Interview with Morris John Hedges

British officer served with Royal Navy in GB, 1956-1958; trained as pilot with Fleet Air Arm at No 1 Flying Training School, RAF at RAF Linton-on-Ouse, GB, 1958-1959; trained as helicopter pilot at HMS Seahawk, Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose, GB, 1959; helicopter pilot served with Fleet Air Arm with Helicopter Flight aboard HMS Protector in Antarctic, 1960-1962; served with 846 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm in GB, aboard HMS Albion in Mediterranean and Far East, 1962; served with 846 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm during Indonesian Confrontation in Brunei and Sarawak, British Borneo and Borneo, Malaysia, 12/1962-12/1963; served with 847 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose, GB, 1964; served as helicopter instructor with 705 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm at HMS Seahawk, Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose GB, 1965-1966; served with Queen's Flight in GB, 1966-1970

REEL 1 Background in Wallingford, GB, 1937-1956: family; education; membership of Combined Cadet Force. Aspects of period as officer with Royal Navy in GB, 1956-1958: call-up for National Service, 1956; basic training at Royal Naval Barracks, HMS Victory, Portsmouth; applying for commission and officer training; training aboard HMS Theseus including sleeping in hammock; messenger duties as midshipman aboard HMS Ark Royal; appointment to Bar-class boom defence vessel at Plymouth; role as divisional officer; training and work as direction officer; interest in aviation and selection for flying training. Aspects of flying training as officer with Fleet Air Arm at No 1 Flying Training School, RAF at RAF Linton-on-Ouse, GB, 1958-1959: pattern of flying course ; instrument flying. REEL 2 Continues: importance of trusting instruments; opinion of De Havilland DH.115 Vampire; spinning aircraft; initial problems with three point landing; formation flying; looping and rolling aircraft; cross-country navigation and night flying; contrast between piston engined aircraft and jet aircraft. Aspects of helicopter training at HMS Seahawk, Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose, GB, 1959: technique for flying helicopter; question of difficulties of flying helicopters; hovering; taking off; turning. Aspects of period as helicopter pilot with Fleet Air Arm with Helicopter Flight aboard HMS Protector in Antarctic, 1960-1962: appointment to ship; time ashore in Falkland Islands; flying conditions in Antarctic; weather conditions; opinion of Westland Whirlwind HAR.1; problems with uplift; landing on ship; flying clothing worn; crashing on ridge. REEL 3 Continues: attitude to service in Antarctic. Aspects of period as pilot with 846 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm at HMS Seahawk, Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose in GB and HMS Albion in Mediterranean and Far East, 1962: appointment to squadron; composition of squadron; order to move rapidly to Singapore, Federation of Malaya, 12/1962; character of aircraft carrier; number of Royal Marines and Gurkha carried; communication and visibility; starting Westland Whirlwind HAR.4; operating in Libya; loads carried; landing on HMS Albion; work as divisional officer; maintenance facilities and routine; operating in tropics. REEL 4 Continues: Recollections of operations as pilot with 846 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm during Indonesian Confrontation in Brunei and Sarawak, British Borneo and Borneo, Malaysia, 12/1962-12/1963: landing at Brunei Town airfield, 12/1962; situation on arrival at airfield; problems with flooding on airfield and work to improve drainage; escort for briefings in Brunei Town; construction of hut; forced landing in pineapple grove caused by water in fuel; visit to Singapore, Federation of Malaya to sort out squadron wives; move to Kuching, Sarawak, British Borneo; problems with mosquitoes; improvement in maps; addition of machine guns to helicopter; problems of flying in tropical environment and terrain; flying prisoner from outlying post. REEL 5 Continues: how squadron gained nickname 'Palm Tree Squadron'; use of prepared landing sites; increase in activity on Indonesia armed forces entering conflict; leaving Borneo, Malaysia, 12/1963. Aspects of period as pilot with 847 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm at HMS Seahawk, Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose, GB, 1964: training role of squadron; method of landing helicopter in confined space. Aspects of period as helicopter instructor with 705 Naval Air Sqdn, Fleet Air Arm at HMS Seahawk, Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose, GB, 1965-1966: training as helicopter instructor with Royal Air Force prior to joining squadron; method of instruction on Westland Whirlwind helicopters; dealing with students having problems with instrument flying; failure of student pilots; instructional duties. Aspects of period as pilot with Queen's Flight in GB, 1966-1970: appointment to Queen's Flight; description of how flight operated. REEL 6 Continues: character of Westland Whirlwind HC.10; attitude towards service with Queen's Flight; leaving Fleet Air Arm. Aspects of civilian career in aviation industry in GB, from 1971: obtaining employment; selling first helicopter; learning to fly gyrocopter in United States of America; use of large helicopter for oil company work; attitude towards service with Fleet Air Arm.