James M Milne MBE

I joined to FLY NAVY James M Milne MBE

What were the thoughts and feelings of my grandfather as an Artificer Engineer down in the Engine Room as on1 November 1914, in the half light of evening, HMS Glasgow raced towards the Magellan Straits escaping from the one sided Battle of Coronel. The author, despite intensive research will never know.

This lack of knowledge of his grandfathers career led the author to writing a record of 'what grandad did in the war' for his own three grandchildren. The record morphed into a tale of events, amusing and sometimes frightening, that occurred during a 32 career between 1960 and 1992. This period saw the Fleet Air Arm helicopter fleet go from piston to jet power and from 'kick the tyres - light the fires' to the advanced electronic suites that equip todays highly professional Fleet Air Arm aviators. In 1960 helicopter aircrew were as dedicated and professional, but a lack of sophistication in the aids available sometimes meant results were dependent upon experience and gut feeling.

There are many aviation books which cover specific topics or events, but few which span a Fleet Air Arm Observer's career. This book aims to fill that gap.

Historical context has been included in many of the events which the author took part, from Iraq first threatening Kuwait in 1960, the Borneo Confrontation, through to the Falklands campaign in 1982. Service in the Fleet Air Arm not only involved flying, but also non-flying appointments ashore and afloat. As this book demonstrates there was satisfaction and a lot of fun to be had in what may be described as more mundane jobs.