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Description: | British officer served with 202 Sqdn Royal Flying Corps and RAF on Western Front, 1917-1918. Worked as test bed charge hand with Bristol Aircraft Company Works, 1937-1964
REEL 1 Background in Almondsbury, 1899-1916: family; education; first view of aircraft; stories illustrating work as engineering apprentice; failure of attempt to join Royal Naval Air Service, 1915; training at rifle club; Boy Scout activities; father's career and war service; question of knowledge of war. Conscription and application to become officer in Royal Flying Corps during initial periods with Training Reserve Bn at Chiseldon and Lark Hill, 6/1917-8/1918: educational tests; appearing in front of interview board.
REEL 2 Continues: Period at Officers Cadet School at Hastings, 8/1917: appointment as cadet group leader; syllabus; story of cadets stealing cakes; story of imposing discipline and effects of threat of being returned to unit. Lectures during period at School of Aeronautics at Bristol, 1/1918. Period at School of Gunnery at Uxbridge, 2/1918: Vickers machine gun practice in cockpit flying simulator; recites explanation of 'cocking of lock' on Vickers machine gun. Period flying training mainly in DH6 with No 4 Flight, No 1 Training Depot Sqdn, RAF at Wittering, 5/1918-8/1918: first flight, 20/5/1918; dual flying training including taxiing, method of banking and landing; first solo; importance of landing practice due to weight of Eagle VIII engines in DH4; flying in clouds; photographic reconnaissance training; question of engine problems and forced landings; cross country flight in DH9; flying characteristics of RE8.
REEL 3 Period at School of Aeronautics at Bristol, 1/1918: discussion on horsepower generated by engine during lecture; story of visit to music hall and recites George Robey piece. Period flying training mainly in DH6 with No 4 Flight, No 1 Training Depot Sqdn, RAF at Wittering, 5/1918-8/1918: passing pilot's test; DH9's nickname; story of flight to test weather; methods of stunt flying in BE2 D including loop, roll and spin; story of death of pilot during camera gun exercise illustrating reaction to casualties; methods of stunt flying in BE2 D including roll and sideslip; flying controls; camera gun and Vickers target practise; background to early posting to active service. Story of giving flying experience to American NCOs in DH9 whilst at Wishant, France, 28/9/1918. Recollections of period flying DH4 with B Flight, 202 Sqdn RAF at Burges, 9/1918-11/1918: reception; introduction to DH4 including use of incidence wheel to adjust tail plane, petrol tanks and oxygen supply; effects of Eagle VIII engine.
REEL 4 Continues: effects of Eagle VIII engine including care required for successful landing; relationship with observer; nature of typical reconnaissance patrols including flying clothes, prior instructions, take off procedure, observer's use of board to communicate on sighting unknown aircraft; effects of cloud and role reporting on German shipping; method of operating camera to produce photographic mosaic of target area; use of wireless and clock code in artillery spotting for naval monitors; formation flying; story illustrating importance of evading combat with German aircraft and ability of DH4 formation in resisting single German scouts; role of RAF.
REEL 5 Continues: importance of evading combat with German aircraft; reports of cause of Warneford's death; difficulty of landing in formation; destroyer escort patrols; effects of ground fire; absence of parachutes; personal morale; opinion of various officers; long distance patrols; effects of altitude, noise and cold when flying; formation flying; method of using incidence wheel to change trim and increase maximum speed of DH4; observer's role; effects of bad weather; anti-aircraft fire; Armistice celebrations, 11/11/1918.
REEL 6 Continues: messlife, including trips to Dunkirk and drinking habits; reaction to formation of RAF, 1/4/1918; question of naval traditions and uniform. Recollections of period flying DH4 with B Flight, 202 Sqdn RAF at Varrsenaeire, Belgium, 11/1918-3/1919: airfield and billets; formal mess dinners; supplementary food supplies; story of dispute between train and squadron transport; continuation of flying despite shortage of petrol; story of missing flight with King Albert of Belgians; recreations; role of duty officer; question of use of bombs; aircraft insignia; story of crash landing following cross Channel flight in fog back to GB, 6/3/1919.
REEL 7 Continues: aftermath of crash landing, 6/3/1919; journey back to GB, 3/1919. Demobilisation and question of taking permanent commission, 3/1919. Work as charge hand and foreman at Bristol Aircraft Company Works, 1937-1964: background to recruitment; work tuning Pegasus engines on test beds; stories illustrating status and disputes with union; priority given to engine construction; duties collecting test bed equipment from airfields; German air raids; pay.
REEL 8 Continues: stories illustrating work on test bed; engines produced; stories illustrating work on test beds; story of making new number plate for manager; reason for not joining trade union; work on Avon Rolls Royce jet engine; retirement, 1964. | Publisher: | http://www.iwm.org.uk | Source: | Imperial War Museum | Creator: | Tomkins, Ernest | Identifier: | http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/o... | Go to resource |
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