; early interest in flying. Aspects of enlistment and training as midshipman with Fleet Air Arm at HMS St Vincent, Gosport, GB, 1956-1957: background to enlistment in Fleet Air Arm; selection as observer; aptitude tests at RAF Hornchurch; arrival at HMS St Vincent; drill; routine; accommodation; pattern of training; sea training aboard aircraft carrier; treatment of midshipmen and cadets on board; sleeping in hammocks. Aspects of period as midshipman with Royal Navy Observer School at HMS Seahawk, Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose in GB, 1957-1958: start of observer training; presence of West German personnel on course; navigational training; pattern of training; types of aircraft used; preference for fighter aircraft.
REEL 2 Continues: familiarisation with jet engined aircraft. Aspects of training as observer with 766 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm at HMS Heron, Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, GB, 5/1958-8/1958: opinion of De Havilland Sea Venom; observer's position in De Havilland Sea Venom; use of radar; story of crash of De Havilland DH.115 Sea Venom FAW.21 (XG 625) R-468 during all weather flypast for HRH Duchess of Kent, 27/7/1958; attitude to service deaths; division of labour between pilot and observer; night interception training; use of homing beacon; prior recollection of escape and evasion exercise; ejection seat and ditching training; crewing up at end of course.
REEL 3 Continues: Recollections of period as observer with 894 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Eagle in Mediterranean and Far East, 1958-1959: joining squadron in Mediterranean, 9/1958; organisation of squadron; divisional responsibilities; visits to chief's mess; aircrew numbers and relations with ship's crew; accommodation; story of aircraft carrier's helicopter pilot rescuing American pilot in Subic Bay, Philippines; use of catapult and arrester wires; incident of his pilot having attack of vertigo during deck landing; landing on; briefings and debriefings; opinion of De Havilland DH.112 Sea Venom; viewing platform; duties in Mediterranean; accidental attack on USS McGowan; relations with American personnel.
REEL 4 Continues: visit to United States of America aboard HMS Victorious. Recollections of period as observer with 890 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm in GB and aboard HMS Hermes in Mediterranean and Far East, 1960-1962: appointment to squadron; description of De Havilland DH.110 Sea Vixen including layout of cockpit; incident of observer who ejected after wings were not locked; armaments aboard De Havilland DH.110 Sea Vixen; Low Altitude Bombing System (LABS) manoeuvre; converting to De Havilland DH.110 Sea Vixen and working up; problems of bailing out of De Havilland DH.110 Sea Vixen; character of HMS Hermes.
REEL 5 Continues: early warning system employed from carrier; recites poem relating to Blackburn Buccaneer S 1; low-level flying over Aden Protectorate; exercises in Indian Ocean; return to GB, 5/1961. Aspects of period as observer with 831 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm at HMS Seahawk, Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose in GB, 1962-1963: attitude to initial appointment to squadron; character of squadron; opinion of station commander Captain Jozef Bartosik; opinion of Fairey Gannet; story of deck landing accident aboard HMS Ark Royal; pattern of service on leaving squadron.
REEL 6 Continues: Aspects of period as observer with 809 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm in GB, 1963-1964: opinion of Blackburn Buccaneer S.1; incident of problem with Blackburn Buccaneer S.1 due to water on trim switch. Various aspects of period as observer with Fleet Air Arm, from 1964: appointment to 801 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Victorious in Far East; pattern of duties on leaving squadron; incident of pilot who bailed out over Nigeria.
REEL 7 Continues: reasons for leaving Fleet Air Arm; attitude to service with Fleet Air Arm.