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F540 Operations Record Book March 1955.
RAF Museum Hendon. Holds 2nd copy of F540 1945 to 1970.
PLACE DATE TIME SUMMARY OF EVENTS                     COMPILING OFFICER   __Fg. Off. F.J. MAYCOCK.___ Refs
     

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Jever 1.3.55   Fourteen pilots and some sixty five of the Ground Trades started their second
day of Annual Ground Combat Training.   Lectures and demonstrations given
by No. 4 Wing R.A.F. Regiment covered the use and maintenance of the .303
Rifle, Principles of Defence, Siteing and Construction of Defensive Positions
and Fire Fighting and Rescue.   The latter lecture was given by the Station
Fire Section N.C.O..
          Sixteen ground crew were left at the Squadron to carry out intermediates
on the aircraft and the pilots not on G.C.T. made a few flights, doing the
refuel and pre-flight inspections themselves.
                                Flights -     7          Hours    5.30
 
  2.3.55             The Hawker Hunter F. 1c which arrived yesterday afternoon captured our
interest this morning.   The G.C.T. programme was interrupted to enable all
the pilots to hear of the Hunter's capabilities.   After a short enlightening talk
given by Wing Commander Merryfield of Day Fighter Leaders School, West Raynham,
we took the opportunity of looking over the Hunters.
          Following this we returned to our Ground Combat Training and were given
a lecture on Medium Defence Organisation.
          In the afternoon the Squadron turned out in force to watch the Soccer
Match between 2nd ATAF and the Netherlands Air Force.
                                            Flights -   2         Hours  1.15
 
  3.3.55             The fine weather is still with us and the few pilots available for flying
carried out a limited programme.   Shooting was the main attraction on G.C.T. to-
day, all the morning being taken up in practical use of the .38 pistol, Sten,
Bren and .303 Rifle.   Some good marksmen were found on the rifle range and
at least one four inch group was recorded at 200 yards.
In the afternoon, lectures on the use of small arms against aircraft and
Fire Control Orders, were followed by a most interesting demonstration of
bayonet fighting and unarmed combat.
          "Operation Lamp-Switch" occupied our time from 20:00 hours until 22:00
hours in the form of a Night Defence and Infiltration exercise.
                                   Flights -        4         Hours  3.05
 
  4.3.55             The day started with a lecture on Chemical Warfare.   This covered
the possible use of gas and the means of overcoming it.
          We finished the day with lectures on Atomic Warfare and the Service
Respirator.   Following the last lecture, a visit was made to the Gas Chamber
to prove the effectiveness of the Respirator.
          The weather was fine and a little flying was carried out.
                                      Flights -        6    Hours  3.55
 
  5.3.55             The fine weather showed signs of breaking up today and we were troubled
by scattered snow showers all morning.
          Those on G.C.T. sat an examination set by the R.A.F. Regiment Instructors.
                                      Flights   - Nil         Hours - Nil
 
  7.3.55             The forecasted poor weather materialised this morning and only a little
flying took place.
          In the afternoon we were to have practiced ejection seat training with
a mockup made by Tech Wing.   Unfortunately, the rig was unserviceable
after only one charge being fired.
                                     Flights 17   Hours       -    9.00
 
JEVER 8.3.55        Snow fell all night and throughout the morning giving us a depth of about five inches.
The morning was spent watching films on Fixed Ring Sighting, Low Level Navigation and
Aircraft Recognition.   A visit was also made to the Intelligence Library.
     In the afternoon we had a map reading Exercise which involved a six mile walk
through the surrounding countryside.
                                               Flights Nil            Hours Nil
 
  9.3.55        Poor visibility at first, delayed the start of flying and until the first flight
at 11:30 hours, we spent our time watching films and using the Practice Ejection Rig
which had been repaired.   There was no sports afternoon for Flying Wing.
                                               Flights 30          Hours 20.05
 
  10.3.55        We had a full day's flying in very good weather.
Fg. Off. Blake had generator failure on the last trip of the day.   On landing he ran
into the overshoot area and the aircraft sustained Category 3 damage.
                                             Flights 51       Hours 35.35
 
  11.3.55        Early morning mist kept the visibility down below 2000 feet until 10:00 hours when
it lifted to over 3,000 yards and flying started.   The exercise consisted of battle
formation
, Cine Dog Fights and Tail Chases.
                                             Flights 48            Hours 33.35
 
  12.3.55        Today the weather was fine and a decision was made to fly until 13:00 ours.   The
flying consisted of varied cine work and Controlled Descents.
                                             Flights 13      Hours 9.35
 
  14.3.55        Fair weather and little cloud at the start of the day's flying, slowly became
8/8 at 600 feet in the early afternoon.   This was closely followed by light
rain and flying ceased at about 15:00 hours.   Several flights were made in the
Training Aircraft, mostly I.F. practice for Instrument Rating Tests.
                                         Flights 28  Hours 18.45
 
JEVER 15.3.55        The weather today worked in complete opposite to yesterday and early flights went
off in low cloud.   Again the Squadron used the Vampire Type XI for Instrument
Flying and one I.R.T. was completed.   Later the weather improved and by the end
of the day, it was about 8/8 blue.
                                         Flights 39           Hours 28.20
 
  16.3.55        A frontal system affecting our area put away all ideas of flying.   Instead of
Air-to-ground firing as was scheduled, a morning of Squadron duties and a Fire Fighting
Demonstration was arranged.   The Squadron spent the afternoon working off any
surplus energy on the Sports field.
                                            Flights Nil     Hours Nil
 
  17.3.55        Heavy snowstorms throughout the morning cancelled flying and also gave the runway
about a half-inch covering.   Sunshine came with the afternoon however, and at about
two o'clock, flying commenced.
     All sorties were air-to-ground on the Meppen Range, but conditions were not good and
the results suffered accordingly.
                                          Flights 13       Hours 8.35
 
  18.3.55        A full day's flying today with practically all trips air-to-ground firing at Meppen
Conditions were much better and results were more encouraging.
                                                Flights 27       Hours 16.50
 
  19.3.55        The Squadron flew a considerable number of high level battle formation trips up
until 13:00 hours, when flying ceased until Monday morning.
                                            Flights 10    Hours 7.15
 
  21.3.55        A pleasant change came today in the form of rat and terrier exercises
of which, about 50 % were successful.   By afternoon however, the visibility was
too bad to continue these exercises, so for the rest of the day, cine quarter
attacks
were practiced.
                                           Flights 49    Hours 32.55
 
JEVER 22.3.55        Battle Flight was provided by "A" Flight, whilst "B" Flight once again
practiced high level battle.   Battle Flight were kept quite busy, totalling
nine successful interceptions on Canberras and Venoms, and two Practice
Interceptions on each other.
                              Flights        - 48   Hours 31.05
 
  23.3.55        Battle Flight stood-by all morning, but weather conditions remained unsuitable
for flying.   The rest of the pilots stayed in Flying Wing Headquarters and gave
individual lectures.   Sports were played in the afternoon.
                            Flights - Nil          Hours Nil
 
  24.3.55        The standard of control was not good today, about half the battle flight
interceptions being successful .   Other flying was divided between high and low-
level battle formations.
                                      Flights - 26     Hours 18.50
 
  25.3.55        High level cine quarter attacks were the order of the day for "A" Flight ,
whilst "B" Flight were again on Battle Flight.
                                    Flights 32       Hours 24.25
 
  26.3.55        Low cloud and rain prevented all flying apart from a pair of aircraft
doing a weather check.
                                        Flights - 2     Hours 00.50
 
  28.3.55        Good weather was with us today, and maximum advantage was taken of it.
"B" Flight were on Battle Flight. whilst "A" Flight flew mainly high-level
battle formations with one or two cine trips later in the day.
                                        Flights 42     Hours 28.50
 
  29.3.55        There was no flying during the morning due to bad weather, and conditions
did not improve during the afternoon.   There were, however, several
diversion airfields open, as a limited amount of flying took place during the
afternoon.
                                          Flights 13        Hours 9.35
 
  30.3.55        Meppen Range was open to us today and all pilots who were not on Battle Flight
practised air-to-ground firing.
                                          Flights 35                 Hours 27.30
 
  31.3.55        Conditions for air-to-ground firing were slightly better today, and full
advantage was taken of this by all pilots other than Battle Flight.   Shooting
was a little better today but not by any significant amount.
                                      Flights 38          Hours 30.30
 
   /TD>   SUMMARY FOR THE MONTH
          The normal training effort was varied by a return to air-to-ground firing at
Meppen Range after a lapse of several months and a spell on Secondary and primary
battle flight.   In the first instance scores were disappointing but showed a gradual
improvement as practice was gained.   On battle flight numerous interceptions were
made on an assortment of aircraft ranging from Venoms, Sabres and Canberras to
B.45s.   The flying effort of 406 hours is the highest achieved since the Squadron
was equipped with Sabres.   This effort was backed up with a further 42 hours on
the training aircraft.
      Three of the older members of the Squadron returned to U.K. on completion
of their tours.   Flying Officer P.R. Molden left on the 8th March and has
gone to C.F.S. to become a Flying Instructor.   Flying Officer D.S. Bridson
left on the 14th March and has gone to the Recruit School at Cosford.   Flying
Officer J.D. Clayton
left on 22nd March and has gone to E.F.D. Farnborough.
         The Squadron Run-down prior to re-equipment with Hunters has started.
Posting notices for three officers and fifteen N.C.O.s and airmen have been received
together with an allotment out of five Sabres.

                                 TOTAL MONTHLY SABRE FLIGHTS  = 584
                                 TOTAL MONTHLY SABRE HOURS    = 406
                                 HOURS ON TRAINING AIRCRAFT     =   42
 
                                                                                                         FJ Maycock
                                                                                              (F.J. MAYCOCK) Fg. Off.
                                                                                              Compiling Officer


                                                                                             PW Gilpin
                                                                                             (P.W.Gilpin)
                                                                                             Squadron Leader
                                                                                             Officer Commanding
                                                                                             Number 4 Squadron
 
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