Recorded interview with Squadron Leader John Cairns and Group Captain John Platt, 23 January 2019

In Storage Film & Sound

John Cairns and John Platt served as an Air Electronics Operator and navigator respectively in Shackleton and Nimrod aircraft. They describe their shared experience of operations in maritime patrol aircraft.

John Platt remembers training as a navigator and serving with 204 Squadron, operating Shackleton aircraft from RAF Honington. John Cairns joined the RAF as an instrument mechanic before becoming an Air Electronics Operator (AEO) in Shackletons with 42 Squadron at RAF St Mawgan, in the Far East with 205 Squadron and in Vulcan aircraft. They discuss various aspects of maritime operations, including anti-submarine warfare, fishery protection and search and rescue.

Details

Object number	X008-4820
Maker name	RAF Museum, Gp Capt John Crawfurd Platt, Sqdn Ldr John Lawrence Cairns, Mr Ewan Burnet
Production date	23 Jan 2019
Associated with	Sqdn Ldr John Lawrence Cairns Gp Capt John Crawfurd Platt Maritime Operational Training Unit (RAF) 42 Squadron (RAF) 204 Squadron (RAF) 205 Squadron (RAF) 120 Squadron (RAF) 27 Squadron (RAF) Royal Navy North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 201 Squadron (RAF) Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven Coastal Command (RAF) Flt Lt John Alexander Cruickshank
Associated places	RAF St. Mawgan RAF Kinloss RAF Honington RAF Catterick Iceland Madagascar
Key events	Cold War, 1946-1989 Cod War, 1973 Herrick, 2002-2014 Operations in Afghanistan, 2001-2021 Falklands Conflict, 1982 Port Stanley airfield attacks, 1982 Atlantic, Battle of, 1939-1945

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Recorded interview with Squadron Leader John Cairns and Group Captain John Platt, 23 January 2019

Details

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