Description
Object description
British cadet at Royal Naval College, Dartmouth in GB, 1953-1954; midshipman served aboard HMS Warrior and HMS Eagle in Far East, 1954-1955; officer served aboard submarine HMS Artful in GB coastal waters, 1956; trained as pilot with Fleet Air Arm in GB, 1956-1960; served as pilot with 849 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Hermes in Far East, 1960-1961; instructor with Fleet Air Arm at RAF Linton on Ouse in GB, 1962-1964; served with 849 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm in GB and aboard HMS Ark Royal in Far East, 1965-1966; served with 360 Squadron, RAF in GB, 1966-1967; served as flight deck officer aboard HMS Victorious in GB, 1967; student at Royal Naval College, Greenwich in GB, 1967-1968; served as flag lieutenant to Flying Officer Naval Command at Royal Naval Air Station Lee on Solent in GB, 1969-1970; served with 849 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Ark Royal in GB coastal waters and Atlantic, 1971-1972; served as staff officer with 6th Mine Countermeasure Squadron in Hong Kong, 1972-1974; commanded 849 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm at RAF Lossiemouth in GB, 1974-1976; served as naval instructor at Army Staff College, Camberley in GB, 1976-1978; served as naval/air/military attaché in Copenhagen, Denmark, 1980-1983; served as Deputy Director of Naval and Commonwealth Training at Ministry of Defence in London, GB, 1983-1985; served as staff officer with The Iberian Atlantic Command, NATO in Portugal, 1985-1988
Content description
REEL 1 Background in St Albans and Chalfont St Peter, GB, 1935-1953: father's involvement in aviation; education at Repton School; early interest in the sea. Aspects of period as cadet at Royal Naval College, Dartmouth in GB, 1953-1954: pattern of term; uniform worn; daily routine; sea training aboard HMS Triumph; specialised branches in Royal Navy. Aspects of period as midshipman aboard HMS Warrior and HMS Eagle in Far East, 1954-1955: flight from GB to Singapore to join ship; training for midshipmen; life in gun room and accommodation; importance of midshipmen learning about ship and its operation; recreational activities.
REEL 2 Continues: discipline aboard; relations with ship's crew; pay; transfer to HMS Eagle. Commissioning after two terms at Royal Naval College, Greenwich, 1956. Aspects of period as officer aboard submarine HMS Artful in GB coastal waters, 1956: reasons for taking small ship course in submarines; attitude towards service in submarines; watch keeping in Irish Sea. Aspects of flying training with Fleet Air Arm in GB, 1956-1960: pattern of elementary flying training at RAF Syerston; sharing course with RAF students; description of Percival Provost; contrast between piston engined aircraft and jet aircraft.
REEL 3 Continues: character of De Havilland Vampire; receiving wings; conversion course onto Fairey Gannet at Royal Naval Air Station, Culdrose; character of Fairey Gannet; story of controls sticking and ditching in Fairey Gannet during exercise. Aspects of period as pilot with 849 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Hermes in Far East, 1960-1961: embarkation on board carrier, 11/1960; aircraft compliment on board; squadron strength on board; return to GB, 1961; embarkation aboard HMS Ark Royal, 9/1961. Aspects of period as instructor with Fleet Air Arm at RAF Linton on Ouse in GB, 1962-1964: training as instructor; period as instructor on De Havilland Chipmunks.
REEL 4 Continues: Aspects of period as pilot with 849 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm in GB and aboard HMS Ark Royal in Far East, 1965-1966: appointment to squadron; training in Far East; patrol work in Straits of Singapore; return to GB, 1/1966. Aspects of period as 360 Squadron, RAF in GB, 1966-1967: jet training prior to joining squadron; delay in delivery of English Electric Canberras. Aspects of period as flight deck officer aboard HMS Victorious in GB coastal waters, 1967 role of flight deck officer; effects of fire aboard carrier. Aspects of period as student at Royal Naval College, Greenwich in GB, 1967-1968: nature of course; purpose of course. Aspects of period as flag lieutenant to Flying Officer Naval Command at Royal Naval Air Station Lee on Solent in GB, 1969-1970: appointment to role; duties. Aspects of period as 849 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Ark Royal in GB coastal waters and Atlantic, 1970-1972: appointment to command B Flight; duties during Belize incident, 1/1971.
REEL 5 Continues: Aspects of period as staff officer with 6th Mine Countermeasure Squadron in Hong Kong, 1972-1974: role with minesweeper squadron; attitude towards service in Hong Kong. Aspects of period commanding 849 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm at RAF Lossiemouth in GB, 1974-1976: background to taking command; attitude to role as commanding officer; causes of friction between RAF and Fleet Air Arm at RAF Lossiemouth; role of commanding officer. Aspects of period as naval instructor at Army Staff College, Camberley in GB, 1976-1979: reasons for having a naval officer at college; trips to Portsmouth.
REEL 6 Continues: Aspects of period as naval/air/military attaché in Copenhagen, Denmark, 1980-1983: appointment; role and duties; spoof call about Exocet missile during Falklands War, 1982; visit by briefing team. Aspects of period as Deputy Director of Naval and Commonwealth Training at Ministry of Defence in London, GB, 1983-1985: role and duties. Aspects of period as staff officer with The Iberian Atlantic Command in Portugal, 1985-1988: nature of command; role and duties; leaving post. Courses on leaving Royal Navy and return to civilian life.