F540 Operations Record Book March 1959 NO 4 SQUADRON. RAF Museum Hendon. Holds 2nd copy of F540 1945 to 1970. PLACE DATE TIME SUMMARY OF EVENTS                                         COMPILING OFFICER   __Fg. Off. J.F. Farley._________ Refs         R.A.F. Jever 2.3.59        Poor visibility led to a late start but by 1000 hours flying was under way and there followed a varied programme in AIII conditions.                                             SORTIES : 20           HOURS : 19.55     3.3.59        Fg. Off. P.D. Jennings returned from leave today.   A good days flying with some flag cine'.                                             SORTIES : 21           HOURS : 22.40     4.3.59        Today started with a brief on the Hunter 7 by Flt. Lt. D. Bell of 229 O.C.U. Chivenor.   This was followed by pre-Sylt training in the form of flag cine' and Cine' weave.                                             SORTIES : 10           HOURS : 10.55     5.3.59        Flying today was followed by night flying which resulted in one of the biggest totals for many months.                                             SORTIES : 31           HOURS : 35.10     6.3.59        Despite yesterdays efforts the Squadron still had aircraft to fly today, the accent being on exercise Argus.                                             SORTIES :   9           HOURS : 10.15     9.3.59        More cine exercises of various types, also four Meteor sorties flown by Squadron pilots.                                             SORTIES : 18           HOURS : 20.00     10.3.59        Poor serviceability and Battle Flight reduced todays programme in several instances to singleton exercises.                                             SORTIES : 14           HOURS : 14.50     11.3.59        Today was marked by two Battle Flight scrambles one in the morning and one in the afternoon.   The scramble times being 3 minutes and 4 minutes with the aircraft on 5 minutes readiness.                                             SORTIES : 18           HOURS : 19.00     12.3.59        This morning produced yet another Battle Flight scramble.   This time with the pilots first put to standby in the cockpits.   This crop of incidents is tied up with IFF distress coding now recognisable by our G.C.I. station.   Normal training was continued with cine weave and cine flag exercises.                                             SORTIES : 21           HOURS : 21.35     13.3.59        This morning was the last pre-Sylt flying, with the exception of air tests and any Battle Flight scrambles, and so the programme was entirely devoted to cine exercises.      In the evening the Squadron held a party to introduce our new C.O. Sqn. Ldr. R.J. Spiers to the station.   Sqn. Ldr. T.J. McElhaw is leaving on repat this weekend.                                             SORTIES : 14           HOURS : 16.20 Invitation to a 4 Sqn Teddy Boys Party to celebrate the release of Reggie Spiers from the Ministry of Defence to take command of 4 Sqn from Sqn Ldr Tim McElhaw.  It was held in the large cellars underneath the Officers' Mess Eastern Accommodation Block 174 - Friday 13Mar59.   (Thanks to Pete Jenningsand Gladys Watson.)           4 Sqn Teddy Boys Party.  Pete Jennings and Pete Jarvis as Barmen - Friday 13Mar59.           (Thanks to Pete Jennings.)           [Photos added - not in the original F540].     16.3.59        Today's one sortie was a Battle Flight scramble.   On start up only the leaders was at first serviceable, the second aircraft became serviceable before the leader took off but since he knew the nature of the scramble (IFF distress from friendly aircraft) the leader decided not to wait for his no. 2.                                             SORTIES :   1           HOURS : 1.00     17.3.59        Two airtests only today, due to the pre-Sylt preparation.                                             SORTIES :   2           HOURS : 1.10     18.3.59        One airtests today.                                             SORTIES :   1           HOURS :    .45     19.3.59        One further air test.   All our aircraft are now ready for Sylt, and the road and rail parties have left.                                             SORTIES :   1           HOURS :    .25     20.3.59        Two Chipmunk sorties today.   The pilots were stood down at lunch time until Monday morning when we hope to fly to Sylt.                                             SORTIES :   2           HOURS : 2.00     23.3.59        Today there was early morning thick fog at Jever and Sylt.   After lunch Jever im- proved but Sylt remained red all day.   No flying was carried out.                                                                SORTIES : NIL     24.3.59        Today started, if anything, worse than yesterday but during the afternoon conditions lifted enough to fly all our aircraft to Sylt in pairs.   Despite the delays and the very damp conditions of the past few days, all our aircraft destined for Sylt, that is ten from our twelve established, were serviceable and only one had a minor snag after landing.                                             SORTIES : 10           HOURS : 4.10   R.A.F. Sylt 25.3.59        The weather did not allow any flying today.   The usual sea fog and drizzle continued without a break.   All preliminary lectures were completed and all we need now is some fine weather.                                                                SORTIES : NIL     26.3.59        The weather showed no change today and the Squadron stood down mid-day for the Easter Grant until Tuesday 31st March, 1959.                                                                SORTIES : NIL     31.3.59        Today the Squadron commenced its flying.   Good weather and reasonable serviceability led to a large number of cine exercises on the flag in addition 7 pilots received live dual demonstrations from the weapons training squadron in Vampire T11 aircraft.         R.J.Spiers S/L (R.J. SPIERS) Squadron Leader Officer Commanding, No. 4 Squadron.