Interview with David Braithwaite

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Accepted Non-commercial Use

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If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.
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If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.
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If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.
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Accepted Non-commercial Use

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Non-Commercial educational use for the purpose of teaching and instruction, including internal training.
Downloading audio-visual for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
Free exhibitions held in venues, which do not charge an entry fee.

If you would like to use IWM collections materials in a way that is not covered above, require a commercial licence, high-resolution copies, or have manipulation requests, please contact the Image and Film Licensing Team. Digital files of films and sound recordings are available at cost depending on intended use.

Description

Object description

British naval aviation cadet trained with Fleet Air Arm in GB, 1964-1966; officer served as pilot with 766 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm in GB, 1966; served with 892 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm at HMS Heron, Royal Naval Air Station, Yeovilton in GB and aboard HMS Hermes in Mediterranean and Far East, 1967-1968; served with various Fleet Air Arm naval air squadrons in GB, 1968-1972; served with VF-21 Sqdn, United States Navy in United States of America, 1972-1973; served with 892 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm at RAF Leuchers and HMS Ark Royal in North and South Atlantic and Far East, 1973-1978; trained with Harrier Force at RAF Wittering, GB, 1979-1980; served as test pilot with United States Navy at Naval Station Point Mugu, United States of America, 1981-1982; served with 809 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Invincible in South Atlantic during Falklands War, 4/1982-6/1982; various appointments with Fleet Air Arm in GB and United States of America, 1983-1995

Content description

REEL 1 Background in London, GB, 1945-1964: family; education; interest in armed forces. Recollections of training as aviation cadet with Fleet Air Arm in GB, 1964-1966: selection process; initial training at Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, 1964; flying training in De Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth, 6/1964; familiarisation flight in Hunting Jet Provost at No 1 Flying Training School, RAF at RAF Linton-on-Ouse, 9/1964; character of instructor; night flying; importance to trust instruments; use of simulator; training in emergency procedures; student who failed course; ground school; pre-flight checks; aerobatics. REEL 2 Continues: training in Hawker Hunter T.8 at HMS Goldcrest, Royal Naval Air Station Brawdy; weapons training on Hawker Hunter; multi-role character of naval aircraft; cross-country navigation; flying high performance aircraft; night flying; qualifying as pilot, 9/1965; operational training with 783 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm; formation flying; number of hours flown in training. Aspects of period as pilot with 766 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm in GB, 1966: appointment to squadron; Fleet Air Arm squadron numbering; opinion of Blackburn Buccaneer S.1; training with De Havilland DH. 110 Sea Vixen; character of De Havilland DH.110 Sea Vixen; demarcation of roles between pilot and observer. REEL 3 Continues: description of De Havilland DH.110 Sea Vixen; Mirror Assisted Dummy Deck Landings (MADDLs); use of Mirror Sight Deck Landing apparatus; landing gear arrangement on aircraft carrier; first deck landings on aircraft carrier; use of air-to-air missiles; flight refuelling; fighter escort training. Recollections of period as pilot with 892 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm at HMS Heron, Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton in GB and aboard HMS Hermes in Mediterranean and Far East, 1966-1968: attitude to joining front line squadron; rapid seniority due to casualties; sight of helicopter accident aboard HMS Hermes; reasons for high casualty rates; problems with delays of landing on aircraft carrier; arrival as junior pilot in squadron; flying in Far East. REEL 4 Continues: organisation of squadron aboard aircraft carrier; servicing of aircraft; individual aircraft having different characteristics; individual aircraft with characteristics; problems of spray on De Havilland DH.110 Sea Vixen cockpit window; use of catapult; facilities for squadron personnel on board aircraft carrier; briefing prior to flight; organisation of flying on board aircraft carrier; rivalry between squadrons; divisional responsibilities; discipline on board. REEL 5 Continues: night flight over Suez Canal, Egypt during Arab-Israeli War, 1967; pattern of service on return to GB, 1969. Aspects of period on Air Warfare Officers Course with Fleet Air Arm in GB: organisation of course; theoretical training at HMS Excellent, Whale Island; pattern of flying element of course; opinion of course. Aspects of period as pilot with Fleet Air Arm, 1968-1972: organisation of armament training for squadron as Air Warfare Officer with 893 Naval Air Sqdn; getting squadron up to scratch; pattern of flying, 1968-1972; question of loss of experience of senior officers; period as Air Warfare Officer instructor at HMS Excellent, Whale Island. Aspects of period as pilot with VF-21 Sqdn, United States Navy in United States of America, 1972-1973: impressions of McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom; British influence on United States Navy 'Top Gun' system; pattern of training; opinion of American aircrew; demarcation of roles in operating McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom. REEL 6 Continues: Aspects of period as pilot with 892 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm at RAF Leuchers and HMS Ark Royal in North and South Atlantic and Far East, 1973-1978: contrast between American and British versions of McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom; operating from HMS Ark Royal; character of HMS Ark Royal; missile shooting on American ranges in Caribbean; reduction in aircrew casualties. Aspects of training with Harrier Force in GB, 1979-1981: character of Hawker Siddeley Harrier GR3; vertical take off and landing capability of Hawker Siddeley Harrier; armament carried on Hawker Siddeley Harrier, GR3; use of ski-jump. Aspects of period as test pilot with United States Navy at Naval Air Station Point Mugu, United States of America, 1981-1983: types of aircraft flown; trials work. REEL 7 Continues: Recollections of operations as pilot with 809 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Invincible in South Atlantic during Falklands War, 4/1982-6/1982: recall to GB at start of conflict, 4/1982; refresher flying on British Aerospace Sea Harrier FRS1; description of 'viffing' technique; flight from GB to Ascension Island; embarkation on board SS Atlantic Conveyor; on stand by aboard SS Atlantic Conveyor; provision of air cover; disembarkation from SS Atlantic Conveyor to HMS Invincible; weather conditions; opinion of Captain Jeremy Black; role on Combat Air Patrols (CAPs); capabilities of radar; attack on Argentine Army Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma Helicopter (AE-500), 23/5/1982 and Argentine Navy patrol boat; importance of only making single attacks; potential problems flying over British ships and finding aircraft carrier; on stand by on aircraft carrier deck; briefings; lessons learnt from campaign. REEL 8 Continues: period at Port Stanley, Falkland Islands after end of campaign and return to GB; return to United States of America. Aspects of period as officer with Fleet Air Arm in GB, 1983-1995: instigating lessons learnt from Falklands War with 899 and 801 Naval Air Sqdns, Fleet Air Arm; problems with British Aerospace Sea Harrier; attending staff course; role as senior pilot; taking command of 800 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm, 1991-1992; constriction of air branch at HMS Heron, Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton; question of new aircraft carriers coming on board and scraping of Harrier fleet, 2012; attitude to flying McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom.

Object Details

Category: Sound
Related period: 1990 to the present day (production), 1945-1989 (content), 1990 to the present day (content), 1945-1989 (association)
Creator: IWM (Production company)
McDonough, Richard (Recorder)
Braithwaite, David (Interviewee/Speaker)
Production date: 2012-02-20
Dimensions: whole: Duration 240, Number Of Items 8
Catalogue number: 33614

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Interview with David Braithwaite

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