I Chose the Sky by Leonard H. Rochford

Author:Leonard H. Rochford [Rochford, Leonard H.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, Military, Aviation, Biography & Autobiography, World War I
ISBN: 9781909808324
Google: M5tICgAAQBAJ
Publisher: Grub Street Publishing
Published: 2015-07-19T02:53:03+00:00

CHAPTER VIII

RESPITE AND RETURN

The history of Walmer aerodrome is very interesting. One afternoon Captain C. L. Lambe received a telephone message from the Admiralty that an aerodrome must be found close to the Downs as a protection against attacks by German aeroplanes on shipping in that part of the Channel. The Germans had already made sorties with two torpedo-carrying seaplanes and had, indeed, torpedoed a ship at the northern end of the Downs. A site for the aerodrome was found without undue difficulty, but to find pilots was a much greater problem because all the fighter pilots were in naval squadrons supporting the hard-pressed RFC on the Western Front. However a Flight had to be formed for Walmer so Captain Lambe decided to select six good pilots, who needed a rest after serving in France for many months, and to bring these back to Walmer as the flying personnel.

The majority of these RNAS pilots were originally from overseas. They were largely Canadians, but others came from South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and various colonies. So the rest at Walmer also enabled them to obtain some idea of home life in England and English hospitality. Later it was decided to post to Walmer, in rotation, complete squadrons and so give them two month’s rest there. No 3 Naval was the first squadron to be selected.

I understand that in the RFC a pilot was usually transferred to Home Establishment following a spell of six to eight months flying in a Western Front squadron. No such policy was pursued by the RNAS and 3 Naval/203 RAF were engaged on operations, continuously, from February 1917 until November 1918 during which time not a single pilot left for H. E. through physical or mental stress reasons.

We had several long-serving pilots in the squadron; others completed extended tours of duty after being posted to units elsewhere in the BEF or overseas.

In these circumstances the less hazardous duties at Walmer afforded a welcome rest and was, undoubtedly, most beneficial to pilots and ground staff alike.

The aerodrome, situated on the cliff-top at Hawks Hill Farm, virtually overlooked their patrol area. The Officers’ Mess and living quarters were in the village in a large and comfortable Victorian house within its own grounds and named St Clair. The ratings were quartered amongst houses in the village which had been taken over by the Admiralty.

Before we moved to Walmer, Lloyd Breadner had been confirmed in the rank of Squadron Commander and officially became our Commanding Officer. Also, Art Whealy, who had left us in May to go to 9 Naval Squadron, had returned and he took over ‘C’ Flight during Armstrong’s absence on leave in Canada. I now became the Flight Commander of ‘B’ Flight, my pilots being Flight Lieutenants J.A. Glen, A.B. Ellwood, W.H. Chisam and Flight Sub-Lieutenant K.D. MacLeod.

We received wonderful hospitality and kindness during our two months at Walmer and made a host of friends, many of them being the VAD nurses at the Army hospital there. This

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.