Description
Object description
South African officer trained as pilot with Fleet Air Arm in GB, 1952-1953; served with 810 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Centaur in Mediterranean, 1953-1955; student on Jet Conversion Course at HMS Goldcrest, Royal Naval Air Station Brawdy, GB, 1955; student on Air Warfare Officers Course, Fleet Air Arm in GB, 1956; served with 897 Naval Air Sqdn aboard HMS Eagle in Mediterranean and during landings at Suez, Egypt, 1956-1957; served with 700X Naval Air Sqdn, Intensive Flying Trials Unit, Fleet Air Arm at HMS Peregrine, Royal Naval Air Station Ford, GB, 1957-1958; served with 803 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm at HMS Fulmar, Royal Naval Air Station Lossiemouth in GB and aboard HMS Victorious in GB coastal waters and Atlantic, 1958-1960; served with 700Z Naval Air Sqdn, Intensive Flying Trials Unit, Fleet Air Arm at HMS Fulmar, Royal Naval Air Station Lossiemouth, GB, 1961-1962; commanded HMS Hermes during Falklands War, 4/1982-6/1982
Content description
SU REEL 1 Recollections of training as pilot with Fleet Air Arm in GB, 1952-1953: initial training as pilot with South African Air Force (SAAF) in South Africa; background to joining Royal Navy; reasons for delays between selection and gaining commission; types of aircraft flown at operational flying school; bombing practice; multi-role character of Fleet Air Arm pilots; air-to-air gunnery; difficulty of hitting target drogue and limitations on attacks that could be made; difficulty of landing Hawker Sea Fury on aircraft carrier; practising Aerodrome Dummy Deck Landings (ADDLs); description of barriers on aircraft carriers; relations between pilot and batsman; differences between American and British systems for deck landings; character of batsmen.
REEL 2 Continues: importance of speed during approach to flight deck. Recollections of period as pilot with 810 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Centaur in Mediterranean, 1953-1955: incident of batsman giving wrong signals; aircraft carrier's flight deck barrier; activities on approaching deck for landing; need to land aircraft on quickly; working with flight deck crew; description of use of catapult; use of Rocket Assisted Take Off Gear (RATOG); problems of using free take offs aboard HMS Centaur in the Mediterranean.
REEL 3 Continues: duties in Mediterranean; attitude towards not participating in Korean War; character of squadron and commanding officer; description of aircraft carrier; accommodation; relations between naval crew and naval aviators; losses amongst Fleet Air Arm pilots during 1950s; opinion of attitude of Royal Navy towards Fleet Air Arm; secondary roles of pilots aboard ship; ground crew. Aspects of period as Air Warfare Officers Course, Fleet Air Arm in GB, 1956: appointment to course; degree of knowledge needed by officers on course.
REEL 4 Continues: rewards and satisfaction of course; nature of course; competitive atmophere; instructors. Aspects of period on Jet Conversion Course at HMS Goldcrest, Royal Naval Air Station Brawdy, GB, 1955: crash landing in De Havilland DH.115 Vampire T.22; contrast between piston engined and jet aircraft. Recollections of period as pilot with 897 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Eagle in Mediterranean, 1956: conversion to Hawker Sea Hawk; ejection from Hawker Sea Hawk with engine failure over Mediterranean, 7/7/1956; incident when his aircraft caught fire on catapult, was launched and ditched, 4/8/1956.
REEL 5 Continues: incident when his aircraft fell off catapult, 12/10/1956; refamiliarisation flight to photograph Alexandria Harbour, Egypt, 10/1956. Recollections of operations as pilot with 897 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Eagle during landings at Suez, Egypt, 11/1956: first attack on Inchas Airfield, 1/11/1956; attack on Egyptian blockship Akka, 1/11/1956; third attack on Abu Suier Airfield; lack of damage caused by RAF high level bombing; alerting of Egyptians by British Broacasting Corporation broadcasts; attack on Gamil bridge, attacks on ground targets after landings; providing top cover for shot down Lieutenant Don Mills; photo-reconnaissance; American interference with operation.
REEL 6 Continues: question of attacking targets at night; return to GB, 1/1957. Aspects period as pilot with 700X Naval Air Sqdn, Intensive Flying Trials Unit, Fleet Air Arm at HMS Peregrine, Royal Naval Air Station Ford, GB, 1957-1958: impressions of Supermarine Scimitar; first flight in Supermarine Scimitar; initial problems with serviceability; performance of Supermarine Scimitar at sea level. Aspects of period as pilot with 803 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm at HMS Fulmar, Royal Naval Air Station Lossiemouth in GB and aboard HMS Victorious in GB coastal waters and Atlantic, 1958-1960: death of commanding officer Lieutenant Commander John 'Des' Russell in Supermarine Scimitar F Mk 1 (XD-240) overboard from HMS Victorious, 25/9/1958; role as Air Warfare Officer (AWO); incident of having to divert to Warton Airfield with hung up bombs; ejection seat accidents; incident of arrester hook becoming hung up. Aspects of period as pilot with 700Z Naval Air Sqdn, Intensive Flying Trials Unit, Fleet Air Arm at HMS Fulmar, Royal Naval Air Station Lossiemouth in GB, 1961-1962: appointment to flight; impressions of Blackburn Buccaneer F Mk 1; method of aircraft delivering nuclear weapon against Soviet Navy cruisers.
REEL 7 Continues: Recollections of operations commanding HMS Hermes during Falklands War, 4/1982-6/1942: preparations of aircraft carrier for conflict; cleaning boiler at sea; training pilots on route to Falkland Islands; opinion of British Aerospace Sea Harrier FRS1 aircraft; distribution of stores and mail amongst fleet; rules of engagement in Total Exclusion Zone (TEZ); role of ship as Admiral's Flagship; threat to aircraft carrier from Argentinean Exocet Missiles; degree of threat from submarines; role of aircraft carrier's helicopters; problems of lack of airborne early warning system; attack on Goose Green, 4/5/1982; problems with helicopter maintenance; move of British Aerospace Sea Harrier and Harrier squadrons towards ground attack role.
REEL 8 Continues: weather conditions; conditions on board for crew including fatigue; estimation of Argentinean forces and naval threat; question of over reliance on submarines in Royal Navy; use of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and communications; remaining on station after end of conflict, 6/1982; reception on arrival in GB; opinion of need for more British Aerospace Sea Harriers FRS1 during conflict; attitude towards service with Royal Navy.