Captain Digby Charles Johns RAN (Rtd) on pilot duties 808 Squadron Sydney Carrier Air Group, Korea 1951-1952, interviewed by Colonel David Chinn MBE (Rtd)

Digby Johns talks about his service in the RAF during the last two years of the Second World War; joining the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and initial training; service aboard HMAS Bataan; return to the UK for training; the lack of progress of the RAF and the Fleet Air Arm since the Second World War; the Sea Fury; working up before a cruise in the Australian Fleet Air Arm; night flying considerations; working up HMAS Sydney for operations off Korea; catapult launches versus free take-offs from a carrier; Korean climate and the effect of topography on winter naval operations; flying gear and comfort; navigation considerations; flak and a comparison of the use of tracer ammunition with Germany in the Second World War; no night operations in Korea; Sea Fury armament and a comparison with US aircraft; the morning ‘milk-run’ up the west coast of Korea; bombing, rocket attack and firing profiles; lack of attacks from enemy aircraft and the reasons for it; operating areas for allied carriers; targeting and aerial photography; the discomfort of sitting on a dinghy pack in an aircraft; physiology and the Spitfire pilot; aircraft serviceability; ground crew and pilot fatigue not significant; sailing weather in Korean waters; Typhoon Ruth and mistakes made; experiencing the typhoon and damage to aircraft; ; enemy counter-measures; targets for Sea Furies; pilot losses and the rescue of Cooper, who was shot down; morale; the stress of flying single-engined aircraft over the sea; a stressful episode whilst flying a Spitfire; some personnel, good and bad and an untactful Minister for the Navy;