Captain Alexander Hughie Gordon LVO DFC RAN (Rtd) on observer duties 817 Squadron Sydney Carrier Air Group, Korea 1951-1952, interviewed by Colonel David Chinn MBE (Rtd)

Accession Number S02778
Collection type Sound
Measurement 1 hr 26 min
Object type Oral history
Physical description 1/4 inch sound tape reel; BASF SM 468; 15 ips/38 cm.s; two track mono; 10 inch NAB
Maker Australian War Memorial
Date made 14 June 2002
Access Open
Conflict Korea, 1950-1953
Copyright Item copyright: © Australian War Memorial
Creative Commons License This item is licensed under CC BY-NC
Copying Provisions Copyright restrictions apply. Only personal, non-commercial, research and study use permitted. Permission of copyright holder required for any commercial use and/or reproduction.
Description

Alexander Gordon talks about: his enlisting in the RAAF in 1942 and his training as an observer [navigator/bomb aimer]; being sent to Burma in 1944 and flying transport operations in Dakotas there; flying Skymasters with No. 232 Squadron RAF from India and Ceylon [Sri Lanka] in 1945; being demobilized in 1946 and further education; enlisting in the RAN's Fleet Air Arm in 1949 as an observer; training as a naval officer and as a naval observer, including anti-submarine warfare; the differences between flying in a single-engined Firefly and multi-engined aircraft; the flying characteristics of the Firefly; working up for service in Korean waters; close cooperation with army liaison officers; the structure of the Sydney Carrier Air Group (CAG); senior officers in the Sydney CAG; carrier flying operations with Fireflies and [Sea] Furies; replacing Mk 6 Fireflies with Mk 5,which had guns; low-level bombing and navigation techniques; the high standard of training in the Sydney CAG; the use of delayed-action fused bombs; post-strike photography; anti-submarine patrols; the role of the Carrier-Borne Ground Liaison Officers (CBGLOs); secondary duty as the Group Compass Officer and compass-swinging; the Sydney's captain, Darbo Harries and the commander, Brad Smith; limitations on flying imposed by winter weather; surviving Typhoon Ruth; the effective use of camouflage by the enemy; two memorable operations; some search and rescue operations; the exhilaration of attacking railway tunnels, and thoughts on single-seat fighters versus twin-seat fighters.