Neilson, John Alexander (Oral history)

British officer trained as pilot with Fleet Air Arm in GB, 1946-1950; served with 815 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm at HMS Gannet, Royal Naval Air Station Eglington, Northern Ireland, 1950-1951; served with 812 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Glory, 14th Carrier Air Group during Korean War, 4/1951-9/1951; served with Service Trials Unit, Fleet Air Arm at HMS Peregrine,Royal Naval Air Station Ford in GB, 1951-1953; served with 806 Naval Air Sqdn at HMS Goldcrest, Royal Naval Air Station Brawdy in GB, 1953-1955; served as instructor with Fleet Air Arm at HMS Fulmar, Royal Naval Air Station Lossiemouth, 1955-1956; served as test pilot with Royal Navy Test Sqdn at Aeroplance and Armament Experimental Establishment, Boscombe Down in GB, 1957-1959; served as senior pilot with 815 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Ark Royal in GB coastal waters, 1960-1962; commanded Rotary Wing Test Sqdn at Aeroplance and Armament Experimental Establishment, Boscombe Down in GB, 1963-1966; served as Lieutenant Commander Flying aboard HMS Victorious in GB coastal waters, 1967-1969; served as staff officer with British Naval Staff in Washington, DC in US, 1969-1971; served as staff officer at Ministry of Defence in London, GB, 1971-1973

REEL 1 Background in Dalry, GB, 1927-1946: family; education; father's membership of Home Guard; his making Molotov Cocktails; shooting at German aircraft with rifle. Recollections of training as pilot with Fleet Air Arm in GB, 1946-1950: background to joining Fleet Air Arm as rating pilot; explanation of rating pilot scheme; reasons for choice of Fleet Air Arm over RAF; pattern of initial training; familiarisation with aircraft; pattern of flying training including spinning and soloing; opinion of De Havilland Tiger Moth; character of North American Harvard; instrument flying; introduction to Supermarine Seafire; question of status as rating pilot. REEL 2 Continues: deck landing training. Aspects of period as pilot with 815 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm at HMS Gannet, Royal Naval Air Station Eglington, Northern Ireland, 1950-1951: flying Fairey Barracuda; problems flying Fairey Barracuda taking off; opinion of Fairey Barracuda; nature of night flying in Fairey Barracuda. Recollections of operations as pilot with 812 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Glory, 14th Carrier Air Group during the Korean War, 4/1951-9/1951: role of Fairey Firefly; incident of making second dive bomb attack on bridge; attitude towards attacking ox carts carrying ammunition; bombing bridges with delayed action bombs; supporting ground forces; nature of operations over Korea; items carried by pilots; arrangements for forced landings; narrow escape from being shot down by American aircraft; depth charging North Korean vessel. REEL 3 Continues: rest periods in Japan; status as commissioned pilot; fatigue; occasion when he made emergency wheels up landing on aircraft carrier; demarcation between pilot and observer; conditions on board aircraft; ground crew and personal aircraft; return to GB. Aspects of period as pilot with Service Trials Unit, Fleet Air Arm at HMS Peregrine, Royal Naval Air Station Ford in GB, 1951-1953: appointment to unit; contrast between flying jet powered and propeller driven aircraft. Aspects of period as pilot with 806 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm at HMS Goldcrest, Royal Naval Air Station Brawdy in GB, 1953-1955: appointment to squadron; angle deck landings; mirror deck landing device; character of Hawker Sea Hawk and Supermarine Attacker; aerobatic team work. REEL 4 Continues: squadron award of Boyd Trophy. Aspects of period as instructor with Fleet Air Arm at HMS Fulmar, Royal Naval Air Station Lossiemouth in GB, 1955-1956: attitude towards instructing. Recollections of period as test pilot with Royal Navy Test Sqdn at Aeroplance and Armament Experimental Establishment, Boscombe Down in GB, 1957-1959: attending No 16 Test Pilots course at Empire Test Pilots School, Farnborough, 1957; reasons for test flying aircraft; first flight in Hawker Hunter; types of aircraft flown; joining Royal Naval Test Sqdn at Boscombe Down; character of Supermarine Scimitar; deck landing trials with Supermarine Scimitar aboard HMS Ark Royal; encouragement to fly other aircraft types; story of ejecting after bird strike during tropical trials for De Havilland Sea Vixen in Nigeria; discovery by civilians on river bank and his evacuation with broken back by missionaries; fate of observer; medical treatment and evacuation to GB. Aspects of period as commanding officer of Rotary Wing Test Sqdn at Aeroplance and Armament Experimental Establishment, Boscombe Down in GB, 1963-1966: return to test flying as commanding officer; trials work. Aspects of period as senior pilot with 815 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Ark Royal in GB coastal waters, 1960-1962: night flying over sea; anti-submarine work. Aspects of period as Lieutenant Commander Flying aboard HMS Victorious in GB coastal waters, 1967-1969: appointment. REEL 5 Continues: role and duties; clash with aircraft carrier's captain; dangers of flight deck. Aspects of period as staff officer with British Naval Staff in Washington, DC, US, 1969-1971: promotion to commander; liaison duties with Americans. Aspects of period as staff officer with Ministry of Defence in London, GB, 1971-1973: duties; attitude towards staff duties; retirement from post. Reflections on service with Fleet Air Arm: attitude towards service; attitude to flying Hawker Sea Hawk and De Havilland Sea Vixen.