Cannon completes a Walrus conversion course only to have his original West Indies posting cancelled as war approaches. He travels through Gibraltar, Malta, and Alexandria before joining the cruiser Shropshire, while the troopship carrying him is rapidly repainted from white to grey. Looking up at the Walrus on its catapult, he realizes that his next flight will be only his second catapult launch and his first without dual-control instruction. His senior observer is equally wary because previous pilots have given him reason to distrust a newcomer. Shropshire's urgent passage through Suez to the Cape leaves the newly assembled crew almost no time to fly together before operations begin.
Notable Point · 8:19-10:27
Mobilizing a cruiser Walrus aircrew
Lieutenant Commander Cannon's memoir follows a hurried shift from Swordfish flying to an unfamiliar cruiser-launched Walrus as war begins.