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| Place |
Date |
Time |
Summary of Events COMPILING OFFICER Fg. Off. C.W. Powell |
REFS TO APPENDICES |
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|
| Jever |
1.12.55. |
|
Operational
Limited flying was done today after a late start. Only one pair per Squadron was
allowed as the visibility was only 2,000 yards.
The sorties were mainly on cine exercises and one detail on G.C.A.'s at Ahlhorn.
Personnel
Two new pilots arrived from O.C.U., Chivenor, they are Fg. Off. 's Misselbrook and
Dutton. |
|
| Jever |
2.12.55. |
|
Operational
Poor visibility and low cloud prevented flying today. This afternoon the pilots
played No. 93 Squadron at football and won 4-2. |
|
| Jever |
3.12.55. |
|
Operational
After the usual parade, met briefing was held. Again the weather wsn't good
enough for flying.
Personnel
Sqn. Ldr. Gibbs left this morning on completion of his tour. He has gone to join
the directing staff at the Staff College at Bracknell. |
|
| Jever |
4.12.55. |
|
Operational
STAND-DOWN. |
|
| Jever |
5.12.55. |
|
Operational
The airfield colour state started as 'green', but rapidly deteriorated to 'amber'
and then 'red' as low stratus and mist enveloped the airfield.
This afternoon the Squadron pilots again played No. 93 Squadron at football and
this time drew 3-3. |
|
| Jever |
6.12.55. |
|
Operational
Quite a good flying day apart from a strong cross-wind. A T. XI was available to
the Squadron all day and a few I.F. trips were carried out.
The operational flying was mainly on cine exercises. Two aircraft were diverted
to Oldenburg at the end of the afternoon. |
|
| Jever |
7.12.55. |
|
Operational
No flying was done today due to low cloud base and rather strong winds. The
morning was spent watching films and a couple of lectures. |
|
| Jever |
8.12.55. |
|
Operational
The airfield colour state was "green" this morning with good visibility and a risk
of showers.
A good deal of flying was done, mainly on individual trips comprising aerobatics,
practice forced landings and so on.
The Squadron had another fatal accident today when Fg. Off. Yeomans crashed after
overshooting from a G.C.A. at Ahlhorn.
[Not in F540: Hunter F.4 WV373 The pilot carried out three G.C.A. approaches when flying
in manual. He then decided to revert to powered controls. He was seen at 3000 feet,
climbing slightly and then diving with his left wing low towards the ground. Although the
canopy was jettisoned, the pilot did not eject. It seems probable that the pilot obtained a
false anchorage of the ailerons when he reverted to powered controls and this only
allowed free movement in one direction. Extract from "Category Five" book by Colin Cummins.]
Tonight twelve sorties were flown at dusk and night sector recces. |
|
| Jever |
9.12.55. |
|
Operational
Fairly low stratus limited flying this morning to one pair per Squadron. After
the first detail the airfield went "red" until 11.45 hours, when again one pair per
Squadron/green cards only were allowed to fly.
Again the weather clamped and the aircraft were re-called. There was no further flying. |
|
| Jever |
10.12.55. |
|
Operational
After this mornings Squadron drill parade, the weather did not clear sufficiently
for flying until almost 11.00 hours. The sorties were then flown, of one pair each
doing cine quarters. |
|
| Jever |
11.12.55. |
|
STAND-DOWN |
|
| Jever |
12.12.55. |
|
Operational
Bad weather prevented flying this morning. This afternoon a rehearsal was held
for tomorrow's parade. |
|
| Jever |
13.12.55. |
|
Operational
The funeral of Fg. Off. Yeomans took place today at Hamburg, the whole proceedings
taking up all day. |
|
| Jever |
14.12.55. |
|
Operational
A thick sheet of ice covered everything this morning and almost prevented walking
let alone flying.
The morning was spent on aircraft recognition and watching films. |
|
| Jever |
15.12.55. |
|
Operational
Low cloud and poor visibility prevented flying all day.
A lecture was given on 'Guided Missiles' and then the pilots returned to the
Squadron and participated in an inter-flight quiz.
A game of basket-ball was played this afternoon.
Personnel
Two new pilots Fg. Off.'s Baines and Brewer arrived today from O.C.U. at Chivenor. |
|
| Jever |
16.12.55. |
|
Operational
Once gain low cloud and bad visibility prevented flying today.
Personnel
F.S. Ward went on 3 weeks U.K. leave. |
|
| Jever |
17.12.55. |
|
STAND-DOWN |
|
| Jever |
18.12.55. |
|
STAND-DOWN |
|
| Jever |
19.12.55. |
|
Operational
Ice and snow prevented flying for most of the day, but one T .XI sortie and one
Hunter sortie were flown this afternoon.
Personnel
Flt.Lt. Goodwin and Fg. Off. Dodds went on 3 weeks U.K. leave. |
|
| Jever |
20.12.55. |
|
Operational
For the first time, the Squadron was on Battle Flight with Hunters. However, fog
prevented flying all day, except for one Hunter which arrived from the U.K. via Laarbruch. |
|
| Jever |
21.12.55. |
|
Operational
The Squadron was on Battle Flight again today. Ice on the runway and low cloud
prevented any flying. |
|
| Jever |
22.12.55. |
|
Operational
At last a clear day, with little ice on the runway. Flying continued all day,
but on a limited scale as only two or three aircraft were serviceable.
Some Cine quarters were carried out and some individual trips by the newer pilots.
Personnel
Fg. Off.'s Irish and Faulkes set off today by car for the U.K. on leave. |
|
| Jever |
23.12.55. |
|
Operational
Todays forecast was probable rain showers, which would freeze on the ground as the
ground temperature is only 28 degrees F. However, conditions improved sufficiently to
get a couple of sorties airborne during the later part of the morning.
The visibility decreased rapidly at lunchtime and no further flying was done. |
|
| Jever |
24.12.55. |
|
STAND-DOWN. |
|
| Jever |
25.12.55. |
|
Operational
Today the Squadron was again on battle flight. As only five available pilots are
operational they had to be on duty all day from 11.00 to 17.00 hours local time. One
pair was on 10 minutes and the other on 30 minutes readiness.
No flying was done all day, probably because the conditions were marginal or maybe
as it was Christmas Day. |
|
| Jever |
26.12.55. |
|
STAND-DOWN. |
|
| Jever |
27.12.55. |
|
STAND-DOWN. |
|
| Jever |
28.12.55. |
|
STAND-DOWN. |
|
| Jever |
29.12.55. |
|
Operational
Good flying conditions today, except for a crosswind of 20-30 knots at 10 to 30
degrees off the runway.
Because of this, Hunter flying was limited to the more experienced pilots.
A total of eleven hours were flown on cine exercises, together with a couple of
Vampire T. XI trips. |
|
| Jever |
30.12.55. |
|
Operational
Weather conditions this morning were not so good. The wind has died down completely
and most of the zone is covered in fog or mist. Visibility improved sufficiently for
limited flying to commence about 10.00 hours and later full flying about 11.00 hours.
A number of individual sorties were flown including one air to air firing. |
|
| Jever |
31.12.55. |
|
Operational
The Station Commander's parade was cancelled this morning due to ice, this also
prevented flying until 09.30 hours when one pair per Squadron was permitted. |
|
Aircraft
Hunter
Vampire |
Mk.4
T. XI
TOTAL |
Flying Hours
Hours
106.25
15
122 |
Squadron Strength
Minutes Sorties Officer's 18
146 S.N.C.O's(Aircrew) 1
35 20 S.N.C.O's 8
00 166 Cpl.'s 15
A.C.'s 18
Total 90
signedNCPBuddin
(N.C.P. BUDDIN)
Squadron Leader,
Officer Commanding
No. 118 Squadron
Royal Air Force
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