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Description: | British NCO served as air mechanic with Royal Naval Air Service aboard HMS Campania based at Scapa Flow, Orkney, 1915-1917; served with Royal Naval Air Service at Killingholme, Lincs, 1917-1918
REEL 1: Recollections of recruitment as 1st Class Air Mechanic to Royal Naval Air Service at Portsmouth Dockyard, 7/1915: extensive prior experience in small boats sailing in Portsmouth area, question of seasickness; knowledge of naval technicalities including tidal ranges; apprenticeship and illustrations of work as lighting engineer; reasons for volunteering. failure of initial application to Royal Flying Corps; trade test at Hendon Airfield; pay; kitting out and initial training at Sheerness.
REEL 2 Continues: prior experience with .22 rifle shooting. Recollections of conditions of service, lifestyle and daily routine during period as NCO air mechanic aboard HMS Campania, 7/1915-11/1917: journey to Scapa Flow and reporting to depot ship HMS Imperieuse, 30/7/1915; role of drifters; rum and tobacco ration; use of steam winches to handle seaplane and launching procedure; civilian liner names; boarding ship.
REEL 3 Continues: question of seasickness caused by nature of ship's sea going qualities and engines; method of handling seaplanes in bad weather including taking off in lea of ship, difficulty in landing, salvaging engine where necessary and possibility of landing at Scapa Flow; installation of flight deck and method of taking off with Sopwith Schneider Seaplanes using detachable wheels; refit to create longer flight deck; role of Campania; recollections of abortive seaplane raid on Cuxhaven including reactions to plan, contact with Dutch fishing fleet and overhearing their wireless reports to Germany.
REEL 4 Continues: recollections of abortive seaplane raid on Cuxhaven including cancellation of operation due to Dutch radio reports, success route to evade German units and subsequent gale; opinion of Captain Oliver Swann and reports of accident to Mayfly, 1911; early seaplanes; question of using seaplanes in bad weather; effects of severe weather at Scapa Flow; establishment of temporary seaplane station during refit at Westray Island, Shetlands; story of becoming adrift in seaplane whilst replacing compressed air bottles.
REEL 5 Continues: story of becoming adrift in seaplane, success in starting engine and taxiing back; background to introduction of convoy system; familiarisation training prior to re-equipment with new engines; opinion of Eagle 8 Rolls Royce engine; absence of electrics on seaplanes; introduction of flying boats for anti-submarine patrols; ability to plot submerged submarine's course from air.
REEL 6 Continues: Recollections of detachment as Roll Royce engine specialist to help establish new unit of Curtiss H12 Flying Boats at Houghton Bay, 10/1917-11/1917: description of H12 engine petrol tank feed and pump system; dispute over question of returning to Campania illustrating shortage of engine specialists; journey to collect H12 Flying Boat from Felixstowe, damage and repair to flying boat during overnight stop at Killingholme; investigating suitability of landing and taking off flying boat at possible base in salt lake in Moray Firth area.
REEL 7 Continues: damage to hull during take off in flying boar at possible base, landing and supervising repairs at Dundee; background to posting to Killingholme; rotary engines; question of loss of kit and pay left on Campania on posting; story of flight in flying boat through fog.
REEL 8 Continues: story of flight in flying boat in fog including ditching, taxiing into Middlesborough, refuelling, take off and successful landing at Killingholme. Recollections of period as NCO at Killingholme, 11/1917-1918: warrant for trip to fetch kit left on Campania; promotion as petty officer engineer in charge of A Flight workshops and consequent resentment from other NCOs; differing role of flights; story of starting difficult engine.
REEL 9 Continues: necessity of other ranks and NCOs volunteering for flying duty; stories of starting difficult engine and repairing rev counters illustrating initially difficult relationship with other NCOs and other ranks; story of pilot's unwillingness to take off in rough weather and joining replacement crew for patrol; story of call out as part of emergency flying boat crew to intercept Zeppelin L 56 off Flamborough Head, 4/1918 including composition of crew, fog, receiving Zeppelin Morse transmissions, sighting and opening fire on Zeppelin, its successful avoiding action problem with engines, ditching in sea, take off and return to base.
REEL 10 Continues: story of call out as part of emergency flying boat crew to intercept Zeppelin L 56 off Flamborough Head, 4/1918 including composition of crew, fog, receiving Zeppelin Morse transmissions, sighting and opening fire on Zeppelin, its successful avoiding action problem with engines, ditching in sea, successful repairs, take off, return to base and subsequent award of DFM; arrival of Major E R Moone as A Flight Commander; story of pilot's unwillingness to take off in rough weather and joining replacement crew for patrol; background to commission as lieutenant and attending course at Technical Officers School of Instruction, RAF at Henley, 1918. | Publisher: | http://www.iwm.org.uk | Source: | Imperial War Museum | Creator: | Lance, David G | Identifier: | http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/o... | Go to resource |
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