Description
Object description
British naval airman and officer trained as pilot with Fleet Air Arm in GB and Canada, 1942-1944; officer served as pilot with 809 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm in GB and aboard HMS Stalker in GB coastal waters, Mediterranean and Far East, 10/1943-8/1945; served as instructor with Central Flying School, RAF at RAF Little Rissington, 1949-1951; served as pilot with 800 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm at HMS Peregrine, Royal Naval Air Station Ford, GB, 1951-1953; commanded 736 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm in GB, 1953-1955; officer served as navigator aboard HMS Redpole in GB coastal waters, 1955-1956; commanded 897 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Eagle in Mediterranean and during Operation Musketeer, the landings at Suez, Egypt, 1956-1957; commanded HMS Killisport in Persian Gulf, 1960-1961; served as Commander Air at HMS Fulmar, Royal Naval Air Station Lossiemouth in GB, 1961-1962; served as Commander Air aboard HMS Ark Royal in Far East, 1962-1964; served as appointer with Fleet Air Arm at Ministry of Defence, London, GB, 1964-1966; served as Captain Air to Flag Officer Air Command, Fleet Air Arm in GB, 1967-1968; commanded HMS Dido in Indian Ocean, North and South Atlantic, 1968-1969; student on Senior Officers War Course at University of Southampton, GB, 1970; commanded HMS Heron, Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton in GB, 1970-1972; commanded HMS Kent in GB coastal waters, 1972-1974; served as staff officer with Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, Mons, Belgium, 1974-1976
Content description
REEL 1 Background in GB, 1923-1942: father's military service in First World War; employment; interest in aviation and Royal Navy. Recollections of enlistment and training as naval airman with Fleet Air Arm in GB in Canada, 1942-1943: volunteering of Fleet Air Arm; pattern of training; impressions of De Havilland DH.82 Tiger Moth; reaction to sight of female Air Transport Auxiliary pilot; prior recollection of display by Alec Henshaw over Birmingham; voyage aboard HMT Queen Mary from GB to United States of America; hospitality of American civilians towards British servicemen; flying North American Harvard at No 31 Service Flying Training School, RCAF at RCAF Kingston, Canada; impressions of North American Harvard; question of allocation to fighter or torpedo bombers; attitude to flying; return to GB; contrast between weather conditions in Canada and GB; reaction to flying Hawker Hurricane.
REEL 2 Continues: flying Supermarine Seafire at HMS Dipper, Royal Naval Air Station Henstidge; first deck landings; method of landing Supermarine Seafire on deck of aircraft carrier; relations between batsman and pilot; further details of deck landings; formation flying; attitude towards air firing and bombing. Recollections of operations as pilot with 809 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm in GB and HMS Stalker in GB coastal waters, Mediterranean and Far East, 10/1943-8/1945: joining squadron at Andover, 10/1943; character of HMS Stalker; convoy to Gibraltar; move to Italy for experience; ground attacks; effect of squadron aircraft losses; accommodation aboard HMS Stalker; spotting for the guns; types of targets attacked.
REEL 3 Continues: story of shooting down over Southern France and subsequent evasion from capture, 24/8/1944; treatment by French civilians; return to aircraft carrier; loss of flight commander; types of operations flown over Greece; weapons carried in aircraft; Christmas period in Egypt, 12/1944; interception of Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service aircraft after VJ Day, 8/1945; ground support operations; weather conditions in Far East; flying kit worn; losses in Far East; end of Second World War and return to civilian life. Aspects of period as officer and instructor with Fleet Air Arm in GB, 1946-1948: reasons for return to Fleet Air Arm, 1946; opinion of Fairey Firefly; pattern of career.
REEL 4 Continues: Aspects of period as instructor with Central Flying School, RAF at RAF Little Rissington, GB, 1949-1951: attending instructors course prior to taking up staff pilot job at RAF Little Rissington; problems that could occur during landing of De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito; use of instructors' patter; incident of Gloster Meteor going into dive; contrast between flying jets and piston engined aircraft; shortage of pilots at start of Korean War. Aspects of period as pilot with 800 Naval Air Sqdn at HMS Peregrine, Royal Naval Air Station Ford, GB, 1951-1953: pattern of training prior to taking command of squadron; character of Supermarine Attacker; problems with deck landing Supermarine Attacker; problems with Supermarine Attacker's heating and fuel systems; opinion of Supermarine Scimitar; specialist roles of senior pilots in squadron; changes with introduction of jet aircraft.
REEL 5 Continues: Aspects of period commanding 736 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm in GB, 1953-1955: role converting pilots to jet aircraft; visibility in jet aircraft; Supermarine Attacker tail wheel; move to HMS Fulmar, Royal Naval Air Station Lossiemouth; re-equipping with Hawker Sea Hawk; pattern of pilot training. Aspects of period as navigator aboard HMS Redpole in GB coastal waters, 1955-1956: appointment to ship; attitude to having to do sea time. Recollections of operations commanding 897 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm in GB and aboard HMS Eagle in Mediterranean and during Operation Musketeer, the landings at Suez, Egypt, 1956-1957: six month working up period at HMS Goldcrest, Royal Naval Air Station Brawdy; character of HMS Eagle; character of squadron; pressure on pilots during night flying practice; effect of security prior to Operation Musketeer, 11/1956; method of taking off in dark; first attack on airfield at Inchas, 1/11/1956; attack on Egyptian block ship Akka, 1/11/1956; secondary attack at Abu Sueir; lack of Egyptian air opposition; halting of attacks on soft skinned vehicles.
REEL 6 Continues: unwillingness to cause civilian casualties; attacks on bridge at E Gamil; harassment by United States Navy's Sixth Fleet; loss of wing man and his recovery from desert; end of hostilities; attitude towards participation in landings; role of squadron after evacuation and return to GB, 1/1957. Aspects of period commanding HMS Loch Killisport in Persian Gulf, 1960-1961: background to appointment to command frigate after staff jobs, 1960; passing through Suez Canal; showing the flag exercises; role as captain. Aspects of period as Commander Air at HMS Fulmar, Royal Naval Air Station Lossiemouth, GB, 1961-1962: appointment; role and duties; incident of abandoned Supermarine Scimitar crashing inland; impressions of Supermarine Scimitar. Aspects of period as Commander Air aboard HMS Ark Royal in Far East, 1962-1964: appointment to aircraft carrier in Far East; role of Commander Air.
REEL 7 Continues: impressions of HMS Ark Royal; problems of operating aircraft in Far East; dangerous nature of flight deck; amusing story of receiving cable from son. Aspects of period as appointer with Fleet Air Arm at Ministry of Defence, London, GB, 1964-1966: role as appointer; question of selection of personnel for different types of role. Aspects of period as Captain Air to Flag Officer Air Command, Fleet Air Arm in GB, 1967-1968: appointment to role; compiling inventory of Fleet Air Arm facilities; question of Denis Healey's understanding of aircraft carriers; opinion of Royal Air Force's ability to win resources argument. Aspects of period commanding HMS Dido in Indian Ocean, North and South Atlantic, 1968-1969: appointment; Beira Patrol duties; service with North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Standing Naval Force Atlantic; treatment of ship's crew in different ports.
REEL 8 Continues: Aspects of period as student on Senior Officers War Course at University of Southampton, GB, 1970: amusing story of university lecturer's ignorance of Middle East. Aspects of period commanding HMS Heron, Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton in GB, 1970-1972: role of commanding officer; establishment of Fleet Air Arm Museum at Yeovilton. Aspects of period commanding HMS Kent in GB coastal waters, 1972-1974: guided missile trials; question of lack of knowledge of damage guided missiles could do. Aspects of period as staff officer with Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, (SHAPE), Mons, Belgium, 1974-1976: appointment; problems with Greek/Turkish relations; attitude to service at headquarters. Attitude towards service with Royal Navy, 1942-1976.
