Craven, Geoffrey: my Royal Canadian Navy recollections (March 14, 2013)
PublicInterviewer: Schneider, Matt
ABSTRACT: Colonel Geoffrey Craven has had a long and distinguished career in the military, governmental and private sectors, which he here recounts. The primary direction of this interview is naval aviation, and much of it is focussed towards Craven's experience flying Avengers and Banshees during the 1950s and 60s. Trends in naval and military leadership and organisation are also discussed. Finally, this interview covers the details of Craven's highly successful post military career as a public servant and private contractor, including his experiences in the Privy Council and Transport Canada. 0.00-pre-military background 3.10-interest in naval aviation 4.18-traing in Canada and UK 6.27-early experiences aboard HMCS Magnificent 7.30-squadron selection process 8.30-transition to carrier operations after training 12.00-flying off of Magnificent, varieties of aircraft 14.30-take-off and landing of TBM Avenger 22.35-ASW tactics and equipment 25.45-fighter and ASW arrangements aboard Magnificent 26.40-events leading up to transition to VF-870 squadron 35.00-conversion to F2H Banshee jet 38.30-about the Banshee 43.00-carrier operations with VF-870 46.50-sidewinder trials in UK 49.30-NORAD interceptor operations, including intercept of aircraft carrying Khrushchev to U.N. 52.50-air defense and RCN fleet 54.00-Banshee replacement: the Holy Grail project 56.30-involvement with Grey Ghosts acrobatic team 61.00-time as instructor at HMCS Venture 63.30-time as executive officer of VU-33 64.05-time as training officer for 4th escort squadron 66.00-ADC at Norfolk, VA 71.40-RCN organisation and leadership 73.50-RCN fleet composition, NATO task groups 75.40-ASW specialisation 84.20-experience commanding VP-405 long range patrol 85.1 0-post-flying military administrative experiences 87.00-experience on Security Secretariat of Privy Council 88.30-experience coordinating expo 86 Vancouver 90.00-experience as Transport Canada senior director 91.00-roles of VP-405 98.00-transition from public to private sphere, post-military life 106.25-results of unification, reformation in 80s through 2000s, state of modern RCN 113.30-naval aviators and their relation to the surface fleet in 50s and 60s 115.40-integration with RCAF officers post-unification 118.00-conclusion
Interviewee: Craven, Geoffrey
An interview/narrative of Geoff Craven's experiences whilst serving with the Royal Canadian Navy as an aviator. Interview took place on March 14, 2013.
Rank: Colonel.
- In Collection:
- 1 sound recording (MP3)
- 36.84681, -76.28522
- 49.24966, -123.11934
- Original sound recording (MP3) also available.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- CG_797
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/military-oral-history-collection
- March 19, 2013
- Digital sound recording in .mp3 format at 128 kbps and 44 kHz. Recorded in digital format by interviewer, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. Interview recorded in digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2013. Migration metadata by KD and MT.
- Rights
- This interview has been posted with the understanding that it may be used for research purposes only. Should the interviewee or their heirs have any objections to this interview being accessible on the Internet, it will be removed promptly. Contact UVic Special Collections for permission if using for other than research purposes: speccoll@uvic.ca
- DOI
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