Description
Object description
British junior technician served as Chinese linguist with RAF in Hong Kong, 1958-1959
Content description
REEL 1: Background in GB, 1938-1957: family and childhood in Harrow and Cornwall; description of Anderson shelter in garden; air raids; father served with RAF; story of attending London Olympics, 1948; rationing; VE Day celebrations in Harrow, 1945; education; activities as patrol leader with Boy Scouts; head of RAF section in school; qualified as glider pilot; called up for National Service and applied for Russian course; drafted into RAF, 8/1957. Aspects of training with RAF in GB, 8/1957-10/1958: basic training at RAF Cardington and RAF Bridgenorth; attitude to RAF lifestyle and discipline; played for RAF rugby team; suicides among recruits.
REEL 2 Continues: opinion of basic training; accommodation; cleaning boots and equipment; inspections; posted to language school at RAF Pucklechurch; more relaxed discipline; accommodation; daily routine; used motorcycle; recreational and sporting activities; relations with other recruits; attitude to learning Mandarin Chinese; opinion of US manual 'Cloudy Bill' and other text books; learned Chinese characters and military vocabulary; daily routine and structure of course.
REEL 3 Continues: organization of number 5 course; various memories of British and Chinese tutors; teaching methods and text books; training in monitoring Chinese military air traffic and radar plots; use of signal pads; problem of deciphering messages and locating point of transmission; issued with tropical uniform and kit; opinion of Chinese course.
REEL 4 Continues: description of flight to Hong Kong. Aspects of operations with RAF in Hong Kong, 10/1958-1959: landed at Kai Tak airport; posted to RAF Little Sai Wan; opinion of accommodation and food; recreational and sporting activities; explanation of watch system; method of transport to listening station on summit of Victoria Peak; opinion of Chinese lifestyle in Hong Kong; freedom of movement; relations with civilians; learned to drive; description of work station and equipment.
REEL 5 Continues: amusing story about Alan Whicker and light aircraft; method of tracking Chinese air activity.
REEL 6 Continues: description of flight aboard Comet to RAF Lyneham, GB, 1959. Aspects of period in GB and China: left RAF and studied Chinese at Oxford University; story of obtaining post as interpreter in Beijing, China, 1964; role in organizing reunion with former RAF Chinese linguists.