Recording of an interview with Mr J A Smale, 18 September 1975

Interview with Mr J A Smale, who served in the Royal Naval Air Service during the First World War as a ground engineer and observer.

J A Smale joined the Royal Navy at the start of the First World War. He transferred to the Royal Naval Air Service and was an observer in Caudrons and ground crew with 4 Wing and 6 Squadron. He trained as an observer and flew from HMS Renown in Sopwith 1½ Strutters. He witness the surrender and scuttling of the German Navy and Alcock and Brown’s arrival in Ireland.