Operations

Packing of all Technical Equipment completed. Visit to the Wing of Major Jabara U.S.A.F. for "Gen" lecture on Sabre versus Mig and the air war in Korea in general. This proved an exceedingly informative and interesting lecture, attended by Fassberg pilots as well as all pilots from Celle Wing.

Pilots personal kit collected and stored aboard pack wagon.

All pilots of 93 Squadron assembled in Crew room for briefing and farewell message from Station Commander. Several members of R.A.F. Celle came into the Squadron Offices to bid farewell and say how sorry they were to see us leaving. 13 Aircraft plus the Meteor were flown to Jever in the morning and the fourteenth arrived in the afternoon. We were not impressed by the absence of equipment on arrival, but this will be rectified in due course. New hanger rather spacious and Squadron Offices in plenty. Today six of our officers flew back down to Celle to sit the promotion exam commencing on the 4th at Fassberg. This means a further shortage of Pilots. P/O Wood on Winter Survival Course at Ehrwald.

Everyone busying themselves by putting their respective offices and Crew Room in order. A beautiful day and, somehow, the sun looks much brighter up here at Jever and the skies very much bluer. No flying as Squadron Equipment has not yet arrived.

Office equipment demanded and collected from Equipment Warrant Officer. Plenty of easy chairs and tables of a very inferior type, with a promise of Aircrew lockers one day. Although Technical gear arrived this morning, we could not even consider Flying as all refuelling Bowsers were withdrawn on orders from Group, for inspection, there being a "Flap" on about foreign matter entering fuel tanks from Bowsers. F/O Sturman returned from Wunstorf with a replacement aircraft for "E Easy", a very ancient specimen of the Vampire which is due very shortly for a Major Inspection. We now form part of a 3 Squadron Wing at Jever, in company of No 4 Squadron late of Wunstorf and a 112 Squadron from Fassberg

In the afternoon the Squadron, after sitting around for two days finally managed to break down all opposition and fly. First four sorties were flown on sector "recces" before another signal from Group came through grounding all 93 Squadron aircraft for Fuel Filter inspections: they are determined to find loose metal somewhere in our Fuel systems. F/SGT "Chiefy" Davis is displaying remarkable calm in that he has not lost his temper more than twice over this Fuel Filter business.

The sun has turned all mud, and there is a lot of that, into sand, and the wind is hurling the sand into, over and around, everything and everyone. Our Aircraft are still grounded, a difficult time partly overcome by No 4 Squadron kindly offering us any available Aircraft they have for Flying. Further Sector "recces" were carried out, all Pilots agreeing that this near coastal base makes Pilot navigation a comparatively simple after operating from an Airfield so far inland as Celle. Flying Officers James and Tucker returned from the promotion exams with heavy hearts. F/O Wallace proceeded on fourteen days continental leave, likewise Sgt Thomas for 21 days U.K. leave.

All Squadron aircraft cleared for routine flying, with one limitation imposed by the C.O. Sorties must be confined to 45 minutes pending installation of more serviceable Radio aids and homing equipment. Weather excellent not a cloud in the sky and five high speed ranging and tracking sorties were completed. Unfortunately it is impossible to carry out cine-gun work as yet as there are no facilities for developing or assessing films for the time being.

Sunday.

8/8 Cloud hovered over this Airfield and the entire surroundings. Now we have some of this dreaded coastal weather catching up with us at last. No Flying.

Scattered Cumulus cloud early today with bright blue skies peeping through. Flying got into full swing, with the limit of 45 minutes still in operation. Weather "recces" were the order for this morning followed in the afternoon by more fast and furious ranging and tracking. During a high g. turn Sgt Walker sustained a partially collapsed lung not saying a word about it until the sortie had been completed. On landing he was whisked off to the Sick Quarters and there examined by the M.O. who had him moved to a Hospital in Oldenburg for x-ray. Sgt Walker appeared to be in very bad pain though managing to seem quite cheerful. Continued enquiries brought negative replies from Medical Authorities. Hours 14.50.

11 Vampire sorties were flown this morning on aerobatics and Q.G.H.s. Very lovely day under which to try out the newly installed homing equipment. In the afternoon all Flying Wing personnel took part in cross country running or organised games. The C.O. S/Ldr McGregor confined to his bunk with a touch of influenza. After Tea six Pilots climbed aboard the two Flight Commanders cars and moved off into Oldenburg for a visit to Sgt Walker. We found him propped up in bed with a heavy list to starboard becoming his misfortune, but otherwise as well as can be expected. Apparently Sgt Walker has a punctured lung.

Flying Officers Hardcastle and Tucker travelled down to Winterburg for a three weeks Winter Survival Course, leaving the Squadron with only 8 available Pilots. The remaining 8 flew 23 sorties of ranging and tracking, homings and Q.G.H.s plus one sortie where Battle Formation six carried out low level battle practice.

Yet another glorious day for Flying if a little chilly. The formation Aerobatic team flew two sorties, with P/O Bates and Sgt Sowray replacing F/O Hardcastle and Sgt Walker. Other than this there were eleven sorties of local Flying and high 1 vel Q.G.H.s.

Station 48.

S/Ldr McGregor on leave, 14 days continental. A visit from Sgt Webster who has now been posted to No 145 Squadron looking very fit and tanned after his Winter Survival Course. Sgt Williams also returned to duty from the same course. 4 Aircraft were armed up with "Written Off" ammunition to carry out an experiment by the Squadron Armourer S.N.C.O. Sgt Culshaw. Each gun carried 130 rounds. These were fired into the North Sea at a point 5 miles North of Wangerooge Island in the Frisian Group. As a result of this Sgt Culshaw now promises us bigger and better stoppage rates. Sea fog ever menacing necessitated continual weather "recces" whilst routine Flying continued.

The visibility down to zero with little promise of improved conditions. A weather check shortly after lunch cleared us for local Flying only. Sgt Williams flew on a sector "recce" and three sections of two Aircraft per section carried out 1/4 attacks in practice for A.P.C., target Aircraft stooging at 220Km. Bad visibility and Sea fog soon put paid to any further attempts at Flying.

Rocket and Cannon firing at Fassberg range working to a schedule drawn up by F/O Bergh and operating from Fassberg and Jever. Flying to the range firing off rockets and cannons (under exceedingly adverse conditions) landing at Fassberg refuelling and rearming onto the range once more and return to base. 8 Aircraft completing 16 sorties firing 64 rockets and 800 rounds of 20 m.m. shells, entire programme lasting 5 hours.
The refuelling at Fassberg left little to be desired and it is agreed that Fassberg co-operated one hundred percent. Rocket and cannon results poor.

Another range programme, same as yesterday equally successful from the firing angle. 24 sorties flown. F/O Bergh ten days local leave.

An awful day, low cloud, bad visibility and rain. Overload tanks fitted to seven aircraft for tomorrows proposed wing exercise. Tank tests carried out in the afternoon. Weather still grim. P/O Bates off on 14 days U.K. leave. F/O Wallace returned from 14 days in the mountains skiing.

All Pilots assembled in Wing briefing room for briefing by Wing Commander Flying. We were to send sixteen aircraft to Wunsdorf and there join the Wundsorf Wing for a mass raid on the U.K. and, though we stood in readiness, the proposed exercise was cancelled at 10.30hrs. Overload tanks were removed and seven aircraft prepared for Battle Flight on Monday morning the 24th.

Sunday.

Battle Flight standby at 08.30hrs. Six aircraft and one spare. Four sorties flown, two of them successful, interceptions and two P.I.s. Diagonal pans layout makes scramble time rather slower, 2 minutes. Weather cloudy all day, but quite pleasant for Flying.

Four more Battle Flight missions flown through scattered overcast. The contrails of our Vampire aircraft were intermingled with those of P.R. Meteors over the "Happy hunting ground" Bremen to the Dummer Zee, when interceptions were made at altitudes ranging from 20,000 to 30,000ft. F/O Wallace reported back for duty from a fourteen day continental leave, looking very tanned and healthy. He now takes over duties as Squadron Adjutant.

Heavy snow blanketed of any attempts at flying in the forenoon, so Battle Flight were stood down.

A Battle Flight of six aircraft were early on P.I.s. Two returned owing to electrical trouble in the leaders aircraft, and upon their reporting bad visibility and increasing snow, the remaining four were recalled. The snow thickened and no more flying was done for the rest of the day. Sgt Sowray left the Squadron to join 145 Squadron at R.A.F. Celle. Sgt Webster arrived on exchange with him and rejoined the Squadron.

A fall of snow the previous night rendered the runway unserviceable until late morning when two aircraft of Battle Flight were scrambled on P.I.s. On their return Battle Flight was stood down for lunch, and during the afternoon six aircraft flew two sorties each on interceptions at 20,000ft above the cloud which was broken, and not extending above 7,000.

Very cold weather with cloud base at 6-7,000ft completely overcast. Good visibility. A few cine-gun sorties were flown, but the morning was mainly devoted to cleaning and servicing of aircraft.

Sunday

Two inches of snow prevented flying all day, and the runway was left alone so that there should be no ice patches. Ground training and monthly returns occupied the Pilots. The armament section have produced a gun cover for the gun safety flap, which provides a much higher degree of safety with the guns loaded, and is easily removable if necessary. It is being submitted to Group for approval, and if sanctioned by them, the three men concerned will be in time for a reward under a service invention scheme. They are Sgt Culshaw, Cpl Burns and S.A.C. Spice.

"A" FLIGHT

F/O M.O. BERGH

F/O R.L.JAMES

P/O E.K.J. BATES

SGT E.M. WALKER

SGT C. WILLIAMS

SGT D.J. THOMAS

Signed SM McGregor          
( S.M. MCGREGOR)S/LDR          
Officer Commanding           
  No 93 Squadron, R.A.F.