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| PLACE |
DATE |
TIME |
SUMMARY OF EVENTS COMPILING OFFICER __Fg. Off. J.F. Farley.___ |
Refs |
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| R.A.F. Jever |
1.12.58 |
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The month started with a good days flying, including night flying. The first half
of the day was spent in carrying out syllabus trips. In the afternoon Battle formations
and cine' sorties were flown.
SORTIES : 29 HOURS : 31.55 |
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2.12.58 |
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By mid-day the weather had precluded any further flying and this coupled with
poor serviceability meant that very little flying was done today.
SORTIES : 6 HOURS : 5.35 |
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3.12.58 |
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Low cloud and fog all day prevented flying. Films were arranged on a Wing basis
in the afternoon.
SORTIES : NIL |
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4.12.58 |
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Poor weather in the form of low cloud, fog and drizzle prevented flying in the
morning. However a two hour clearance in the afternoon allowed all aircraft to fly once
before the fog returned.
SORTIES : 7 HOURS : 6.35 |
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5.12.58 |
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Exercise Argus this morning restricted flying, but the Squadron gained experience
in operating from the O.R.P. using Telebrief. One aircraft was delivered to, and
another collected from, Laarbruch by Fg. Off. P. Jones. Flying was finished early today
in order that all drivers could attend a lecture in the cinema on German Road Ordinance.
SORTIES : 15 HOURS : 13.25 |
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8.12.58 |
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Flt. Lt. M.J. Tyrrell and Fg. Off. J.F. Farley returned from leave today.
During the day the Squadron flew a variety of sorties and commenced night flying in the
evening. However a very strong cross wind component caused the night flying to be
abandoned before all the intended sorties had been flown.
SORTIES : 20 HOURS : 21.10 |
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9.12.58 |
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A full programme of day and night flying was carried out as far as the limited
serviceability allowed.
SORTIES : 16 HOURS : 15.50 |
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10.12.58 |
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No flying due to fog, low cloud, and various forms of precipitation. Five air-
craft were made serviceable and taxied out to the take off point following a Station
Alert at 09.50 local.
SORTIES : NIL |
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11.12.58 |
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Apart from one weather check aircraft, the weather prohibited flying today.
In the afternoon, Flt. Lt. G.O. Eades gave the Squadron a lecture on briefing technique
and S.O.P.'s and various non standard details of our flying were regularised.
SORTIES : 1 HOURS : .35 |
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12.12.58 |
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The weather - again the deciding factor - allowed flying to start, but very soon
cloud at 200' and driving snow just outside the circuit area, caused the programme to
come to a premature demise. Fg. Off. T.H. Watson left for leave today.
SORTIES : 5 HOURS : 5.10 |
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13.12.58 |
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Today the Squadron provided a guard of honour at Fg. Off. T.H. Watson's wedding
in a local church at Schortens.
SORTIES : NIL |
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15.12.58 |
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Today the Squadron flew an air to ground cine' programme at Strohen range. It was
interrupted on occasion with low cloud difficulties but nevertheless the whole day
most of the planned sorties were flown, and in addition some normal syllabus trips were
fitted in.
SORTIES : 29 HOURS : 26.10 |
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16.12.58 |
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Once again the Squadron attempted air to ground practice. However due to weather
upsetting the programme, only one pilot fired, although a considerable amount of cine'
was achieved.
SORTIES : 16 HOURS : 15.25 |
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17.12.58 |
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Today the Squadron started a very full programme of air to ground, both cine and
live. About mid-day however, bad weather caused flying to be cancelled once again.
SORTIES : 13 HOURS : 12.40 |
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18.12.58 |
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Air to ground was continued today, hampered by continued difficulties of obtaining
aircraft at the right times to fit in with the range programme, caused partly by
serviceability and partly by the very different weather at base and the range. This at
times resulted in ability to take off but the range was unserviceable followed shortly
by restrictions at base with a perfect range 70 miles away. Night flying was cancelled
due to weather.
SORTIES : 17 HOURS : 15.40 |
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19.12.58 |
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Today was a repetition of yesterday, but as today is the last day the Squadron
has the use of the air to ground range, a more balanced programme of flying should be
possible next week. Night flying was cancelled due to weather.
SORTIES : 21 HOURS : 20.10 |
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22.12.58 |
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Normal syllabus flying was carried out today. Flt. Lt. A.A. Boyle flew back from
Laarbruch with the last of our aircraft to be modified with the extended leading edges
and electric follow up tail. Flt. Lt. J.D. Hawtin and Flt. Lt. F.R. Lund left for leave
today.
SORTIES : 16 HOURS : 14.25 |
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23.12.58 |
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Today the Squadron commenced another seven day period of Battle Flight. The Station
stood down for the Christmas grant at mid-day, but thick fog prohibited any flying before
that. The Squadron groundcrew left for their well earned grant with 8 of our 10 aircraft serviceable. Fg. Off. B.H. Dale left today for leave.
SORTIES : NIL |
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24/28.12.58 |
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Apart from an uneventful Battle Flight watch there is nothing to report.
SORTIES : NIL |
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29.12.58 |
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Flying was cancelled today in order to do a combined inventory check of all three
Squadrons. Fg. Off. T.H. Watson returned from leave.
SORTIES : NIL |
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30.12.58 |
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Today the first detail consisted of close formation by five aircraft led by the
C.O., and there followed a full days flying with night flying to follow.
SORTIES : 31 HOURS : 33.25 |
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31.12.58 |
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Flying today was hampered by serviceability troubles due mainly to a shortage of
manpower.
SORTIES : 11 HOURS : 12.50 |
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T.J. McElhaw
(T.J. McELHAW)
Squadron Leader,
Officer Commanding,
No. 4 Squadron. |
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