Interview with Max Snow

Royal Navy helicopter pilot 1975-2010. Graduate entry scheme (BSc Hons Oceanography, Liverpool). Trained at Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth; HMS Mercury, HMS Alacrity. Served 825, 826 Squadron, Operation Corporate (South Atlantic Medal); RNAS Portland (702, 815 Sqdn); HMS Nottingham; HMS Dryad; HMS Jupiter PWO (Armilla Patrol); RNAS Culdrose Senior Pilot and XO, 810 Sqdn. Officer Commanding ‘R’ Sqdn, RAF Cranwell. Strategic planning, Northwood (1993-95); Dir Naval Ops, MOD London (1995-98); warfare instructor US Battle Grp, Dam Neck, Virginia (1999-2001); Defence Logistics Organisation, MOD Endsleigh (2001-04); NATO UAV Regs Committee, RNAS Yeovilton (2004-07); Defence Aviation Regulation & Safety, RAF Northolt (2008-10). Founder and CEO, Aerios Ltd, principal UAV consultant to MOD.

REEL 1: Born 1957 Helensburgh, Scotland; family history, father Peter Snow, a Royal Navy (RN) flying officer; mother, Máire (née Maxwell), born and raised in Ulster, served in Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS) at British Embassy in Washington DC during Second World War (SWW); family move to Farnborough when father left Royal Navy; sibling relationships, two brothers and a sister; memories of hunger in childhood, scarcity of food during austerity period, financial difficulties following father’s demobilisation; father’s post-war career in international shipping, mother’s work in fashion journalism; little benefit from family ownership of the Keppel’s Head naval hotel in Portsmouth; family’s difficult financial position; further move to Cuckfield, Sussex, family home above mother’s fashion shop; attendance at Sharrow preparatory school, Whiteman’s Green; traditional nature of school; international complexion of pupil body; character of headmaster; character of parents, sparse discussion of their war service; impact on family life of mother’s alcoholism, sister’s role in raising family; mother’s recovery through support of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA); impact of mother’s illness on parents’ relationship, role of aunts in family life; description of mother’s successful business, funding of private education; description of Cuckfield village; mother’s high standards of dress; scarcity of nutritious food at home and school during the period; witnessing corporal punishment regime at school; effects of renal colic and memories of hospital admission in early childhood; description of severe winter weather in 1963; details of father’s employment; ownership of a telephone, unusual during the period; memories of family seaside holidays. REEL 2 continues: reason for family move to Eastbourne, contrasts with village life, description of family home; proximity to beach and the sea; memories of being taught cursive handwriting at St John’s Meads School, difficulty of being left-handed; memories of BBC schools programmes via VHF radio service; description of school visit to London, including Heathrow Airport; preparation and coaching prior to eleven-plus examination; reiteration of reason for move to Eastbourne; importance of leisure time on the beach; receiving swimming lessons at Devonshire salt water baths, Eastbourne; description of accommodation; impact of house move, increased commuting time for father, mother re-entering employment; no family involvement with church; ease of passing eleven-plus exam; attendance at Eastbourne Grammar School; entitlement to free bus travel to school; academic standards and leadership at the school, character of teaching staff; accelerated A-level scheme resulting in a ‘gap year’; musical and sporting life at the school; disadvantages of short stature, experience of bullying; influence of school master Graham Marsden; ambition at school leaving age; influence of physics master Derek Bunker, his arrangements for visit by school astronomy society to home of astronomer Patrick Moore at Selsey Bill. Character of Patrick Moore; O and A-level achievement; ambition to read oceanography at university; choice of Liverpool University. REEL 3 continues: question of casual employment during gap year prior to university entrance; becoming aware of Royal Navy graduate entry scheme; contractual commitment of scheme; prospect of adjusting to disciplined service life; contact with Royal Navy personnel locally, hearing anecdotally about navy life; contrasts between the new graduate entry scheme and the traditional Murray Scheme in RN training; father’s supportive attitude; attending Admiralty Interview Board (AIB), 8/1974; subtle vetting process included in the board questions; lack of naval knowledge at the time; rapid response following AIB, and acceptance offer; motivation for joining Royal Navy; lack of preparation for AIB, father’s support and attitude an arrival at HMS Sultan; father’s service not influential at AIB; issue of railway warrant, travel to Dartmouth; mother’s reaction; reasons for choosing oceanography for university study; requirements of navy swimming test; details of AIB tests; undergoing medical examination in London; level of fitness; impact on romantic relationship when joining Royal Navy; anticipation of training programme, integration with university study; arrival at Britannia Royal Naval College Dartmouth (BRNC) (9/1974); initial impressions of BRNC; [20:34 telephone interruption, recording paused]; question of self-confidence during initial training period; shock on first experience of military discipline; joining process, interview with Divisional Officer Lt. Robin Goodfellow; unaware of joining the General List, prospect of automatic promotion to Lieutenant Commander; contact with home, feeling homesick, shock of alien environment, father’s encouragement; playing rugby at college ground; coping with disciplined and restricted lifestyle; exhausting morning exercises; description of frantic mealtimes, frenetic pace of activities, passing inspections, care of kit, fear of being late. REEL 4 continues: difficulties of fatigue during training; challenge of staying awake during classroom teaching sessions; description of daily routine, call of hands by boatswain’s call, early morning activities (EMAs) including physical training, classroom work, care and upkeep of kit; requirement to write weekly journal article; opinion of standards of training; memories of weekend sailing expedition to Brixham; description of the boatswain’s dinghy test, coaching by fellow cadet Roger Ireland; passing a series of training modules in basic seamanship; challenge of passing the ‘twin screw ticket’; outward bound training on Dartmoor; challenge of developing leadership skills; collegiate nature of course, developing comradeship; realisation of need for close teamwork when under combat stress when serving in Falklands War; need for self-reliance when starting university course; family visit to Britannia RNC; continuing homesickness, father’s letter of support to divisional officer Tim Honour; relief over officer’s supportive attitude; reference to taking part in ballet performance in earlier years; realisation of sense of common purpose; discussion around the Cold War concept of the Soviet threat; awareness of politics and world affairs; personal values of democracy and justice, influence of family friend Don Wakeling; question of influence of Irish heritage in understanding of the Troubles in Northern Ireland at this time; acceptance of discipline and hierarchy in Royal Navy; coping with restrictions on personal freedom; assimilation into an all-male environment; adapting to lack of female contact; importance of emotional detachment, especially during deployments; weekly contact with home; pay levels; leisure activity at Dartmouth; reported for punishment routine, reprimanded for surrendering identity card. REEL 5 continues: description of training ship HMS Fearless, use as landing platform dock (LPD), operational role as a command ship; memories of training on board; nature of mess accommodation; explanation of cabin, mess, and deck designators; difficulties of orientation while on board ship; sailing from Plymouth to Bridgetown, Barbados (1/1974), first experience of overseas travel, becoming 18-years old and entering adulthood during voyage; use of Mini Moke vehicle during visit to Barbados; description of cadet uniform; importance of electrostatically neutral footwear; wearing plain clothes onshore; wearing tropical rig, following tropical routine finishing tasks by early afternoon; method of combatting environmental overheating through use of wooden decks; method for rigging awnings, associated specialist vocabulary; adapting to tropical weather; difficulty of equatorial short twilight conditions; importance of daily routine and reading daily orders on board ship; description of contents of daily orders; duration of West Indies deployment; taking part in surveying expedition to update 19th century charts; technical description of surveying methods; ratio of cadets to crew on HMS Fearless; allocated to ship’s husbandry tasks including chipping and painting of hull; protocols in case of ship being called to active service; return to home port; issue of task book; acceptance of navy life by this stage; opportunity to follow and observe commander, asking his advice on coping with separation; identifying personal weaknesses, lack of self-confidence; acceptance of cadet status; character of fleet chief petty officer; anecdote of being denied cash payment after mistake writing cheque, intervention by divisional officer to remedy situation; standard of catering on board ship, description of the ‘mechanical cow’ powdered milk. REEL 6 continues: continuing training to complete task book; deployment to HMS Londonderry; traditional format of posting letter, procedure for requesting joining instructions, the ‘formal letter’; ordered to join ship in Faslane, difficulties of journey via London; impressions of Faslane naval base, high level of security; delay in arrival of HMS Londonderry, temporary training programme during two-week delay, paired with trainee midshipman engineer cadet Guy Falconbridge; familiarisation with Clyde nuclear submarine base, observation of Polaris A-4 missile assembly routine; lectures by civil service engineers revealing secret information about ‘counter-city’ weapons and undersea launch protocols, details of guidance mechanism; visit on board Swisher class submarine; security briefing by MOD police; awareness of numerous underground nuclear weapons storage facilities in western Scotland; not attracted to submariners’ branch; embarking HMS Londonderry; meeting training officer Andrew Duport [phon]; explanation of task book, coverage of all areas and roles on board the ship; experience in boiler room, working with stokers on steam turbines, cautions required in boiler operation difficulty of working environment; husbandry work lagging steam pipes, risks associated with super-heated steam systems; technical description of HMS Londonderry, Seacat missile capability; method for loading shells, description and risks of gunnery; explanation of the term ‘good service’; mastering deck navigation, explanation of ship’s layout; completing tasks, including anchor chain operation; method of celestial navigation, importance of accurate time keeping, use star globe; description of inertial navigation systems; description of radio navigation systems, Omega and Loran; passion for learning stellar navigation, difficulty of short twilight periods, method of meridian passage sighting; explanation of ship’s time, method of calibrating ship’s chronometer. REEL 7 continues: rank at this time, advantages of wardroom and officer status; awareness of rank structure; nature of role of artificer, their importance and skills, their automatic promotion to chief petty officer via ‘B13’ procedure; explanation of command structure, forms of address amongst ranks; relationships between ranks, awareness of class structure within the Royal Navy, collegiate nature when on deployment; difficulty of issuing orders to more experienced, yet lower rank personnel; importance of conformity and correctness in form of address; accepting advice of experienced personnel, importance of mutual respect; examples of disciplinary issues on board HMS Londonderry; policing and upholding the Naval Discipline Act, Queen’s Regulations, Ship’s Standing Orders etc; role of Master at Arms; explanation of phrase “being adrift” (returning on board late); example of disciplinary process, facilities for use as Detention Quarters (DQ) on board; anecdote of Sterling submachine gun missing on board, investigation and movement restrictions, cancellation of leave, resolution of case; role of torpedo anti-submarine warfare (TAS) officer; pay levels as midshipman, needs of daily life were subsidised; memories of ‘families day’ held in home port at Portsmouth; contact with home via BFPO; first sight of ‘the enemy’, observation of Soviet Fleet in Mediterranean; ports of call during Mediterranean deployment of HMS Londonderry; memories of shore leave in Morocco; replenishment at port, technical description of liquid replenishment at sea (RAS-L); contact with Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA); favoured departments during completion of task book, interest in electronic warfare operations, (prior to Admiralty Surface Weapons Establishment refit 11/1975); contact with Flight Commander Scott Lidbitter, observation of Westland Wasp helicopter, interest in flight operations. REEL 8 continues: memories of HMS Londonderry calling at Bergan for birthday celebrations of King Olav of Norway; description of mess dress; HMS Londonderry’s role as guard ship during Thames Tall Ships Race (1975), berthing beside HMS Belfast and cross decking for brief tour; difficulties of river navigation; presence of VIP guests; home leave followed by entry to Liverpool University to read mathematics, physics, and oceanography; sending RN trunk to halls of residence via Red Star rail service; adapting to civilian life, initially concealing Royal Navy role; culture shock of undisciplined environment; anecdote of punctual attendance at registration day; anticipation of university course; organisation of course, integration with Royal Navy duties and training; mandatory navy deployment during university vacation; posting to HMS Beagle during first vacation attachment, 8/1976; cultural difficulty of integration, first experience of regional accents; challenges of long distance home visits; restrictions on political affiliations; anecdote of debate with recruiting officer from Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), presenting argument for retention of Britain’s nuclear deterrence through strategy of second strike capability, escalation, flexible response; revealing identity to fellow student as an “agent of destruction”; question of strategy when dealing with irrational belligerent, reference to current (2023) Ukraine-Russia conflict; nature of peer group, contact with arts students; rigour of study timetable; meeting other Royal Navy sponsored students; contractual nature of RN graduate entry scheme; financial challenges as a student, restrictions on casual employment; identity as a student rather than Royal Navy officer; limited contact with RN Reserve; ambition to commit to Royal Navy career; description of joining HMS Beagle via a Gemini dinghy; assistance of Lowestoft Harbour Master; impressions of HMS Beagle, disappointment over restricted data-collection role of vessel, lack of prospect of oceanographic research on board. REEL 9 continues: reasons for choice of posting to HMS Beagle; location of surveying operations, recording of unmarked SWW wrecks; method of surveying, use of danbuoy sinkers to wire-sweep submerged masts; reputation of Admiralty charts; description of HMS Beagle; complement of shallow water launches used for charting hight of tides; return to university for second year of course; arranging accommodation; description of deprivation in Toxteth area of Liverpool; legacy of SWW bombing in the area; shocked reaction to poverty; reason for choosing accommodation outside of university campus; character of landlord; deployment to HMS Aurora, description of ship, equipped with Ikara missile system for anti-submarine warfare (ASW); joining school of oceanography for final year at Liverpool University; contrasts with first two years; examples of research projects undertaken, relevance to anti-submarine warfare; graduating upper second, informal invitation to enter academic research, confidence gained from university lab work; question of satisfying academic curiosity during navy career; final vacation posting to HMS Newcastle, completion of midshipman’s task book, including warfare module; impact of transition to gas-turbine technology; HMS Newcastle’s completion of part-IV sea trials; description of ship, including Sea Dart missile system, Lynx helicopter flight, Sea Skua weapons system; ambition at this time, encouragement of Flight Commander Alan Tremelling during attendance at Junior Officers’ Air Course (JOAC) at RNAS Yeovilton; experience of flight in Hawker Hunter aircraft during exercises; advantages of short stature in withstanding difficulties of G-force; decision to pursue career in naval aviation; taking Fleet Board Examination; passing out parade at Dartmouth (1978); attitude of senior officers towards graduate officers; attaining rank of Sub Lieutenant prior to passing Officer of the Watch training. REEL 10 continues: undertaking sub-lieutenant courses, emphasis on navigation, based at HMS Dryad, HMS Mercury, HMS Nelson; organisation of Officer of the Watch courses, opportunity to specialise; taking Junior Officers’ Air Course (JOAC) at RNAS Yeovilton (HMS Heron); memories of flying exercises in Hawker Hunter aircraft; description of HMS Mercury; based with Special Communications Unit (SCU); admin training course at HMS Pembroke (Supply Training School), learning Royal Navy nomenclature; broad nature of subs courses content; outline of duties as OOW (Officer of the Watch); description of navy disciplinary process; detailed description of duties of Officer of the Watch; explanation of watch system, specifically the ‘dog watch’; traditional recruitment of Barnardo’s orphans into the Royal Navy; reference to the charitable work of Dame Agnes (Aggie) Weston; extent of training at HMS Mercury; motivation to pursue a career in the Royal Navy air branch; Royal Navy’s move away from fixed wing aircraft operation, adoption of the Sea Harrier; career ambitions and options during the period; discussion around appeal of career in submarine branch; level of influence in career choice; description of damage control training at HMS Phoenix; use of self-contained breathing apparatus, challenges of firefighting training; nature of risks on board ship; learning to escape ship in blind conditions; diagnosis of hypervigilance later in life as a result of Royal Navy training; nature of navigation training, harbour piloting techniques. REEL 11 continues: skills required when piloting ship into harbour, nature of risks; navigation by transit, use of landmarks; example of navigating Portland Harbour; technique of blind navigation (in darkness or low visibility conditions); navigation training exercise on board HMS Ambuscade, character of Commander Michael Gretton; anecdote of navigation officer’s nervousness during dangerous passage, risks of running ship aground; memories of own nighttime passage exercise; use of radar during difficult conditions; adoption of electronic navigation aids; instances of collision at sea leading to simulator training; description of navigation control measures; role of HMS Ambuscade during the period; routine and protocols of passing out from training, explanation of ‘batch promotion’; role of the navy Appointer; rank of sub-lieutenant on passing out (1979); appointment to HMS Alacrity as OOW3, CORRO (Correspondence Officer), and Flightdeck Officer; [16:30 recording paused]; reason for appointment as Flightdeck Officer; description of HMS Alacrity, extent of weapons systems; Lynx helicopter flight carrying nuclear payload; character of flight commanders Godfrey Kent, James Templeton; nature of role as CORRO, administration of classified documents register (CDR); classification of documents: unclassified, restricted, confidential, secret, top secret; discussing document registration anomalies with Captain Alan Bannister; difficulties of cataloguing documents; frustrating and time-consuming nature of role; disproportionate allocation of night watches for junior officers. REEL 12 continues: continuing nature of training on board HMS Alacrity; nature of role of Officer of the Day; spending Christmas (1979) on board ship to cover ‘dormant routine’ duties; description of leave entitlement; character of Ian Montgomery; risks on board a dormant ship; HMS Alacrity deployed to COQC running (Commanding Officers’ Qualifying Course) in Scotland assisting submarine service training, nature of exercises; advancement towards attaining ocean navigation certificate; tour to east coast United States, calling at Newport, Rhode Island; character of navigating officer Christopher Vascher; making passage through New York; shore leave at Philadelphia, IRA threat while in port; calling at Norfolk, Virginia, headquarters of EASTLANT (Eastern Atlantic Fleet); exercises off Puerto Rico with US Navy Carrier; calling at Wilmington, North Carolina prior to return to home port; deployment to far east (1980) accompanying HMS Antrim, HMS Coventry, HMS Scylla; first visit to China since the HMS Amethyst incident (4/1949); replenishment at Gibraltar; description of formation anchorage off Port Alexandria; preparations for transit of Suez Canal; description of embarkation of local magicians and gully-gully men; contact with Jordanian army in Aqaba; observation of effects of Palestinian-Israeli conflict; visit to the desert; increased knowledge of cultural and political conflict in the region; difficulties of local climate; contact with local population; nature of deployment; little awareness of change in East of Suez policy; diplomatic nature of deployment to China; passage via Mombasa; description of fatal accident during heavy jackstay operation, sounding of ship’s siren six times as emergency uncouple signal; death of Chief Boatswain’s Mate (unnamed); atmosphere of shock following accident; return to Mombasa to return body; traditional auction sale of dead man’s kit providing generous financial support for victim’s family; lack of involvement of ward room officers. REEL 13 continues: ship’s investigation and official inquiry following fatal accident on board HMS Alacrity; technical explanation of cause of accident, failure of aircraft hydraulic jack used in ship’s steering mechanism, lack of inspection and maintenance routine; ordered to Diego Garcia by FCO to assist with eviction of illegal settlement; assisted maintenance period (AMP) at Singapore dockyard; impressions of Singapore during shore leave, contrasts with later visit; description of ‘ladyboys’ or ‘kathoeys’ in the Boogie Street (Bugis) district; leisure time during shore leave at Singapore; risk of falling into deep storm drains; description of local food; hospitality of British ex-patriate community; importance of wearing knee-high socks as countermeasure against mosquitoes; issue of anti-malarial medication; ship’s flight movement to local RAF bases to continue operations; deterioration in weather, risk to ship’s flight, loss of radio contact with ship’s helicopter; technical description of radio communication systems; [15:50 recording paused]; passage to Manilla via Hong Kong; description of SWW era US Jeeps repurposed as public transport; undertaking solar and stellar navigation training enroute to South China Sea; embarkation of SCU (specialist Communication Unit) officers, installation of electronic radio equipment for interception of Chinese communications during voyage; close nighttime contact with unlit Chinese fishing fleet; passage up Yangtze River in group to Shanghai; official 5-day visit to China; presence of British press on board HMS Antrim, including Desmond Wetton [phon] of the Daily Telegraph; diplomatic presence; visits on shore; observation of local population practising t’ai chi, extensive use of bicycles by local population; cultural differences; lack of ceremony during embarkation of Chinese dignitaries; memories of banquet; diplomatic role of Royal Navy in British foreign policy; sovereign territory nature of ship; cultural briefings on board prior to events and shore leave; onward passage to Sasebo and Yokohama, Japan; visiting Nagasaki Peace Garden, hosted at a Japanese tea party; invited to lunch father’s professional colleague at NYK (Nippon Yusen Kaisha Shipping); protocol of exchanging business cards. REEL 14 continues: passage to home port stopping at Alexandria; contact with intellectual Egyptians with international outlook; impressions of political situation in the Persian Gulf; early stages of Armilla Patrol; escort y Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA); arrival at home port (Devonport), being paid off, reunion with family; explanation of term ‘rabbits’, meaning gifts to bring home; description of haggling with traders who came on board ship, importance of saving face in a deal; reaction of family and friends on return home; growth in personal confidence; duration of home leave; aircrew escape and evasion training at Seafield Park; explanation of training pipeline; aptitude testing at Biggin Hill; grading and basic flying training at RAF Roborough; difficulties of being based on board ship and time management; question of animosity towards aviators, avoiding elitist attitude; contrast with culture of RAF; reasons for animosity towards aircrew; no feelings of natural aptitude for flying; applying principles learned in ground school, importance of completing flight checks; discussion around combining critical thinking with practical skills; explanation of term ‘pilot induced oscillation’; question of flying becoming instinctive; basic principles of flying, ‘power, attitude, trim’; technical description of fixed-wing flight; example of basic pilot failure in Air France flight-447 crash (1/6/2009). REEL 15 continues: start of flying training in 1981; basic medical training; description of survival training course in the New Forest; learning to carry essential items in case of landing behind enemy lines; construction of ‘basher’ survival shelter; difficulty of food deprivation during exercise; question of creating an atmosphere of uncertainty during exercise; low rate of failure on the course; elementary flying training at RAF Leeming, contents of course; description of training flights in Bulldog aircraft (3/1981); principles of flight; description of Bulldog aircraft; flying training carried out in fixed wing aircraft instead of rotary wing aircraft for reasons of cost and safety; completion of basic training with RAF by 7/1980; continuous assessment process during flying training; no interservice rivalry between RAF and RN, differences in dress code; description of RAF Leeming airbase; training flights mainly out of Topcliffe aerodrome rather than RAF Leeming main runway; instrument and solo night flying, navigation training; enjoying aerobatics training; passing out, progressing to elementary flying training on Gazelle rotary wing aircraft at RNAS Culdrose; learning hover techniques; autorotate techniques in helicopters as opposed to staling in fixed-wing aircraft. REEL 16 continues: duration of basic training on Gazelle helicopter; contrasts in flying helicopters over fixed-wing aircraft; description of Predannack airfield; handling characteristics of Gazelle; crash due to ‘wing-over’ manoeuvre; mandatory training modules; anecdote of a ceremonial ‘Balbo’ flying formation in honour of a long-serving retiring officer; family history connection to Admiral Italo Balbo (1896 to 1940) of the Italian navy; graduating from elementary flying training as top pilot on course, receiving the Louis Newark trophy; father’s relationship with Commander Barry Kirkby; increased confidence when flying; awarded wings (20/1/1982) by Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall, memories of graduation ceremony; increased salary to flying pay; choice between anti-submarine warfare (ASW), and commando (‘jungly’) flying; consistent element of ground school training; meeting fiancée, her family history and connections with the Royal Navy; start of advanced flying training (AFT) at RNAS Culdrose (706 Sqdn.), flying Sea King Mk.II; technical description of aircraft’s role and all-weather capabilities; organisation of training, including flying aircraft in degraded state; description of flight stabilisation system; range of failure modes introduced during training flights; use of flight simulator at RNAS Culdrose. REEL 17 continues: start of operational flying training, working relationship with observer; training interrupted by Falklands War; risk of malfunctions during night flights, dangers of low-level operations; dangers of hydraulic system failures; question of command structure on board aircraft, explanation of hierarchy; circumstances on 2/4/1982, on leave from training after completing final handling test prior to joining 706 Sqdn.; general lack of awareness of situation in South Atlantic; no knowledge of Falkland Islands; recalled to base, but continuing with flying training; required to keep in close contact when on home leave; formation of 825 Sqdn. following loss of SS Atlantic Conveyor (25/5/1982); rapid readiness of 825 Sqdn.; load-lifting exercise with Sub.Lt. Digs Nelson, Lt. Michael Cribley, CPO Aircrewman Freeman; vague briefing of planned role during Operation Corporate; family history connection with 825 Sqdn., father’s command of same squadron during SWW; press interest in family history during commissioning; pride on wearing relative’s navy scarf which had connection with Battle of the River Plate (12/1939). REEL 18 continues: on leave in Bath, standing-by for deployment; recalled to Culdrose base; training cancelled, 706 Sqdn. reorganised into frontline squadron 825 with modified Sea King MkII aircraft; removal of ASW equipment, installation of troop seats, consequent drop in aircraft weight increasing lift capacity; no fitting of self-protection or weaponry; commissioning ceremony in dress uniform; press interest due to father’s family history and command of historic 825 Sqdn.; issue of field kit, camouflage clothing; use of wellington boots on advice of special forces advance party who experienced difficulties of trench-foot; load-lifting exercises prior to deployment; squadron split into 3 groups, dispersed for embarkation (10/5/1982); designation of naval parties to merchant vessels; Lt Cdr Nigel ‘Tigger’ Shaw organising cabin accommodation on board Queen Elizabeth II (QE2); continuous internal conversion of ship, construction of aft and forward flight decks; small arms weapons mountings fitted to bridge wings; character of war artist Linda Kitson [IWM-13727], escorting her on board ship, gift of one of her sketches after the war; explanation of the term ‘sea daddy’; military routine on board; delivering lecture on meteorology; explanation of differences between northern and southern hemisphere climate; contact with ship’s navigator for reference material; expectations of progress of war in light of sinking of ARA General Belgrano (2/5/1982), HMS Sheffield (4/5/1982); renewed sense of urgency to fight the war; awareness of failing diplomatic effort; continued conversion work; description of embarkation of troops, including Ghurkhas with regimental mascots; description of sailing of QEII from Southampton dock (12/5/1982); question of readiness, no experience in deck landings; change in weather on progress south; test firing of half-inch guns; plans for crossing-the-line ceremony; technical description of deck landing exercises; explanation of the term ‘bum line’, ‘centre line’ (helicopter deck-landing aids); memories of first deck landing (15/5/1982) with Lt Cdr Hugh Clark; contrast in roles of squadron training officer and squadron commanding officer; description of deck landing; technical description of ‘beeper trim’ on Sea King aircraft control system. REEL 19 continues: opportunity to speak to family on departure from Southampton dock; fiancée’s reaction to situation; change in mood on board ship as war and voyage progressed; lecture on casualty evacuation brought reality of battle to the fore, importance of the ‘golden hour’ on chances of survival; receiving supportive message from Surgeon Commander Rick Jolly; importance of retention of winch equipment on board Sea King aircraft; learning to accept exposure to casualties, nature of high velocity wounds; reflection on army medics’ experiences in Northern Ireland; organisation of crew; memories of celebration on crossing-the-line (equatorial transit); contact with Brig. Tony Wilson, Commander of 5th Brigade; change in mood on voyage south, reading of losses via confidential signals log; operational impact of the loss of SS Atlantic Conveyor, concern over condition of naval commander Michael Layard; realisation of loss of heavy lift capacity, consequent change in role and promotion to front-line deployment; replenishment at sea exercise in home waters prior to passage south; NATO requirements placed upon the merchant fleet; nature of flight operations during voyage, difficulty of army spectators using flash photography during night-flight exercises; move to dark ship condition; change in weather on entering South Atlantic winter conditions, risk of icebergs on reaching South Georgia; cross-decking with SS Canberra at Grytviken (28/5/1982), risk to QEII considered too great to allow passage into war zone; extent of interservice contact on board QEII, relations with Army Air Corps personnel; familiarisation with prototype army laser designator equipment; assessment of aircraft performance in ambient flying conditions; operational impact of increase in maximum aircraft weight, technical explanation of effects on flying; unpredictable load requirements, operational requirements; question of vulnerability of aircraft and crew in modified role; risk of small arms fire from ground; lack of defensive measures on board aircraft; compromise between defensive measures and airframe weight; question of aviation fuel and engine performance in cold weather conditions. REEL 20 continues: anticipation of operational conditions in the Falkland Islands; flying to absolute limits of aircraft’s capabilities; emergency margins of aircraft’s capabilities, nearing emergency limits; briefing concerning cross-decking at Grytviken; transfer of ‘Category-1’ stores to SS Canberra; weather conditions at South Georgia; description of immersion suits; difficulties of working in immersion suits (known as ‘goon suit’), experiencing heat stress; facilities on board aircraft for relieving bladder, mandate to log use of relief tube; cross-decking stores, personnel, and mail to SS Canberra; no prior knowledge of Canberra flight deck facilities; impressions of SS Canberra; assessment of atmosphere on board SS Canberra; conditions on board; daily Royal Navy rounds on board; no access to signals; preparation for disembarkation; disembarkation of survivors of lost ships, including Robin Goodfellow of HMS Coventry; duration of cross-decking operation; contact with survivors of HMS Broadsword; resentment of broadcasting of privileged tactical intelligence on BBC World Service, feelings of hatred towards press; description of injuries sustained by Lt Cdr Rick Jones, hearing his intelligence on Argentinian tactics; knowledge of SS Uganda as hospital ship, no knowledge of SS Canberra’s role as Primary Casualty Receiving Ship (PCRS); lack of stores on board SS Canberra at this time; no contact with P&O merchant navy crew; memories of reading Psalm 23 in cabin Bible; feeling a sense of fear at this time, change in character of letters home; considering prospect of own death; question of value of self-sacrifice for a just cause; peer pressure to do one’s duty; description of entering San Carlos Water, weather conditions favourable to uninterrupted disembarkation; going ashore; importance of knowledge of daily challenge and response; camp conditions, importance of personal hygiene, organisation of accommodation, dispersal of officers; maintenance of feelings of invincibility amongst younger crew; initial impressions of Falkland Islands landscape; memories of dark conditions on first night at camp, fear of lighting cigarette and inadvertently signalling the enemy; experiencing air raid red, nature of alert signals, use of trenches as air raid precautions; difficulties of high water table and flooding of trenches; precaution of dispersal of aircraft; conditions of state of readiness, routine of morning briefings; compromises of wartime maintenance protocols; degraded state of aircraft in such conditions; designation of RNAS San Carlos. REEL 21 continues: description of defences at RNAS San Carlos; signal bell used for air raid warnings; typical daily routine; difficulties of working in GMT (Greenwich Mean Time), reasons for maintaining GMT; broadcast sources of information; field rations; relaxation of peacetime personal grooming rules, explanation of ‘growing a full set’; rudimentary sanitation facilities; outbreak of food poisoning; dispersal of officers in tented accommodation; high level of anxiety amongst married crew; providing reassurance to men; essential role of aircraft crew; mood of fear mixed with excitement; extent of San Carlos base; dispersal of aircraft; organisation of squadrons, explanation of ‘blue’ and ‘green victors’; procedure to protect aircraft during air raids, need to maintain clear skies to avoid friendly fire losses; allocation of fixed crews for duration of war, paired with instructor Lt John Harvey; hierarchy amongst flight crew; layout of Sea King flight deck; nature of sorties; tasked to fly to Goose Green in poor visibility, near miss incident, no formal ‘airprox’ report filed; description of extent of San Carlos base; observation of Rapier missile sites; noticing unusually clear visibility during South Atlantic winter; witnessing Sea Dart engagement of Argentine reconnaissance flight by HMS Exeter; significant decrease in rate of air raids; sources of information, daily briefing from 5th Brigade staff; decision to lock down aircraft undercarriage; change in role from ASW to utility tasking; long flying hours; problems of fatigue; move to accommodation in farmhouse in San Carlos settlement leading to improved sleep; greater ability to debrief; loss of aircraft due to soft landing ground; cold conditions, issue of Arctic clothing; little opportunity to shower except during weekly stand-down on ship. Reel 22 continues: organisation of tactical radio networks; explanation of SCRAM command allowing ships’ free use of weapons; command and control under battle conditions, absence of ground control, use of VFR (visual flight rules); allocation of MAOT (mobile air ops team) operating out of an FFR equipped (fitted for radio) vehicle; inherent unreliability of HF radio; use of HF radio by Falkland Islanders for local comms; no monitoring of enemy radio comms, except occasional international civil guard frequencies; mobile nature of MAOT units; tasked to airlift an FFR Land Rover in boggy conditions, but too heavy; description of FFR vehicle; increased tasking as war progressed, delivery of ‘105’ artillery to forward positions; troop carrying towards north west of Stanley, risk of minefields; memories of critical airlift of large quantity of bergens to troops facing mountain nighttime conditions, requiring ‘hover taxi’ manoeuvre; difficulty of maintaining visual contact with ground; returning to collect corpses and delivery to Ajax Bay field hospital; reality of high velocity wounds; nature of operational tasks; transport of commanding officers between briefings; collection of POWs; impressions of aftermath of Battle of Goose Green, witnessing preparations for mass burial of Argentine dead; movement of civilians to Ajax Bay hospital; description of landscape, similarity to Shetland Islands; [24:20-24:35 interference to interviewee’s microphone]; description of the ‘golden hour’ opportunity in casualty treatment, briefing by Surgeon Commander Rick Jolly. Reel 23 continues: moving Argentinian POWs from West Falkland, extent of passenger numbers, mood and condition of prisoners; question of security, carrying 9mm pistol in wellington boot when flying. Close contact with enemy when delivering ammunition to forward positions (9 or 10/6/1982). Explanation of ‘ram-rod’ codes used to designate landing sites; question of accuracy of maps for navigation; risks during low level night flights and under ‘instrument meteorological conditions’ (IMC), explanation of ascertaining safety altitude; usefulness of radar altimeter in Sea King Mk.2 aircraft under such conditions. Reference to loss at Bluff Cove, question of vulnerability during flight. Use of dimmed navigation and landing lights during darkness. Reaction to loss of HMS Glamorgan (12/6/1982). Helicopter tasking during later stages of the war, support of troops in mountain battles. Risk of downdraught when over minefields. Lack of ground operations training prior to deployment. Contact with combat flights (‘junglies’); radio contact with Army Air Corp and Chinook Bravo-November. Rivalry between ASW flights and combat flights. Question of tactical impact of loss of MV Atlantic Conveyor (25/5/1982), opinion that loss was critical, and that 5th Brigade would not have been deployed if Atlantic Conveyor had not been lost. Hearing of ceasefire on 14 June 1982, changes in service protocols following end of hostilities. Story of landing a Sea King aircraft with defective breaks on deck of RFA Engadine. Reel 24 continues: rules of engagement following ceasefire. Impressions of Port Stanley during visit on 15 June 1982, artillery damage, discarded weapons, POWs; inspecting Argentine positions, risk of booby-traps; contact with locals. Siezing of Argentine aircraft as ‘war prizes’ including a Huey helicopter taken to San Carlos. Description of personal souvenir, a 105mm cartridge. Waiting for flight home at Stanley airfield, delayed by poor weather; embarking C-130 aircraft, transfer to VC-10 to Brize Norton via Ascension Island. Contact with HM Revenue & Customs officers on landing. Extent of damage at Stanley airfield, impact of RAF Op. Black Buck, presence of decoy craters, airfield was operationally intact. Nature of operations during post-war period, significant reduction in flying hours. Arrival home 29/7/1982. Decommissioning dinner at RNAS Culdrose, collection and display of personal photographs from the war. Contents of squadron ‘Report of Proceedings’, criticism of junior pilots and officers; opinion that the report was inaccurate, unfair, a ‘travesty’. Description of sketch by war artist Linda Kitson presented to MS after the war, depicting SS Canberra carrying Sea King aircraft en route Grytviken to San Carlos Water. Contact with the artist in later years, listening to her oral history interview in IWM collection. Reaction of family and friends during period of shore leave. Marrying, 4/1984. REEL 25 continues: interest in Falklands War amongst family and friends; father’s reticence to discuss his own wartime flying experience. Local press interest in Falkland’s story; reaction of friends. Experiencing nightmares. Anticipation of post-war career considering decommissioning of 825-Sqdn. Need to complete operational flying training, and attain ‘green rated’ certificate, explanation of rating system; [10:25 domestic feline interruption; 10:30 recording resumed]; attaining ‘white rating’, appointed to 826 Sqdn Culdrose (ASW Sea King Mk.5) for deployment to South Atlantic on RFA Fort Grange, and RFA Tidespring. Explanation of squadron designations and decommissioning procedure. Training modules still to be completed, including weapons systems training, organisation of training. Description of RFA Fort Grange, temporary accommodation, description of hanger and flight facilities on board. Explanation of crewing of RFA vessels, flying of Blue Ensign, description of crew uniform, merchant navy conditions of service. Role of STON (Supply Transport Office Navy) officers on board RFA vessels. Post-war role of Royal Navy in South Atlantic, helicopter tasks during the period. Difficulty of transfer sorties to submarines, anecdote of attempted delivery of potatoes to HMS Warspite. Question of possible resumption of hostilities, need to demonstrate defence of Falkland Islands; alert level when flying west, close to Argentina; difficult sea conditions. REEL 26 continues: completing night deck landings training under instruction of senior pilot Tony Hogg during post-war operation in South Atlantic; contrasts with daytime operations. Character of Tony Hogg. Technical description of deck take-off, instrument flight rules (IFR), checks up to safe flight configuration. Technical description of Glide Path Indicator (GPI) and its use during visual approach. Description of radio-instructed ‘ship’s-controlled approach’. Difficulty of flying with the STAB (stability augmentation system) disengaged. Writing article for ship’s magazine about first deck landing which was published anonymously in ‘Cockpit’ Royal Navy air branch journal. Highly supervised nature of navy flying. Regular revalidation of certificates of competence, minimum flying hours. Rendition of the ‘A25 Song’ referring to Royal Navy A25 crash report form. History of the ‘Fleet Air Arm Songbook’. Weather conditions in South Atlantic during austral summer. Rest break, camping trip to Sealion Island, description of wildlife and landscape. Character of cabin mate (pilot) Tony Hunt, tragically killed in civilian flying accident. REEL 27 continues: tactical lessons learned from Falklands War; modifications to aircraft, installation of new electronic countermeasures equipment (ECM) to counter Exocet missiles. Modification of Leander class vessels to carry Exocet missile system. Introduction of fire control measures in ship design, such as steel ladders, replacement of plastics and other construction materials; introduction of smoke masks. Personal motivation to master low-flying skills. Consideration of commonality of flying skills amongst flight crews. Need for night-vision equipment. End of South Atlantic service, returning to UK via SS Uganda, nature of ship’s role requisitioned by Royal Corps of Transport as a troop carrier, her legacy as a P&O education ship. Transfer by VC-10 to Brize Norton from Ascension. Attending training course for NCB warfare operations at Seafield Park (Gosport), and at the underwater escape tower (‘the dunker’); use of ‘whistling handbag’ portable ventilator equipment, and Short-Term Air Supply (STASS); difficulty of underwater escape routine using this equipment. Evidence of accidents during training. Discussion of criteria for diving medical tests. Reorganisation of 826 Sqdn. to provide long-term support in Falkland Islands, creation of 826A flight under command of Lt Cdr Martin Kay; third South Atlantic deployment from August to December 1983. Passage from Ascension on SS Uganda; brief visit to Ascension Island, climbing Green Mountain, contact with BBC transmitter engineers. REEL 28 continues: 826A Sqdn based on RFA Fort Austin, operational routine, providing helicopter delivery service (HDS) amongst fleet; conducting surface search sorties and anti-submarine warfare (ASW). Attaining ASW proficiency certificate. Technical description of Sea King ASW operations, known as ‘dipping’. Description of doppler radar system, and doppler hover exercises. Becoming tired of South Atlantic posting. Attainment of ‘green’ rating, role as captain of the aircraft. Difficulty of long-range flights. Practising single engine failure drills, explanation of ‘NR droop’. Appointed to 12-week lieutenant’s staff training course at Greenwich (2/1984) prior to Lynx conversion course. Attending ideological lectures to understand the Soviet threat, contact with academic and MOD staff. Meeting ‘DOR-Sea’ (Director Operational Requirements). Description of the Sea King AEW (airborne early warning) inflatable radar installation. Getting married (4/1984) at Barming, near Maidstone, naval guard-of-honour at church, memories of honeymoon by the Thames at Marlow. Question of security vetting of new wife. Financial situation at this time, support of bank manager, purchase of house at Sydling St Nicholas, Dorset. REEL 29 continues: awarded South Atlantic Medal, presented by prime Minister Margaret Thatcher on RFA Fort Grange. Opinion of cuts to the Royal Navy proposed by Secretary of State John Nott, “the Falklands War saved the Royal navy”; discussion of rivalry between Rayal Navy and RAF. Drafting to 702 training squadron at RNAS Portland (MHS Osprey) for 6-month Lynx conversion course; description of air station and surrounding landscape, challenging local weather, crosswinds. Nature of operations at Portland. Planning and distribution of the Weekly Practice Programme (WPP). Extent of base. Allocation of married quarters at Wyke Regis, enduring friendship with Gerry and Ann Betteridge; wife’s employment in nursing at local hospital, her reaction to service life. Contrasts between Sea King and Lynx helicopters. Technical description of Lynx helicopter, importance of deck-lock; limits of flight envelope governing Lynx helicopter. Use of Seaspray radar controlling Sea Skua missile system; dual role nature of Lynx helicopter. Inventory of weapons systems on board Lynx including the nuclear depth bomb (NDB); attending ‘Z’ courses in training for release of nuclear payloads; description of the master armaments safety switch (MASS), and bomb release safety link (BRSL); chain of command governing release of nuclear weapons. ‘Dustbin’ NATO code word for nuclear weapons use. Method of checks during loading of nuclear weapon. REEL 30 continues: organisation of Lynx conversion course, training with observer Damien Belgeonne. Failure of a poorly performing observer candidate; procedure for air warning performance monitoring, ‘DCO’ (duty carried out), and ‘DNCO’ (duty not carried out) personnel reports. Explanation of instructor training. Challenge of instrument flying in Lynx. Example of declaring an emergency; emergency procedures and protocols, explanation of nomenclature ‘pan’ and ‘mayday’. Criteria for attaining ‘green’ certificate on Lynx aircraft; achieving final handling check with senior pilot David Flatman. Drafting to HMS Nottingham to join 815 Sqdn. Completing for change of unit check (COUC) with Vince Radcliffe (ex. HMS Newcastle). Explanation of ‘HARPO’, tradition of restoring unit’s musical instrument (a harp). Morning briefing known as ‘shareholding’, holding of unit quiz. Joining HMS Nottingham at Gibraltar in March 1985, handover with outgoing flight commander during passage to Portsmouth; working with observer David Callister. Nature of role as flight commander; extent of flight crew on board HMS Nottingham, responsibilities of senior maintenance rating (SMR), importance of sign-off and completion of ‘end column’ of MOD Form-700 governing serviceable status of aircraft. Social mixing amongst flight crew; risk of discarding ‘gash’ (refuse) overboard; perception of flight crew by rest of ship’s company; example of captain’s attitude to flight deck safety rules; eligibility for rest periods by pilot officer. REEL 31 continues: command structure on board HMS Nottingham; explanation of pre-flight briefings, ‘go/no-go’ protocols, levels of alert status; organisation of surface action group (SAG), surface attack unit (SAU); nature of drills and exercises during draft to HMS Nottingham; difficulty of radio and avionics malfunction due to vibration of Lynx airframe; home port was Portsmouth, work-up area off Portland; deployed as West Indies Guard Ship (WIGS), acting as Royal Yacht Guard Ship (10/1985), nature of rules of engagement for Royal protection, personal contact with HM Queen Elizabeth, discovering that she read all signals traffic. Firing 32-gun salute as HMY Britannia entered port Nasau. Description of HMS Nottingham, weapons inventory, including Sea Dart missile system; automated 4.5-inch shell loading. Description of saluting guns. Attachment to MOD procurement executive (PE) for development of Stingray torpedo system at Andros Island, Bahamas (AUTEC) testing range, use of HMS Trafalgar as submarine decoy target. Impressions of Andros Island. Accommodation with RN liaison officer, leisure time with wife; granting of local overseas allowance (LOA). Evidence of drug smuggling in the area. Role of West Indies Guard Ship (WIGS) during hurricane season. Carrying out emergency medical evacuation to Nassau hospital, flying under ‘Rescue-1’ protocols. Description of weapons testing exercise, photoreconnaissance of tests. REEL 32 continues: transponder modifications to allow use of Stingray missile launch from Lynx helicopter; meeting Toby Elliott, commander of HMS Trafalgar when he observed missile test; audio recording of test sequence; treating Elliott to aerobatic helicopter flight over Andros Island. Assessment of effectiveness of Stingray missile. Approach of a category-4 hurricane, mandatory evacuation of civilians by USAF C-130 aircraft from Andros Island; last-minute evacuation of Lynx flight in spite of its unserviceable status, difficulty of dead-reckoning across Bermuda Triangle to mainland airfield in Florida, joined by flight crew just in time; making landfall at US Coastguard station Opa-Locka, difficulty of paying for refuelling because he was not carrying Shell Amex card, fuel allowance written-off as spillage. Air-marshalled into Partick Airforce base in pattern with B-52 squadron, making visual approach via Cape Canaveral. Protocols of NATO ‘C-30’ travel order, reunited with wife, rejoining HMS Nottingham at Port Canaveral in sight of Space Shuttle launch pad. Description of HMY Britannia, her use in promotion of British export trade. Secondment to Senior Naval Officer Northern Ireland (SNONI) at RAF Aldergrove in support of Operation Grenada (part of Operation banner); intelligence briefing by Major Mark Spicer RM; contact with Army Air Corps; impressions of Northern Ireland theatre, threats in ‘bandit country’; deterrence nature of surface search sorties, plotting movements of fishing vessels; wearing body armour and carrying side arm, reaction on entering mess at Brawdy. REEL 33 continues: small arms refresher training prior to deployment to SNONI; security risks in Northern Ireland theatre, protocols governing shore-leave from RAF Aldergrove; nature of check points; routine carrying of 9mm side arms; feeling vulnerable during off-duty periods. Contact with Army Air Corps, description of ‘Eagle VCP’ (vehicle check point) operations in army Lynx and Gazelle aircraft. Admittance to Black Watch officers’ mess at Crossmaglen for lunch. Nature of special operations mission over Belfast city carrying naval and Special Branch intelligence officers, risk of sniper fire. Debrief with commanding officer Martin Manning; reflections on unusual and ‘menacing’ atmosphere in Northern Ireland. Aircraft gunnery exercise at Castle Martin firing range, use of GPMG on board helicopter; description of fighter evasion drill in fighter ground attack (FGA) role, in company with Hawk aircraft out of Yeovilton. Reflection on post-combat attitude to risk-taking, truth in the phrase “there are old pilots, there are bold pilots, but there are no old bold pilots”. Public liaison visit to Gresham’s school in Norfolk where brother-in-law was a house-master. REEL 34 continues: appointed to PWO (principal weapons officer) training, attraction to a shore role as first child was due to be born. Drafted to HMS Dryad, School of Maritime Operations (SMOps) for 11-month ASW course; organisation of course, sue of simulators. Nature of role of PWO, underwater warfare specialist training; location and brief description of typical ship’s operations room. Extent of course, mix of students; character of head of course Cpt. Jake Baccus; culture change in a non-flying role, opportunity to use oceanography degree during exercise involving underwater sound propagation. Assessment of ‘the Threat’ (ie. Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact) during the period, tactical plan to maintain ‘sealines of communication’ (SLOCS). Assessment of nuclear threat of Victor-3 and Akula class Soviet submarine fleet; discussion of tactical defence plans and potential threats during the period. Organisation of course, theoretical nature of training; learning about Soviet ORBAT (order of battle), NATO designators for Soviet vessels. Discussion of strategic nuclear warfare tactics, flexible response, gradual escalation, redundancy; lack of public education to counter old-fashioned ‘mutually assured destruction’ ideology; opinion that at this time the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact lacked a submarine strike capability due to NATO submarine tactics, and US space-based detection systems. Discussion of stealth, nuclear, and intelligence capability available to NATO naval forces at this time. Learning new skills in communications and strategic planning. Description of ‘zippos’ – radio codewords alerting incoming missile attack, examples and explanation of typical PWO radio message; importance of interpretation and classification of sonar contacts prior to formulation of attack plan; classification of black and red attack plans; tactical use of ASW sonar equipment and deployment of torpedoes. REEL 35 continues: learning radio procedure and NATO vernacular; contact with foreign nationals instructing at HMS Dryad. Tactical structure in NATO hierarchy; dominance of US carrier battle group; national specialist capabilities within NATO alliance. Question of national defence independence. Advantage of learning strategic context within NATO, for example, the doctrine postulated by US Secretary of State John Lehman. Specialist training at Faslane submarine base; flight in Nimrod out of Lossiemouth, visiting Maritime Analysis Unit (MAU); observing ‘towed array’ hydrophone developments at Admiralty Underwater Research Establishment (ARE) Southwell. Technical description of contrasts between active and passive sonar; ability to detect an audio ‘fingerprint’ of a Soviet submarine. Personal strengths and weaknesses encountered during training at HMS Dryad. Atmosphere in a simulated operations room. Automatic promotion to lieutenant commander during course, need to update No.5 uniform in time for an official function. Contact with family and home. Indoctrination in intelligence protocols kept towards end of course; extent of failure amongst course members; tests and assessment during training. Challenge of hearing dual source radio traffic on headset. End of course mess dinner. Extent of training courses at HMS Dryad. Contrasts with earlier visit to Faslane as a young midshipman. REEL 36 continues: domestic situation at this time, birth of first child (son Harry) during summer leave. Question of work-life balance. Drafting to HMS Jupiter as ASW PWO in 1988; coincidence that Cpt. Barry Bryant lived in same village, and MS had been Christened on board the same ship. Description of HMS Jupiter, a well-equipped Leander class frigate; technical description of advanced Type-2016 sonar; discussion of infamous collision between HMS Jupiter (6/1984) with London Bridge. Equipped with ‘CAAIS’, Computer Aided Action Information System, Sea Wolf and Stingray missile systems; description of pulse doppler radar; STWS (Ship’s Torpedo Weapons System), Exocet missile system, Lynx helicopter as a missile carrier; contrasts with German Harpoon system. Conformity of systems in class of Royal navy vessels. Ship working up in ‘part-4 trials’, 7-weeks of basic operational sea training (BOST) off Portland, beginning with the Staff Sea Check to audit all equipment, systems and operational aspects of the ship; carrying out sea trials under inspection, scoring system used during inspection. Examples of scenarios and whole ship exercises simulated during BOST, damage control, civil disasters. Description of fire control exercise using high-pressure hoses. REEL 37 continues: levels of working-up, aspects of ‘combined anti-submarine exercise’ (CASEX); description of making a datum approach; surface ship convention of ‘speed-manoeuvre-deception’, method of evasive zigzag manoeuvre; SWW legacy of such methods. Explanation of American navy protocol of composite warfare commander (CWC), and anti-air warfare commander (AAWC); contrasts with NATO’s officer tactical command (OTC). Detailed description of regular, multi-force, multi-national, inter-service ‘Thursday War’ exercise off Portland; role of ‘gun director platform visual’ (GDPV); multi-faceted nature of this exercise. Advantages of Type-2016 sonar in this scenario. Provision of ‘action snacks’ during exercises. Impact on professional reputation following this successful Thursday War; dinner on board squadron ship HMS Galatea. Interruption of exercise by hurricane force storm (Great Storm) of 15/10/1987; dispersal of ships to open sea, conditions at sea (viewed from the bridge), winds in excess of 120knots, method of increasing watertight integrity of the ship (status Yankee); crowded conditions with ships sheltering in Weymouth Bay, chaotic radio traffic on emergency VHF guard-channel 16. REEL 38 continues: HMS Jupiter home fleet visits prior to operational deployment to Armilla Patrol. Background to situation in Persian Gulf. Impending birth of second child (due 9/1988). Explanation of Task Group and Task Force designators. Departure of TG321 via Gibraltar, distant sonar contact, reporting to Flag Officer Gibraltar via OPCON message system, issue of enemy contact report; possible explanation of contact on later analysis of data recordings. Accessibility and extent of OPCON message system. Task forces disperses at Mombasa to take up ‘accompanying’ (escort) duties of merchant vessels through Strait of Hormuz, threat of suicide attacks by Iranian Revolutionary Guard in light of USS Vincennes/Iran Air Flight-655 incident (3/7/1988). Operational impact of HMS Southampton’s collision with MV Torbay (9/1988); making ready to sail, rapid replenishment of stores and passage to Persian Gulf. Addition of anti-aircraft laser dazzle device on bridge wing specifically for Armilla Patrol; modification of helicopter to carry machine gun pod (HMP); secret presence of Farsi speaking staff from Special Communications Unit (SCU) at HMS Mercury. Direct comms line to Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), receiving coded flash message of launch of Iranian air force Phantom aircraft. Discussion of Vincennes/Iran Air Flight-655 incident, use of Mode-3C IFF transponders. US policy of reflagging merchant vessels to protect Persian Gulf passage, contrasts with UK position. Staging nighttime defence watches on board HMS Jupiter, difficulty of fatigue from long watches; mandatory daily situation report. Use of LINK receiver in operations room displaying air routes over Persian Gulf; incident interrogating British Airways Speedbird flight failing to send IFF transponder signal. Liaison with US Navy patrol at Bahrain. Example of US ‘freedom of navigation’ flights over Gulf. Diamond-shaped high-speed surface contact detected placing ship at action stations, turned out to be smugglers. REEL 39 continues: discussion of threats in the Gulf tanker war, lack of mine-detection facilities on board RN vessels. Contact with merchant navy vessels, comms via C-in-C Northwood; protocols of ‘escort’ of ‘convoys’; hosting merchant navy commanders on board. Detailed description of HMS Jupiter operations room; use of ‘command open line’ encrypted communications system; difficulty of computer and radar equipment overheating in Gulf climate, primitive nature of ship’s computer; extent of flexibility in operations room workstations. Suitability of Sea Wolf weapons system in relation to Persian Gulf rules-of-engagement, explanation of those rules-of-engagement in protection of accompanied merchant vessels, question of autonomy in self-defence of ship. Captain breaks news of birth of second son, brief celebration before resuming watch; later receiving ‘Deltex’ (delicate text) signal informing MS of son’s grave illness, receiving conflicting information resulting in orders for ‘Priority-Alpha’ repatriation via civilian airline from Dubai airport to Dorchester Hospital, where son recovered. Rejoining ship at Piraeus to complete patrol. REEL 40 continues: appointed to 9-month staff course at Greenwich RN College (1989), international complexion of course members; accommodation in married quarters at Woolwich Comm army barracks; organisation of course, led by Directing Staff (DS), character of Lt Col Ian Gardiner; encountering colleagues who had served on Operation Corporate. Challenge of huge reading list, learning about time management, overcoming dyslexia. Overall purpose of course to prepare for policy and planning role at MOD or command staff; example of resource planning exercise, overcoming the problem of ‘group think’, use of ‘white’ and ‘pink’ policy planning documents; constant reminder of limited financial resources, frustration over limits on creativity. Importance of ‘speaking truth to power’ in both operations and planning. Example of project work analysing ‘intelligence knowledge-based systems’ during staff course. Undertaking the Myers-Briggs personality type test. Description of Royal Naval College, Greenwich. REEL 41 continues: analysis of Operation Corporate during staff course at Greenwich, discussion of lessons learned. Lt Col Ian Gardiner’s assessment of the tactical impact of the loss of the MV Atlantic Conveyor (25/5/1982). Policy changes favouring the Royal Navy after the Falklands War. Relations between Royal Navy and RAF students on staff course, discussion over land-based and sea-based air power. Level of interest in the Falklands War by foreign students on course, perception of UK as a former colonial power by some. Description of the tri-service ‘Realities of War’ training module providing graphic accounts of conflict. UK eyes-only discussion on ‘blue-on-blue’ encounters during Operation Corporate, and covert tactics in Northern Ireland Troubles. Funding model for Greenwich staff course. Overseas visits, including to Berlin in September 1989, crossing Checkpoint Charlie in service uniform, freedom of movement for service personnel carrying official identity; contact with British Army on the Rhine (BAOR); (no knowledge of Brixmis or Soxmis operations). Shocked reaction to the fall of the Berlin Wall (11/1989), anticipation of changes in policy post-Cold War. Graduation from Staff Course, drafted to RNAS Culdrose as executive officer and senior pilot of 810 Sqdn, family history associated with squadron. Challenge of returning to active flying. Support of Nigel Hennel, training officer of 706 training squadron. Introduction of Seaking Mk6 aircraft. Accommodation in married quarters in Helston, birth of daughter. Anxiety over lack of flying time and burden of administration work; delegation in running the squadron. REEL 42 continues: primary role of 810 Sqdn., resourcing 3rd carrier air group. Impact of 1st Persian Gulf War (1991), operational assessment of training ship RFA Argus as amphibious unit for helicopter operations. Ambition to attain squadron command post. Appointed to RAF Cranwell training staff, nature of role as Officer Commanding ‘R’ (recourse) squadron. Large throughput of cadets at Cranwell; high failure rate; organisation of 12-week leadership training course, method for motivating failed officers; using personal experience of lack of confidence in tutoring. Question of psychological bullying and abuse in officer training environment. Importance of strengthening self-esteem and building confidence in cadets. Description of ‘Camp-1’ training exercise, its purpose. Question of impact of training regime on mental health. High pass rate of 96% amongst recourse candidates. Personal observation and experience of mental health challenges in the field; advantages of the divisional officer system in the Royal Navy. Cultural challenges of a navy officer teaching at an RAF college. Family history association with flying training, grandfather was FWW flying instructor at Cranwell, using RAF archives in family history research. REEL 43 continues: receiving favourable ‘206’ officer’s report from Grp Cpt David Wilby at end of secondment to RAF Cranwell; prospect of squadron command post; promotion to Commander, appointed to Fleet Headquarters, Northwood as strategic planner for Flag Officer Naval Aviation (FONA). Explanation of the monthly ‘promotion signal’. Improvement in pension provision. Impression of organisation of Fleet HQ, previous contact; briefing by Cpt Rory Maclean. Accommodation in officers’ mess, family reaction to new role and moving house, opportunity for more settled domestic life. Character of Cpt Rory Maclean. Nature of role drafting Naval Aviation Command Plan (NACAP), resource planning for 10-year and 25-year periods. Criteria in planning aircraft ‘attrition reserve’ fleet; differentiation between ‘active’ and ‘inactive’ fleet. Impact of war on peacetime attrition rates, use of the government’s contingency fund. Need for modification programme. Frequent liaison with engineering and flying training staff at RNAS Yeovilton. Contact with Cmdr Adrian Johns (later Governor of Gibraltar). Attending Naval Directorate meetings in Whitehall. Description of facilities and commands at Northwood Headquarters, visits to command bunker. Nature of role in editing the maritime counter-terrorist section of the Military Aid to the Civil Powers (MACP), frequently updated. Attitude to new role away from frontline operations, enjoying intellectual challenge, working to deadline. Security classification of documents. Plans for domestic move to the west country. REEL 44 continues: question of influence on defence policy in role at Northwood; difficulty of restricted resources, limits to flying hours budget allocation; frustration of inertia at management level. Perception of Northwood planning and policy staff by operational officers. Opinion of development of new management strategy, politically driven; difficulty of recording intangible assets, such as morale; risk of distorted decision making when taking a commercial view of military planning. Question of possibility of return to a frontline operational role; drafted to command & control bunker at RAF High Wycombe during Balkan war; description of facility, strategic significance of base to UK Air Defence Region (ADR). House move to Trent, near Yeovilton (1994). Appointed to MOD London (1995); nature of role at Directorate of Naval Operations (MOD main building, ‘head office’); flat share in London. Culture change of wearing civilian clothes, difficulty of identifying service and regiment from type of suit worn. Forms of address within MOD Whitehall environment; protocols and hierarchy, character of internal politics. REEL 45 continues: impressions of interservice rivalry within MOD Whitehall; learning operational strategies in developing policy; little contact at ministerial level. Interpretation of ‘defence planning assumptions’ (DPA); example of policy proposal to replace Seaking helicopters with Merlin ASW aircraft based on operational analysis. Intelligence input to policy and planning, Soviet fleet still regarded as primary threat post-Cold War, acknowledgement of rest of world (ROW) operational capability. Adoption of Merlin aircraft in operational role. Strength of credentials as a trained flying officer; irrelevance of military rank within Whitehall culture. Examples of acronyms, usefulness of MOD yellow directory in working routine. Explanation of defence budget structure. Evidence of underhand tactics (‘monkey business’) and lobbying by RAF policy planners within MOD Whitehall promoting supremacy of land-based air cover over naval air operations; question of interservice trust. REEL 46 continues: example of weekend long maritime counter-terrorism exercise in Scottish oil field, assisting civil powers, joining Cabinet Office Briefing Room (COBRA) meeting (in 1998); description of meeting drafting rules of engagement (ROE) for scenario, eventual ministerial approval. Difficulty of integrating military rules of engagement in a civilian setting; classification of terrorists as ‘enemy’; distinction between ‘hostile intent’ and ‘hostile act’. Discussion around ethics of rules of engagement in relation to sinking of ARA Belgrano (2/5/1982) during Operation Corporate. Difficulty of staging an MACP exercise in public setting. Discussion over interservice communications facilities; security measures when sharing ‘specially compartmented information’ (SCI) with civil powers. Extent of support staff at DNO in Whitehall, assistance of Paddy White. Attachment of HRH Duke of York to DNO Whitehall; adoption of ‘H’ as reference to Prince Andrew, usefulness if his aviation experience gained in 815 Sqdn. during Operation Corporate, development of his role in project to adopt the M3M half-inch heavy machine gun in Lynx helicopters, technical description and effectiveness of the Lynx weapons project. Concept of minimal and proportional defensive response. Overcoming cultural difficulties of daily working environment with a member of the Royal Family, advantage of the Duke of York’s influence. REEL 47 continues: character of Prince Andrew, personal working relationship with him; unprecedented speed in completing the project, undoubted advantage of Royal presence; relationship as his line manager; H’s dual role in Royal duties; development of social relationship, attending official events as a royal guest; discussing shared experience of Falklands War. Confusion over designation ‘HRH Lt Cmdr DOY’; writing a performance appraisal of Prince Andrew’s work; meeting other members of the Royal Family. REEL 48 continues: frustrations of policy and planning role, ambition to return to operational role. Posted to Tactical Training Group Atlantic (TTGL) at Dam Neck, Virginia, under Royal Navy personnel exchange programme; completing the instructor’s course (9/1998), arrangements for children’s education, domestic arrangements. Extent of liaison between Royal Navy and US Navy, presence of NATO staff at Norfolk, Virginia. Organisation of joint maritime tactical course (JMTC); explanation of US Battle Group, contrasts with Royal Navy fleet. Nature of role as a warfare instructor, bringing a NATO perspective, sharing tactical expertise with US Navy personnel. Extent of US Navy compared to Royal Navy. Contact with US Navy prior to posting. Extent and range of a typical USN carrier. Introduction of NATO standardisation agreements (STANAG) governing compatibility in refuelling, radio encryption etc. Attempts to follow NATO allied tactical procedures (ATP) such as phonetic alphabet. Articulation of simple tactical principles during instruction of US personnel, contrasts between air and submarine warfare. REEL 49 continues: integration of submarine, air, and surface fleet within US Navy battle groups; contrasts with Royal Navy task group organisation, US superiority of resources, e.g. EA6B Prowler electronic warfare aircraft. US carriers still considered primary target, even in post-Cold War period. High-speed evasion capability of nuclear-powered carriers. Command structure and organisation of a US battle group; examples of exercises, including ‘Rim Pac’ (Pacific), or a non-combatant evacuation operation (NEO) simulation. Contrasts with equivalent British operation. Tactical sequence of a typical NEO. Identification of North Korea and China as the threat during the period. Level of trust and access to secret information, protocols of NOFORN (Not for Foreign Nationals) classification; arrangements for access to CVIC (Carrier Vehicle Intelligence Centre). Recognition of Royal Navy uniform at US facilities. Question of trust and discretion; British Embassy desk officer as primary point of contact. Organisation and contents of joint maritime tactical course (JMTC). REEL 50 continues: leave allowances during secondment to Dam Neck. Family reaction to life in the United States, work-life balance; attending sea exercises during Senior Officers’ Observation Team (SOOT) assessments at conclusion of course; method of transfer by ‘carrier onboard delivery’ vehicle (COD). Description of USS John F Kennedy steam-powered supercarrier, contrasts with a Royal Navy carrier; difficulty of constant aircraft operation noise. Innovation of Nimitz class carriers; danger of getting lost on board such a huge vessel. Question of class structure within US Navy; rank structure, ethnic mix, poor pay levels forced many servicemen to adopt a second job off duty. Observation of divisions and deprivation in American society. Wife’s voluntary work in medical care. Enhanced credentials and authority afforded by an English accent when teaching in United States, the art and effectiveness of understatement when delivering lectures. Trusted to informally access SIPRNet secure internet communications system. Referring to Falklands War experience in lectures. Contrasts between US and Royal Navy ASW techniques and equipment; explanation of sound velocity profile (SVP) analysis; assessment of US Navy’s operational effectiveness. REEL 51 continues: frequency of joint task force exercises (JTFE) off Puerto Rico; inventory of Nimitz-class carriers. Use of Spy-1 radar system in anti-air warfare; description of CG-72 class guided missile cruiser. Nature of role as Head of Combined Operations during sea exercises, visiting various control positions on board. Question of chain-of-command within carrier group. Fitting into US Navy hierarchy; NATO grading of ranks. Description and explanation of the ’fusion plot’ system to assess submarine threat. Contrasts between operations room in US and Royal Navy carriers. Difficulties of dislocation and disparate communications in large carrier groups. Citing examples of Lord Nelson’s doctrine during lectures. Prevalence of Annapolis college graduates amongst US Navy officer class. Overview of freedom-of-navigation (FON) operations; limited political education on course. Social contact with US Navy personnel; discussion of USS Vincennes incident (3/7/1988), opinions expressed concerning the ship’s captain. Cultural contrasts encountered during US secondment; rules governing alcohol consumption by US Navy personnel, discussion of infamous incident of ‘tailhook’ scandal (9/1991). REEL 52 continues: leisure travel with family during secondment to the United States; cultural differences between east (Lantfleet) and west (Pacfleet) coast navy personnel. Pride in use of monikers or nicknames amongst US personnel. Memories of attending the elaborate traditional retirement ceremony of USN Lt Cdr Jim Steel, presentation of flag during recital of ‘Old Glory’; reading of the poem ‘The Watch’. End of secondment, return to UK (8/2001). Appointment to Defence Logistics Organisation (DLO), MOD Endsleigh; rental accommodation in Bath, children attend boarding school, effects on family of service life, retention of financial allowances. Nature of role in tri-service financing and resource budgeting at DLO. Description of MOD Endsleigh, a former isolation hospital. Understanding of role of DLO. Undertaking formal training, attaining ACCA-accredited Diploma in Financial Management. Difficulty in managing savings and efficiency targets imposed during the recent strategic defence review. Opinion that spending strategies were ‘dysfunctional’ at this time, reference to the Gray Strategic Defence Review (10/2009). Operational impact of decisions made at DLO. Advising MOD planners over rapid use of war maintenance ammunition reserve in Afghan theatre of operations. REEL 53 continues: question of professional identity in role at DLO; daily commuting, wearing service uniform at work; surprise over generous civil service leave entitlement, difficulty of short staffing. Anecdote illustrating dysfunctional nature of DLO. Contact with ministerial advisers. Daily routine, little contact with Whitehall. Reference to the Nimrod Review (2006). Insufficient level of IT support, developing improved software package to manage savings proposals. Extent of integrated project teams (IPT). Personal appeal of efficacy in project management, skills as a scrutineer, value of fieldwork at operational bases. Explanation of capital and reserve expenditure. Tactical proposal of unrealistic savings when negotiating with Treasury. Poor opinion of Puma helicopter, questioning the motivation behind proposed upgrade programme. Method of feeding back specialist knowledge to decision makers. Perception of DLO at operational level. Contact with McKinsey & Co financial consultants. Assessment of efficiency of defence logistics as a commercial-style operation; lack of resource tracking and effective business structures, lack of long-term strategic thinking. Measures to prevent direct political influence at DLO. Relief on completing posting to DLO in 2004. REEL 54 continues: relinquishing acting rank of captain on leaving DLO. Appointed to Military Aviation Regulatory Team (MART) at RNAS Yeovilton; nature of role in tri-service team drafting, revising, and editing Joint Service Publication 550 (JSP550), a part of Military Aviation Regulatory Document Set (MARDS). Explanation and use of MARDS, broad extent of brief; carrying out fieldwork, evidence gathering at air shows including IWM Duxford; liaison with civil aviation authorities. Character and nature of role of team leader, wing commander Phillip Harrall (RAF). Difficulty of balancing operational imperative against safety and risk. Challenge of accommodating the needs of the three service users of the regulations; permissive or prohibitive attitudes to the rules. Reads quotation from regulations regarding operational interpretation of MARDS; comparison with civil health and safety legislation; contrasts between regulations and directives. Origins of regulations in the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago, 12/1944), importance of liaison with civil aviation authorities. Nature of AVP-67 directive governing commercial standards, risks of compromises in commercial manufacturing standards; hierarchy of military and commercial aviation standards and governance. REEL 55: Lead role and responsibility for Regulation-320 governing operation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), popularly referred to as ‘drones; definition of UAV; distinction between reusable UAVs and munition delivery air vehicles. Difficulties of definitions and nomenclature in UAV flight. Nature of role as member of NATO committee FINAS (Flight in Non-segregated Airspace), September 2002. Extent of UAV use by British MOD during the period, public perception of ‘drones’, history of the technology. National cultural contrasts in UAV regulation and use, difficulty of universal acceptance of the term ‘pilot’ in relation to UAVs; compromise on use of the term DUO (Designated UAV Operator). Advantages of adoption of common UAV standards within NATO. Cost savings, safety, training, and tactical advantages of UAV operation. Question of safety when operating over civilian areas; high level of safety within aircraft industry, statistically small risk of hull loss. REEL 56 continues: Advantages of UAV operation, description of types of drones, varying level of complexity, requirement for reuse, need for pre-flight programming. Contrasts in use between the three services, example of automated operation of Watchkeeper system. Difficulty of latency in satellite path control systems. Potential global range of UAV flight. Question of standards of drone structural integrity, advantages of low mass design. Elimination of problem of ‘landing scatter’, repetitive accuracy of UAV landings. Discussion of reduced carbon footprint and improved fuel efficiency of UAVs over piloted aircraft. Adoption of arrestor wire braking system in Israeli Watchkeeper design. Use of stealth materials undetectable by radar; advantages of low noise levels in some designs; problem of noise nuisance with certain propulsion systems, public concerns over invasion of privacy through drone operation. Discussion of possible tactical advantages if UAVs had been available during Operation Corporate (1982). Question of drones replacing piloted aircraft; development of battlefield ambulance drones. Maximum load capacity of current drone designs. REEL 57 continues: Disadvantages of UAVs; problem of dislocation of operator from flight environment, increased collision risk; cost of resilient software; difficulty of remote-control systems and risk of lost link. Countermeasures to disturb risk of malicious interference. Discussion of ethics of ‘remote killing’ during remote delivery of ordnance; question of mental welfare amongst UAV crews delivering deadly force from a remote domestic environment, possibility of operators becoming brutalised or immune to effects of killing when operating ‘computer game’ battle systems. Discussion of risk of use of relatively cheap and accessible drone technology by insurgents and rogue players, e.g. Houthi forces in Yemen and Persian Gulf in 2024; challenges of developing of drone countermeasures. Unexpectedly chairing meeting of FINAS working group in Winipeg (6/2005) due to incapacity of James McCloskey, taking up 5-year tenure as Chair of FINAS group. Emergence of a common spirit within NATO to reach agreement on aeronautical standards. Influence of French aeronautical engineer Régis Brigaud in writing common standards. Method for effective chairmanship of FINAS meetings. Ratification of STANAG-4671 in 2007 landmark Naples Conference convened at Accademia Aeronautica, Pozzuloi, influence of Alessio Grasso (Italian Air Force) in the ratification process; unprecedented nature of USDOD (Dpt. of Defense) adherence to agreement. Mixed feelings of pride and exhaustion. Incorporation of STANAG agreements into national standards, publication in the public domain. REEL 58 continues: Protocols for operation of UAVs in non-segregated airspace; quotation from regulation 320 UK Military Aviation Rules, scope for its adaptation to use of UAVs. Definition of non-segregated airspace. Extent of liaison with UK CAA (Civil Aviation Authority); distinction between civil and state aircraft. Concept of ‘due regard’ in safety protocols; hierarchy of civil and military flights in non-segregated airspace. Explanation of NOTAM (Notice to Airmen); definition of ‘the rules of the air’, visual flight rules (VFR), and instrument flight rules (IFR). Difficulty of imposing ‘see and avoid’ rules within the scope of UAV flights, substitution with ‘sense and avoid’ protocols for collision avoidance. Contrasts between ‘Class-G’ and ‘Class-A’ airspace; importance of separation provision by air traffic control (ATC). Expansion and evolution of FINAS membership. Explanation of the three strategic layers of air safety, importance of traffic synchronisation, separation provision, and collision avoidance, governed by class of airspace. Concept of probability of collision, fieldwork to gather data on the subject, adoption of ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) standards for separation. Influence of the work of Matt Edwards of Lincoln Laboratory at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) in developing international safety standards. Explanation of ‘the field of regard’. REEL 59 continues: Using radar systems to compensate for lack of VFR in UAV operations. Explanation of ‘cooperative’ and ‘non-cooperative’ targets. Description of ADSB (Auto Dependent Surveillance Broadcast) transponder systems; minimum requirements for flying in controlled airspace. Technical advances, and miniaturisation in UAV design. Advantages of differential GPS navigation systems. Risk of proliferation of UAV flights and level of technology overtaking written regulations, favouring functional requirements over technical requirements when drafting regulations. Question of safety of UAVs over piloted air vehicles, opinion that UAV flight is safer than manned aircraft. Question of future deployment of UAVs by Royal Navy. Discussion of operational limitations of UAVs. International and academic interest in the work of FINAS and MART; feedback from MOD London at conclusion of STANAG-4671. Consideration of post-service life, ambition during the period. Value of MART evidence to the Haddon-Cave enquiry investigating the XV-230 Nimrod disaster (10/2009). Nature of role as Head of Regulation Branch at RAF Northolt. Resignation of Phillip Harrall following Haddon-Cave enquiry. Description of RAF Northolt. Editing JSP550, ambition to translate paper-based document set to CD-ROM, proving efficacy of CD-based publication over paper version during training sessions at Northolt; advantages of updating and implementing changes in a software-based publication, culture of valuing paper-based document set in MOD. Question of classification of document set, making the information open source. Updating of nomenclature of UAV from ‘unmanned’ to ‘uncrewed’ aerial vehicle for purposes of gender neutralisation. REEL 60 continues: Expansion of FINAS; influence of Israeli aeronautical engineer Michel Allouche; controversy over admission of Israeli into membership. Instigation of STANAG-4685 covering human factors influencing UAV operation; explanation; disadvantages of human reaction during flight. Importance of gathering data from experienced UAV operators; nature of environment and chain of command in UAV control rooms. Scope of recruiting pool for drone pilots, question of perception of role. Preparing for end of service on JCGUAV (Joint Capability Group Unmanned Aerial Vehicles). Presence of ‘lodger’ units (explanation) at RAF Northolt, including 32-The Royal Squadron, Queen’s Colour Squadron, the Air Historical Branch, No.1 AIDU (Aeronautical Information Distribution Unit). Description of leisure facilities at RAF Northolt. Publication of STANAG-4670 regulating training structure for drone pilots. Little direct ministerial contact or political involvement with DARS (Defence Aviation Regulation & Safety branch). Impact of Haddon-Cave review, explanation of the concept of ‘just culture’ introduced in future accident investigations; traditional reluctance to report ‘near misses’, atmosphere “not conducive to admission of error”; explanation of the ‘substitution test’ in accident investigation. Introduction of DAEMS (Defence Aviation Error Management System) which allowed anonymous reporting of errors; examples of ‘barriers’ to errors. REEL 61 continues: Limitations of ‘just culture’ in a legal framework. Discussion of nature of error path propagation in systems. Adoption of STANAG-4671 standards by EASA (European civil aviation regulator). Tri-service cultural contrasts in adoption of standards. Technical description of VMS (vehicle management system) in Watchkeeper UAV. Challenges of overcoming American scepticism of NATO of non-US equipment and systems, influence and character of US Navy aeronautical engineer Dr Stephen Cook. Opportunity personally to build commercial contacts prior to end of Royal Navy service. Challenges of regulations keeping pace with rapid advances in technology. Pride in lasting professional legacy of working on UAV regulation in NATO. Memories of celebrations surrounding Centenary of the Fleet Air Arm (1/5/2009), direct family history connection with the Centenary, regret over lack of discussion of grandfather’s RN career during father’s lifetime. Circumstances surrounding retirement from Royal Navy (9/2010). Leaving mess dinner coincided with RAF Battle-of-Britain dinner, with Admiral Simon Charlier as key speaker. Common bond of aviators, despite leaving the Royal Navy after 36 years of service in an RAF setting. REEL 62 continues: Continued interest in drone regulation during post-service life; environmental and legal obligations incorporated into present day regulations. Adjusting to post-service life, taking 28-days terminal leave, following discharge routines at RNAS Yeovilton, returning AGR (gas respirator) to stores; emotional reaction to relinquishing military identity card. Question of loss of identity, living outside of military discipline; reaction of wife and family; taking advice of other retired military families; taking up leisure and sporting activities. Motivation for launching private company (10/2011), Aerios Ltd, providing drone consultancy services to MOD and industry. Question of duty of secrecy or non-disclosure beyond the terms of the Official Secrets Act. Contact with South Korean agricultural consortium, nature of negotiations, challenges of unfamiliar business culture and protocols, taking advice of British Embassy in Seoul. Nature of consultancy work for MOD project. Financial position of the company, safety net of Royal Navy pension. Contact with Thales and Fraser Nash at Farnborough, providing consultancy services on Watchkeeper project, leading to numerous commercial offers. Question of credentials to work in the aeronautical and defence industry. REEL 63 continues: Wide range of commissions by the MOD, including the Reaper (Protector MQ9 UAV), nature of role leading flight dynamics panel at General Atomics, San Diego. Level of trust, retention of top-secret clearance, company status as ‘List-X’ security level. Continued success of Aerios Ltd, difficulty of work/life balance, impact on marriage and family life; decision to reduce workload in 2015. Reputation as a leading expert in the field, elected Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society (FRAeS) (1/2016), commercial advantages of Fellowship. Technical description of Zephyr ultra-lightweight ‘HAPS’ (High-Altitude Pseudo Satellite) UAV project. Consultancy work on Scan Eagle, and Desert Hawk systems. Attitude of former Royal Navy colleagues towards commercial success. Opinion that commercial bidding process in MOD was unethical and not cost-effective. Reasons for decision to retire, dissolving Aerios Ltd (3/2020) coinciding with Covid-19 pandemic and UK lockdown. REEL 64 continues: Impact of Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown on daily life. Continuing to adjust to civilian lifestyle. Accepting various pro-bono roles in local community. Meeting the challenge of intellectual appetite. Reasons for not joining the Royal Naval Reserve, donating RN uniform to a school drama department. Attending Falklands-40 commemoration at Yeovilton; occasionally wearing the South Atlantic Medal. Reflections on Royal Navy career. Nature of role as local footpaths officer, chairmanship of neighbourhood planning group (Trent, Dorset), motivation to protect historic nature of ancient village, attitude towards planned development and conservation. Reflections on sub-consciously putting Royal Navy service in the past; sense of place in the local community. Positive aspects of long service career; question of the excitement and joy of flying; youthful feelings of invincibility over fear during Operations Corporate (1982). REEL 65 continues: Resuming normal family life following lifting of Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, overseas travel, and holiday. Identifying symptoms of hyper-vigilance; “things started to unravel”; observation of unnatural feelings of vulnerability to crime; wife’s reaction to MS’s heightened anxiety. Voluntarily undertaking a course of psychotherapy, question of experiencing PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) because of Falklands War experience. Self-awareness of increased anxiety; emotional challenge of attending annual act of remembrance; significance of carrying military dog-tags (identity tags), reflecting on the death of friends, the random nature of loss. Reflection on the death of friend Tony Hunt, killed in civilian flying accident. Physical and emotional reaction when holding dog-tags. Recognising the need for continued psychotherapy. Identifying reasons for hyper-vigilance due to intensive Royal Navy training. Sense of unforgiving nature towards self, consideration of own mortality, identifying symptoms of ‘survivor guilt’. Reflecting on nature of personal emotional and mental state, appreciation of need for self-compassion and self-value. Question of blaming Royal Navy for mental trauma; reasoning that the outcome is a natural and perhaps general consequence of military experience. Cathartic nature of undertaking oral history interview; experience of assisting in the aftermath of a suicide in the village; reflection on value of documenting life history for conservation in IWM sound archive collection.