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| PLACE |
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SUMMARY OF EVENTS COMPILING OFFICER __Flying Officer I. Madelin.___ |
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| R.A.F. JEVER |
1.3.57 |
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Having exchanged most of our newer aircraft for old aircraft from the two Squadrons
which are not re - equipping, the serviceability state is, nowadays, a rapid
fluctuating affair. Of the six aircraft on the line today, four were usually available
though never the same four running. In the morning the programme was scheduled in pairs
flying cine and offensive high level sweeps; in the afternoon, flying was mainly solo,
i.e. low flying, aerobatics, G.C.A.s, practice forced landings, and local sorties for
the two new pilots.
26 SORTIES 20:15 HOURS |
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2.3.57 |
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The Squadron has now taken delivery of five Mark Sixes. Unfortunately they are all
modified to different standards, and they vary in important ways, e.g. ejection seats
and gun sights. There is no way of remedying the situation locally and it will be dealt
with by clearly annotating cockpit and F.700 so that pilots know what type of equipment
is incorporated in each aircraft. This morning's few sorties were devoted to
aerobatics, formation flying, and low level strike.
8 SORTIES 5:35 HOURS |
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4.3.57 |
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At the early briefing, the met - man forecast a slight but acceptable deterioration
in the after dawn weather. However our first detail of two pairs ran into rapidly
forming stratus at 200 ft on take off - so headed for Sylt. This, according to
the briefing was to have been 'red' all day, but in fact it was the only diversion At
Jever the 'clamp' developed until it was solid by 09.00 hrs. Our four was able to
return at 14.00 hrs, and thereafter the Squadron flew cine pair and some aerobatic solos.
15 SORTIES 10:25 HOURS |
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5.3.57 |
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Acceptance checks on the sixes are still going on, and none of them has flown yet.
This means that the Squadron can only fly half its aircraft, and since - has already
been related - these include the oldest aircraft on the Wing, the flying programme
is looking fairly bleak. The situation will remain like this until the changeover is
complete, but it is hoped that the coming fortnight will see us through. Everything to
date is running smoothly.
Operations today were somewhat intermittent it was even found difficult to co -
ordinate pairs, so most of the flying was in the form of single aerobatic sorties. Night
flying had to be cancelled.
20 SORTIES 16:50 HOURS |
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6.3.57 |
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With a sea temperature of 39°, a ground temperature of 32°, and a light and variable
wind, there was a distinct likelihood of advection fog. Failing this however, a marked
warm front moving toward us from the south; no flying. The weather had closed us in
by 1000 hrs. Most of the pilots were given a blindfold cockpit check in the Hunter
Six. There was a sports afternoon.
NO SORTIES NO HOURS |
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7.3.57 |
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Four fronts, in pairs - line astern are making their stately progress across
Northern Europe. The associated weather extends from two hundred to thirty five
thousand feet, in a belt two hundred miles wide - with bad visibility beneath; no flying.
One of the Hunter Sixes is ready for an air test, and acceptance checks on the others
continue satisfactorily - with occasional hindrances from the pilots. Three more sixes
will fly up from Geilenkirchen as soon as conditions improve. During the morning
the pilots answered questionnaires on the various aircraft systems, and then spent the
afternoon in the gymnasium. At a games evening in the airmen's block, honours were
about even ; the men were soundly thrashed at darts again, but this time they introduced
table tennis - at which they beat us.
NO SORTIES NO HOURS |
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8.3.57 |
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Another clamped morning spent on further Hunter Six questionnaires. The weather
began to clear in the late morning and the Squadron Commander gave the first six an air
test, he was favourably impressed. The weather deteriorated while he was airborne and
he and a pair airborne at the same time were recalled. This did not stop three more
Hunter Sixes arriving late in the afternoon. Their arrival made the Squadron non-
operational. A long weekend provided ample opportunity for final study of our new
aircraft.
7 SORTIES 3:15 HOURS |
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11.3.57 |
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A fine day and two sixes ready. All pilots who were available last week to do ground
work had "Famil" trips and all comments were favourable to the new aircraft even
though one pilot was unable to select power after a little manual flying.
Flight Lieutenant's P. Carr and B. Withey from A.F.D.S. West Raynham arrived
today to give us what information they could about the Six. After the days flying
Flight Lieutenant Withey gave a short talk followed by a discussion, giving us an
opportunity to clear up any points which have so far arisen.
On Saturday evening the Squadron dined out Flight Lieutenant H.B. Iles at the
"Blue Pheasant" He leaves at the end of the month after two years on the Squadron to
do a six month course on Guided Missiles.
9 SORTIES 5:55 HOURS |
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12.3.57 |
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A very fine day, the airfield state starting at Amber 1 and quickly improving to
Green. Conversions onto the Hunter Six continued apace, at the same time the two
T.11s of Station Flight were both employed by the Squadron for I.F. practice and
general handling.
12 SORTIES 8:00 HOURS |
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13.3.57 |
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Another very fine day and the conversion programme went ahead fast. Some members
of the Squadron just back from leave are busy working on Hunter Six notes in preparation
for their first flight tomorrow. The airfield was closed at lunch time for a sports
afternoon.
7 SORTIES 4:50 HOURS |
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14.3.57 |
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A sunny day with patches of cloud later on. Everyone on the Squadron (except those
on leave) has converted onto our new aircraft. The day was mostly taken up with this, a
few pairs doing high level battle and with one pilot ferrying Hunter Fours away and another
following him in the T.11 to bring him back. The Squadron Commander led a three in
formation aerobatics They returned warm and weary.
17 SORTIES 12:30 HOURS |
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15.3.57 |
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Low cloud, intermittent drizzle and bad vis made the airfield state red' or
'amber three' with no take offs - until two oclock. A few pairs then flew on cine. The
rest of the pilots employed themselves on Squadron Duties.
6 SORTIES 3:20 HOURS |
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16.3.57 |
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Today a front was pivoted on Jever Airfield and unlikely to move. Airfield state
'Red'. The pilots spent the morning acquainting themselves with the refuelling
characteristics of the Hunter Six and went off for the weekend at 11.30 hours.
NO SORTIES NO HOURS |
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18.3.57 |
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Two Squadron's ( Nos 98 and 118) returned from Sylt today flushed with well earned
successes. The day started under Amber 1 conditions and Cine was the order of the day,
combined with a few aerobatic sorties. The Squadron became operational again today.
27 SORTIES 19:20 HOURS |
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19.3.57 |
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The airfield was Red all day. The morning was spent by all pilots at a lecture
by Wing Commander Merser on the Mks 2H and 3H ejection seats and in an informal
discussions with him about various aspects of aviation medicine (with particular reference
to flight above 48,000, in view of the Hunter 6's capabilities) afterwards in the crew
room. We investigated the new dinghy and emergency pack. After lunch Lieutenant Young
lectured in his inimitable way on "Boats".
NO SORTIES NO HOURS |
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20.3.57 |
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A day starting with rain cleared by midmorning to an airfield state of Green.
Battle fours took up most of the morning and there were sports in the afternoon.
15 SORTIES 11:25 HOURS |
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21.3.57 |
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A fine day spoilt by showery cu. The Squadron flew mostly Battle fours to practice
Battle at higher altitudes at which the Six is capable of operating. These trips were
interspersed with aerobatics and Tactical Descent sorties. The evenings night flying
programme was successfully completed.
44 SORTIES 30:45 HOURS |
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22.3.57 |
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Fog enveloped the airfield until about ten oclock when the 'Battle Four' programme
was continued until the end of the day.
25 SORTIES 18:00 HOURS |
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23.3.57 |
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A fine day - plenty of aircraft and pilots. During the morning the Squadron flew
five Battle Fours, one formation aerobatic sortie and one successful low level strike.
23 SORTIES 14:55 HOURS |
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25.3.57 |
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Fog all morning and drizzle in the afternoon. The pilots spent the morning
fulfilling Squadron duties and the afternoon playing volleyball with the airmen
in the Hangar.
SORTIES NIL HOURS NIL |
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26.3.57 |
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Low cloud at first, flying started at 1000 hours. Cine was the primary
occupation of the day interspersed with a few P.I.s.
SORTIES 42 HOURS 30.20 |
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27.3.57 |
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Only four aircraft - one High Level Battle Four, the remaining sorties were pairs,
for cine and, single aircraft for aerobatics.
SORTIES 13 HOURS 9.40 |
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28.3.57 |
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Airfield Red at first clearing to Amber 2 by 1000 when the first sortie took off.
The day was devoted to cine, for all pairs, and Practice Pans for single aircraft.
The C.R.D.F. was only spasmodically serviceable. A number of starter cans in
the Sixes are cracking which may necessitate having to put several aircraft A.O.G..
SORTIES 18 HOURS 13.40 |
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29.3.57 |
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A good day's flying starting with marginal weather and only three aircraft and
finishing with marginal weather and a large number (six) of aircraft.
Exercises were primarily cine, and the day finished with a low level sortie by
our aircraft to Leeuwarden for a party. They were joined by most of the rest of
the Squadron who had travelled over by car.
SORTIES 21 HOURS 13.20 |
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30.3.57 |
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The part of the Squadron remaining at Jever flew cine sorties and the formation
of four flew back from Leeuwarden in the late morning.
SORTIES 11 HOURS 6.05 |
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R.Chapman
(J. R. CHAPMAN)
Squadron Leader,
Officer Commanding
Number 4 Squadron |
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