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F540 Operations Record Book July 1953 NO 4 SQUADRON.
PRO Kew No. AIR27 Piece 2590 Microfilm Row1 Draws 52-71
PLACE DATE TIME SUMMARY OF EVENTS                  COMPILING OFFICER   ___________________________ Refs
     

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R.A.F. Jever 1.7.53.   A spate of unserviceability the previous night made it difficult for us to fly many
sorties.   However, the four rocketeers who are due to go to the U.K. carried out some
dummy attacks on the aerodrome.   Complete surprise was achieved on each occasion and
the R.A.F. Regiment gunners who were trying to track us were quite impressed.
                                   Vampire Sorties  8 - 3.30 Hours
 
  2.7.53.   All the aircraft that the Squadron could muster were used by the rocketing team on the
range.   The last attacks were made with live heads and so we religiously pulled out at
800' to avoid shrapnel.   The results as judged from the ground were not very good but
they admitted that plotting rockets was difficult when four aircraft were firing in
quick succession.   Probably the most outstanding feature of the day was the large
number of brake sacks burnt out which can mostly be attributed to the hot weather.
                                    Vampire Sorties  24 - 10.50 Hours
                                    Meteor    Sorties    4 -   2.00 Hours
 
  3.7.53.   We provided eight aircraft to boost Battle Flight, in order to intercept intruders from
83 Group.   This meant that our rocketing programme was somewhat curtailed and eventually
we only got in one sortie down to the range.   We are finding nowadays that quite a few
rockets are spiralling badly, which can give very large errors.
                                Vampire Sorties  11 - 8.10 Hours
                                Meteor    Sorties    2 -    .55 Hours
 
  4.7.53.   The only flying today was by the rocketeers, consisting of five aircraft, who departed
for the U.K.   The take off time was delayed until 14.00 Hours by the weather.   We had
an uneventful journey and were in contact practically the whole time.   Despite this
"Facecream" provided us with a running commentary of our position.   West Raynham, with
its superb C.R.D.F., gave us an instant course to steer and we arrived at our destination
about 1 hour and five minutes after leaving Jever.
                                                                   Vampire Sorties  5 - 5.25 Hours
 
  6.7.53.   After being briefed by the G.L.O. and the S.A.T.C.O. we travelled down to our potential
target to inspect it from the ground.   After lunch we took off for a target recce and
we found that it was easier to find the target from the air than it first appeared
from the ground.   The army wanted us to plan our run in so that we could be seen by the
spectators.   The remainder of the Squadron attended lectures by a team from C.F.E.
 
  7.7.53.   Battle Flight were able to fly a number of sorties today by kind permission of the
weather gods.
                          Vampire Sorties  12 - 8.05 Hours
                          Meteor    Sorties    1 -    .20 Hours
 
  8.7.53.   The U.K. demonstration team arrived back today.   Apparently a good time, and a
good shoot, was had by all.   The remainder of the Squadron were handicapped by the
lack of serviceable aircraft, but nevertheless Battle Flight were able to field a full
team.
                       Vampire Sorties  12 - 9.35 Hours.
 
  9.7.53.   Today there are enough aircraft for both Battle Flight and normal training.   Numerous
battle formation practise flights were carried out.   With a Meteor aircraft on the
Squadron , it is once again possible to fly as many I.F. trips as we desire, without having
to compete against the other squadrons for possession of the '7'.
                            Vampire Sorties  25 - 18.05 Hours
                            Meteor    Sorties    2 -   1.20 Hours.
 
  10.7.53.   The majority of 'B' Flights aircraft were U/S in the morning, as the bulk of the flying
was undertaken by 'A' Flight, who also provided the Battle Flight.
         Cloud was avoided as much as possible - extensive Cu Nimbs around,
apparently.
                      Vampire Sorties  22 - 19.25 Hours
                      Meteor    Sorties    1 -      .55 Hours
 
  11.7.53.   The morning was spent rehearsing for the A.O.C.'s parade.
                            Vampire Sorties  1 - .25 Hours
 
  13.7.53.   The Wing Commander cancelled all flying in the morning, due to the unsuitability of the
weather.   The afternoon was a little better, and aircraft flashed around in low level
battle formation.   High level formations later practised breaking, to give No 2s
some practice in sticking to their leader.
                        Vampire Sorties  23 - 15.45 Hours
                        Meteor    Sorties    4 -   1.45 Hours.
 
  14.7.53.   The weather was very unsettled today - sudden storms of great intensity.   Because of
this, all flying was stopped in the afternoon.
               Vampire Sorties  16 - 9.25 Hours.
 
  15.7.53.   Our allocated day for Meppen Range is here.   Not surprisingly, low cloud is also here.
         Firing is not impossible, but precision firing is.   S/Ldr Williamson considers
this to be the kind of weather to prove the advantages of fixed versus gyro rocketing,
so the fearless four take the air.   Given the necessary practice, results can be good
with the fixed cross.
                  Vampire Sorties  16 - 11.10 Hours
 
  16.7.53.   An unfortunate accident occurred today.   Whilst taking off for battle formation sortie
P/O Simms sank back on to the runway.   Consequently, he is a non-flying member of the
Squadron at the moment.
                            Vampire Sorties  24 - 17.35 Hours
                            Meteor    Sorties    4 -    3.00 Hours
 
  17.7.53.   Rocket firing on Meppen, this time with good weather laid on.   'A' Flight pilots, who
were not flying, donned overalls and probed the mysteries of re-arming and re-fuelling.
        Shortly we shall have a number of B.A.F.O. Crew Chiefs; if the examiner is
satisfied, that is.
                       Vampire Sorties  21 -  12.00 Hours
                       Meteor    Sorties    4 -    2.15 Hours
 
  18.7.53.   Rehearsal for the A.O.C.'s parade, and the departure of F/O Phillips for "Point X". Sahh (Suspect Wahn?).  
  20.7.53.   Only essential flying, such as Battle Flight and air tests, is carried out.   The main
Squadron effort is devoted to preparations for the move to "Point X".   A great
gathering and loading of equipment goes on, even Battle Flight helping, as they were at
15 minutes at the hangar.
                           Vampire Sorties 8 - 6.35 Hours
                           Meteor    Sorties 1 -    .50 Hours
 
  21.7.53.   Activities were much the same as yesterday.   The main party is due to leave tomorrow
morning, with P/O Simms in charge.   P/O Wade left us today to return to U.K. for
demobilisation.
                              Vampire Sorties 3 - 1.45 Hours
                              Meteor    Sorties 2 - 1.30 Hours
 
  22.7.53.   The rear party's wagons were loaded as far as possible.   Everything which is being
left behind at Jever was destroyed, or at least labelled with a large 'D' denoting that
they had been destroyed.
     Vampire Sorties 1 - .30 Hours            Meteor    Sorties   2 - 1.30 Hours
 
  23.7.53.   The U.S.A.F., in the form of one Shooting Star, paid a visit to Jever airfield, probably
taking photographs, and, moreover, before the opening of hostilities.   Hardly cricket -
but maybe baseball rules.   Battle Flight were scrambled to shoot him down (with cine of
course), but, after he had shot up the first pair on take-off, he left and was seen no
more.   In spite of the times given in the Movement Order, the Wing left Jever at
18.10 Hours and arrived at 19.10 Hours at "Point X", hereafter referred to as "Cactus".
        All the aircraft were dispersed with camouflage nets, and we retired, ready for
an early start in the morning.
                      Vampire Sorties 13 - 12.10 Hours
 
  24.7.53.   Today, the last before the opening of the Exercise "Coronet", was spent in really
settling in and digging in.   Our Operations Room (Squadron ) is situated in a large
hole, dug by ourselves at a high cost in blood, sweat and tears!   It is th envy of
every other Squadron in the Wing, and we feel, quite rightly, very proud of it.
                          Vampire Sorties 11 - 11.25 Hours
                          Meteor    Sorties   1 -      .50 Hours
 
  25.7.53.   Let Battle Commence!   And the exercise starts with fast and furious flying, striking
at "Fantasian" airfields.   The "Fantasians" obviously keep a patrol of F.84s airborne
the whole time, as every strike so far has been attacked by them.
         Single F.80s take a delight in rushing to and fro above our base, until they are
chased away or, cine-lly speaking, shot down.   It is usually the latter, as their
performance is inferior to that of the Vampire.
Vampire Sorties 22     14.10 Hours.           Meteor    Sorties 2 - 1.35 Hours.
 
  26.7.53.   We are getting more Form 'D's than we really expected, but presumably we will be
employed in an interceptor role when "Wesser" enters the war!
         There is quite an amount of activity, and by now our pilots are able to find their
way to Bitburg airfield with no trouble at all.
                       Vampire Sorties  25    14.55 Hours
 
  27.7.53.   The weather is still good and quite a number of sorties were flown.   However, the
prospects of continued good weather are really remote.
                           Vampire Sorties  41    29.30 Hours
 
  28.7.53.   Due to the low cloud and rain showers in our operations area, flying was very limited.
         One of our targets, a radar site on a ridge, was only a few feet below the cloud
base.   Enemy air activity was non-existent.
                   Vampire Sorties  8  -  5.25 Hours
 
  29.7.53.   Whilst engaged on airfield defence duties, two pairs entered into a dog-fight with a
pair of U.S.A.F. F.86s, and were quite impressed by their performance - but not
over-awed.,   A ground defence exercise took place in the evening to the accompaniment
of the sound of rain drops hitting steel helmets with healthy "pings".   Hot baths
afterwards made it seem worth while.
                          Vampire Sorties  45 - 33.20 Hours.
 
  30.7.53.   The last day of the exercise, and a consequent decrease of activity.   For us, the
war finished early, but the N.F. 11s could be heard far into the night.
         The Australian pilots of No 78 Wing were entertained in No 4 Squadrons Mess tent.
        The drinks flowed far and furiously, and the evening ended with a free for all,
"Limies" versus "Coloured Pilots"!
                            Vampire Sorties  15 - 6.15 Hours.
 
  31.7.53.   The threat of a weather clamp in the late morning induced a sense of urgency.   At
10.15 Hours the cry rang out "Pilots", man your ships" - and we flashed though the
turbulent atmosphere back to Jever.
                            Vampire Sorties  18 - 13.55 Hours
 
      SUMMARY.
     A month of varied activities, with hardly any time for the normal Squadron training.
A number of pilots were detached to West Raynham to give a R/P demonstration, with
varying degrees of success.
        Exercise 'Coronet' was the event of the month, and valuable lessons were learned,
both in the air and on the ground.   The restrictions on dog-fighting limited the
freedom of the pilots to take action when attacked, and thereby limited the reality of
the exercise, which is, or should be, designed to simulate operational conditions.
                                  Total   Vampire   Sorties 447 - 314.40 Hours
                                  Total   Meteor      Sorties   27 -   15.05 Hours


   Compiled by.....AESanders........F/O                Authorised by..PGKWilliamson....S/Ldr
                           (AESanders)                                                           (PGKWilliamson)
 
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