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Description: | British civilian trained as pilot and worked as instructor at Hendon, GB, 1911-1914; served as private with 14th Bn London Regt in GB and Western Front, 1914-1915; trained as pilot with Royal Flying Corps in GB, 1915-1916; served as ferry pilot from GB to Western Front, 1916-1919
REEL 1 Reaction to seeing Gustav Hamel's crash landing during pylon race during Gordon Bennett Cup air show at Eastchurch, 7/1911. Recollections of period as apprentice with Chanter School of Flying at Hendon, 8/1911-11/1911. Period as apprentice with Bleriot School at Hendon, 11/1911-4/1914: solo teaching methods including taxiing practise expanded to short hops and circuits around airfield; flying and landing test prior to award of pilot's certificate, 7/1913; origins of pupils; role as assistant instructor.
REEL 2 Continues: accidental short flight whilst practising taxiing in windy conditions; flying hours restricted by necessity of dead calm weather conditions; necessity for care to avoid collisions above Hendon; Hendon Air Shows and passenger flights piloted by Hamel. Aspects of period as instructor with Hall School of Aviation, 4/1914-9/1914: aircraft flown; failure of attempt to volunteer as pilot to join Royal Flying Corps on outbreak of war, 4/8/1914; teaching short sighted woman to fly. Aspects of period as private with 14th Bn, London Regt in GB and France, 1914-1915: enlistment, 9/1914; period in Bethune area, France, 1915; conditions of service; background to colonel's reluctance to allow application to join Royal Flying Corps.
REEL 3 Continues: impromptu interview with Trenchard at Auchel, 9/1915; participation in Battle of Loos, 9/1915-10/1915; news of transfer to Royal Flying Corps, 10/1915. Aspects of period of flying training in GB, 1915-1916: state of health; initial difficulty with lateral flying controls with Maurice Farmans at Brooklands; period at Gosport. Recollections of role as ferry pilot flying new aircraft from various manufacturers via Farnborough to France, 1916-1919: successful initial flight in FE2 B; selection as experienced pilot due to previous problems with inexperienced pilots; story of collecting force landed FE2 B from Lake District with civilian in passenger seat.
REEL 4 Continues: story of collecting force landed FE2 B with civilian in passenger seat; flying characteristic of FE2 B; development and organisation of ferry pilots; testing aircraft; for basic airworthiness; ferry pilot bases; view of preparations of Alcock's Vickers Vimy for Atlantic crossing; opinion of John Alcock. | 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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