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| PLACE |
DATE |
TIME |
SUMMARY OF EVENTS COMPILING OFFICER FLYING OFFICER E.N.H. LACK |
Refs |
R.A.F.JEVER |
1.6.52 |
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Two of the Squadrons aircraft allocated for duty on battle flight over Whitsun, flew only one mission today. The section investigated a civil airliner over Dummer See.
2 sorties 2 hours 00 minutes |
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2.6.52 |
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Having throughout the period of the stand down, maintained a record of 100% successful interceptions, the battle flight was disappointed by an abortive mission at the eleventh hour today.
4 Squadron section was vectored round and round at 3,500 ft over Ahlhorn, in and out of broken stratus, and saw no target. Radar control then sent the section north to identify another bogey, but R/T instructions for control gradually grew less and less coherent, until the pursuit had to be broken off by the section, which then returned to base. It is thought that the controller was inexperienced and had difficulty in directing the fighters.
Vampire 6 sorties 6 hours 00 mins.
Meteor 2 sorties 45 mins. |
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3.6.52 |
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The Army - No. 5 A.G.R.A. from the Maple Leaf Barracks, Anrich - descended upon R.A.F. Jever to find out what makes the Air Force tick.
During the morning the Army officers were shown round various sections of Flying Wing and No. 4 Squadron, and attended lectures on the operational aspects of R.A.F. training. A demonstration of rapid re-arming and refueling was given by 4 Squadron crews, while dummy attacks were being made on the airfield by 112 Squadron. Finally, late in the afternoon, our guests were given some air experience in two Meteor 7s.
Vampire 16 sorties 11 hours 50 mins.
Meteor 9 sorties 4 hours 30 mins. |
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4.6.52 |
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We gave the Army a demonstration flypast this morning, twelve aircraft in finger fours, boxes, and finally low level at high speed. Our guests then left, and training flying was resumed.
19 sorties 11 hours 40 mins. |
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5.6.52 |
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A full station parade was held today to honour the official birthday of Her Majesty the Queen. No flying. |
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6.6.52 |
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Battle flight duty was resumed by No. 4 Squadron, which had been released for liaison with the Army during the previous three days. There were no bogeys in the morning, only a weather reconnaissance and practice interception. After lunch, the battle flight, in a snake of six aircraft in pairs, climbed to 25,000 feet. Cloud was continuous, except for one very shallow gap at 16,000 feet, and prevented even practice interceptions.
Vampire 26 sorties 18 hours 10 mins.
Meteor 2 sorties 55 mins.
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7.6.52 |
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Formal parade: make do and mend: cleaning aircraft.
Meteor 2 sorties 55 mins. |
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9.6.52 |
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Half of today's flying was spent on air to air (cine) opposite quarters. Our new pilots need as much familiarisation with the technique as possible before we go to A.P.S. next week, and all pilots can benefit by getting some practice.
25 sorties 16 hours 55 mins. |
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10.6.52 |
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Twenty three out of our twenty eight hours' day flying was devoted to cine. Yesterday's films, screened before flying this morning, show the common error of being out of range: today, this fault was reduced. Late in the evening, two flights of four aircraft took off on a dusk mission. Flying in battle formation, they were attacked by the Squadron Commander, operating alone. Despite all their efforts, the formation failed to spot the C.O. until too late, and his first attack, from 6 o'clock very low, was entirely successful. Thereafter, however, having appreciated the appearance of a single Vampire against the darkling ground, the formation was able to observe and take evasive action in time.
Day Meteor 2 sorties 1 hour 10 mins
Vampire 35 " 28 hours 40 mins.
Night Vampire 9 " 7 hours 30 mins. |
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11.6.52 |
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Thwarted. Thick cloud at 1,000 feet coming down 600 feet. Six pilots who were airborne for camera gun work came swiftly back reporting "duty not carried out".
Vampire 6 sorties 2 hours 30 mins.
Meteor 2 sorties 2 35 mins. |
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12.6.52 |
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Nearly all the flying was devoted to cine, despite a thin layer of stratus at 1,200 feet.
Vampire 36 sorties 28 hours 35 mins.
Meteor 1 sortie 1 hour 00 mins. |
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13.6.52 |
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Flying continues until lunch time - air to air cine - after which all the Vampires were kept on the ground for pre-Sylt harmonisation checks and servicing.
Vampire 19 sorties 14 hours 15 mins.
Meteor 7 sorties 2 hours 25 mins. |
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14.6.52 |
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Preparations for the Squadron's detachment to the A.P.S. are well under way. Yesterday's films show most of us out of range, but there is a tendency for some to wander line high.
3 sorties 1 hour 05 minutes. |
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16.6.52 |
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Air and rail parties moved uneventfully to R.A.F Sylt.
Vampire 13 sorties 5 hours 30 mins.
Meteor 2 sorties 1 hour 00 mins. |
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| R.A.F. SYLT. |
17.6.52 |
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After a morning spent attending lectures and seeing to administrative matters, we began work on a shift system; each flight firing during the afternoon of one day and the morning of the next. This is occasioned by the comparatively large number of pilots on strength, and the limited number of ranges and aircraft available. Flying lasts from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Vampire 13 sorties 28 hours 25 mins
Meteor 2 sorties 1 hour 00 mins. |
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18.6.52 |
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Conditions are ideal today - a little cloud, no glare, and very smooth air at 6,000 ft. several pilots begin to score 4, 6 & 8%. Pt/Off Williams, the Staff P.A.I. attached to the squadron, is very helpful. He tells us many methods of shooting, pointing out limitations and advising us on experiments with various sight settings. He has lots of "Gen" and is only too glad to help.
46 sorties 13 hours 10 minutes |
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19.6.52 |
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Probably about half the pilots are using fixed ring (complete or masked) and gyro together. There is a high abortive rate - nearly 50% - caused by Tempests going u/s flags being shot away, targets arriving late, and, today, a couple of gun failures. Squadron Leader Williamson has set a fine example, and put all his pilots to shame, by shooting a 32%, and generally staying well within two figures. He is using the fixed ring only.
Vampire : 40 sorties 19 hours 15 minutes
Meteor : 2 sorties 40 minutes |
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20.6.52 |
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The weather was most unkind today: intermittent cumulus kept dashing between fighter and flag, or shooting up turrets of foamy white just to make the flag easy to see. Once or twice a pilot made a do or die attempt to fire, regardless of the weather conditions, usually with poor results. Indeed, conditions at the A.P.S. are highly artificial. One tries hard to score well, a result which can be best achieved only if one refuses to fire under adverse weather conditions. Yet one must shoot in bad weather, or be useless as an all weather pilot.
Vampire: 20 sorties 14 hours. 15 minutes
Meteor : 1 sortie 30 minutes |
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21.6.52 |
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A station parade delayed the start of flying until 11.00hrs: and a spate of Tempest unserviceability in the afternoon allowed us to fly less than half the planned sorties.
12 sorties 7 hours 20 minutes. |
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22.6.52 |
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The programme planned for today was canceled entirely, because of heavy rain lasting all day. |
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23.6.52 |
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Flying began at 10.00 hours, Cine film taken during firing shows now that most of the Squadron's pilots are opening fire within range; but that one or two are flying unsteadily.
Vampire 23 sorties 12 hours 15 mins.
Meteor 2 sorties. 1 hour 10 mins. |
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24.6.52 |
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C.F.S. Examining Wing arrived today to carry out their annual check. Flight Lieutenant Sledmere was attached from the Wing to our Squadron, and flew with five of our pilots: bad weather prevented his flying with a sixth.
At 13.00 hours, air to air firing stopped. The Tempest towing aircraft had developed so much unserviceability that their effective strength was reduced to a point at which it was no longer possible to maintain flags continuously on the ranges. However a small amount of air to air cine flying was done instead.
Vampire 34 sorties 22 hours 40 mins.
Meteor 7 sorties. 3 hours 40 mins. |
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25.6.52 |
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Rain fell continuously all day long.
No Flying. |
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26.6.52 |
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Today again, only a limited programme was flown. Two ranges were kept open till 11.30 hours when air to air firing ceased through lack of Tempests. Our Vampires were disarmed and sent up for 10 cine sorties. Later there was a low level formation mission when cloud interfered with the cine exercises.
Vampire 28 sorties 17 hours 50 mins.
Meteor 2 sorties 55 mins. |
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27.6.52 |
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A full programme was flown. Everyone has settled down to his particular sighting method; some of those using gyro have reverted to fixed ring, making the number using each system about equal.
Today training of certain of our pilots, who have not had much experience of multi-engined aircraft, has begun. They are being given dual instruction in asymmetric flight.
Vampire 36 sorties 20 hours 35 mins.
Meteor 6 sorties 2 hours 35 mins. |
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28.6.52 |
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The sun shone today, brightly and strongly, for the first time since we arrived at Sylt. A little advection fog from the sea, temporarily stopped flying about midday, when the tow lines disappeared in haze. Some difficulty was experienced by pilots in trying to keep track of the target after breaking off their attacks. Sky and sea merged in an indefinable cloudy line which gave little indication of aircraft attitude.
Vampire 19 sorties 10 hours 25 mins.
Meteor 1 sortie 20 mins. |
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30.6.52 |
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A second day of clear skies and sunshine. All Vampires scheduled to fly became airborne, but a few did not fire because their flags were unserviceable. Tomorrow the target speed will be raised from 180 knots to 220 knots.
Vampire 30 sorties 14 hours 30 mins.
Meteor 4 sorties 1 hour 10 mins.
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SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE 1952
A unified report of the month's activity is not possible because the Squadron's detachment to the A.P.S., R.A.F. Sylt extends into July. This detachment was preceded by a week's intensive flying on cine exercises to familiarise pilots, in particular our new members, with the techniques required. At R.A.F. Sylt flying proceeded satisfactorily except for a rather high rate of unserviceability in the station towing flight. A report on individual and squadron progressive scores for the whole detachment will be given in the Operational Record for July.
Earlier in the month a small liaison visit was made, by officers from a nearby Artillery Unit, to R.A.F. Jever. No. 4 Squadron gladly took part in welcoming the Army, and providing suitable demonstrations.
The Squadron was also visited, while at Sylt, by the Central Flying School Examining Wing. |
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FLYING DAY NIGHT
Individual Training 11.50
Interceptions 22.30
Squadron/Wing Exercises 34.55 7.30
Air Support 2.30
Navigation 12.05
Weapons 135.05
Photographic 85.55
Instrument 11.10
TOTAL VAMPIRE 312.20
TOTAL METEOR 24.45
GRAND TOTAL 337.05 |
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Compiled by ...signed ENH LACK..FG/OFF.
(E.N.H. LACK,)
Authorised by ...signedPGK Williamson........S/LDR.
(P.G.K. WILLIAMSON) |
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