NO 93 SQUADRON - Form 540 April 1952

F540 Operations Record Book April 1952 NO 93 SQUADRON. PRO Kew No. AIR27 Piece 2636 Microfilm Row 1 Draws 52-71 from Duncan Curtis
PLACE	DATE	TIME	SUMMARY OF EVENTS COMPILING OFFICER	REF. TO APPENDICES
JEVER APRIL
	1		Snow and ice on the runway prevented flying until after lunch. Battle Formation and Sector Reconnaissance flights were flown on the first detail, while the second sortie anticipated the detachment to Sylt by doing tow-line Quarter attacks. A beautiful after- noon with scattered clouds and a few light snow showers. S/Ldr. McGregor flew back from Celle, where he had been on leave for a fortnight. Also returning were F/O Bates, who collected an aircraft from the U/K, for No. 4 Sqdn., and F/O Sturman who arrived from Celle, where he had been held up by bad weather.
	2		A bright day with some scattered Cu. which gathered throughout the day. Four pairs flew on Cine Tow-line Quarters, and three on Aerobatics. Also two aircraft did interceptions by a form of "Broadcast Control". One flew a cross-country route and broadcast his position at minute intervals, using "georef" pinpoints, while the other vectored himself by map-reading, and calculating enemy ground-speed. This simulated a method of interception being developed by C.F.E. In the afternoon the C.O. led nine aircraft simulating twelve, and employing a formation of three "fluid fours". F/Lt. Simpson went with No. 4 Sqdn. as a member of their team for a rocketing demonstration. Flying finished at four o'clock.
	3		Twenty-six sorties were flown today in clouded skies, but with a high cloud-base, and perfect visibility. Tow-line Cine, High-level Cine, Formation Aerobatics, Low-level interceptions, and Q.G.H's were all practiced. The homer is as yet un-reliable, but is kept in as good repair as possible, and the operators are given as much practice as can be fitted into the flying programme. A full day's flying was achieved in beautiful weather. F/O Wood returned from a skiing course at Hamlin. As yet there are no facilities for developing cine films at Jever, consequently F/O Bergh made the first of what will become routine runs to Celle, with exposed magazines.
	4		Another day with very good visibility and a cloud coverage at about 5,000', and 1,000' thick. F/O Hardcastle and F/O Tucker returned from a Winter Survival Course looking very brown. This gave the Squadron a pilot strength of thirteen available, and the serviceability allowed thirty-one sorties to be flown. A varied programme was achieved, consisting of local Recces, Formation Aerobatics, Cine Quarter-attacks, and Squadron Formation in battle and close formation. Sgt. Walker was away for a medical examination by a lung specialist, following his recent injury flying. Instrument training was re-commenced now that enough pilots are available for the normal Squadron flying. All ratings should be renewed by the end of the month. The formation aerobatic team have been flying whenever possible, but have been con- tinually hampered by weather, pilot detachments and general misfortunes. F/O Bates is now taking Sgt. Walker's position.
	5		Sgt. Walker returned with the news that he is not to fly for six months. Some flying was achieved by the aerobatic team who practised over the airfield.
	6		Sunday.
	7		Low cloud reaching up to 20,000' caused by an almost stationary front over the Northern coast of Germany and Holland. With the un-reliable Homing apparatus we have here, it was decided not to fly until a check had been made by the W/Commander Flying. Before lunch the aerobatic team flew again, but found no room for anything but steep turns. In the afternoon limited flying was carried out in poor conditions. This finished flying for the day as conditions worsened.
	8		Squadron training continued in good weather. The formation aerobatic team, consisting of F/L Simpson, Sgt. Garratt, F/O Bates, and F/O Hardcastle went through their whole routine. The Meteor flew on I/F. At 11.00 hrs. four of our aircraft took off on an Army Co-operation exercise which the W/Commander led. 12 Aircraft 4 from each Squadron. They were to do operational rocket and strafing attacks on bridges in the vicinity, but on the first attack F/O Dimmock of No 4 Squadron, failed to recover from his dive and was killed. The sortie was abandoned. Another formation aerobatic sortie was accomplished but the weather deteriorated rapidly and no more flying was attempted for the rest of the day An aircraft recognition lecture was held during the afternoon.
	9		Poor visibility prevented any flying in the morning. The W/Commander Flying decided that this in conjunction with the poor ground radio equipment was to great a risk. By lunch it was fit for one pilot to go to Gutersloh and return. In the afternoon a full flying programme was carried out in pleasant conditions.
	10		Battle Flight of four aircraft flew two sorties in the morning, practising interceptions under Group control. The I.F. Training programme went ahead with F/O Simpson flying the Meteor. A long range cross country led by S/Ldr. McGregor, took four aircraft with drop tanks as far as Antwerp, down to Eindhoven and back. This was an interception practice for the Dutch Air force, and our aircraft were intercepted and attacked by Meteors of that force. That was all the flying. The weather has changed to very fine in the last few days, and the Easter Break was started in the afternoon in very sunny conditions.
	10to14		EASTER GRANT.
	15		A rocket firing programme covering the whole day went off eventually six pairs flew on two trips each, one from Base firing and landing at FASSBERG, the next from FASSBERG firing and returning to Base. F/O Sturman was range Officer at FASSBERG and an airlift took the ground staff down to rearm and refuel independent of the FASSBERG Wing. Rockets fired : 96 . F/LT Hughes D.F.C. is attached to 93 Sqdn. for jet refresher experience, before going on an Instrument Rating Examiners course. F/O Wood left today on U/K leave, before the Squadron leaves for Sylt. The weather conditions good, although the forecast promises a break soon.
JEVER	16		Battle Flight, although ready early, were not scrambled until 19,40, and this only by arrangement with local control. The Group flight? was unserviceable. The flight was solely for the practice of Battle Formation and quarters. A single aircraft was up as spare, and he "jumped" the formation once or twice. The ground radio equipment is still being checked by constant practice Headings and Q.G.H's, the latter also giving the controllers practice at dealing with aircraft in a wind, and at handling more than one at a time. The proposed detachment to Italy, of four aircraft, has now been officially cancelled owing to the situation in Trieste.
	17		Battle Flight of six aircraft flew twice in the morning on practice interceptions with Battle Flight of other units. The weather continues good. The Meteor is in constant use for instrument training, and this morning F/O Sturman and Sgt. Webster went in it to the scene of a forced landing by a pilot of No. 4 Sqdn. After seeing that the pilot was safe, and pinpointing his position for control, they left F/Lt. Paterson to circle the spot. He is Wing Accident Prevention Officer, and in the afternoon had to visit the scene of the crash, taking photographs and making notes on the spot. In the afternoon, cine, instrument training was continued, and Battle Flight flew two more sorties.
	18		Good serviceability this morning gave a Battle Flight plus two spare aircraft, which flew on Cine Quarters at 20,000'. Again the Meteor was on I.F. The sky was practically cloudless. Battle Flight intercepted others of it's kind under "MISTY" control, as is now usual. This means that JEVER aircraft have to fly 100 miles before commencing interceptions satisfactorily. Also this control needs a lot of practice, as changes of airspeed tend to be unnoticed by him, and give a bad position from which to attack at the culmination of the interception. In the afternoon Battle Flight again flew two trips, plus one return from Celle. On the second they found a "B.50" which they attacked for fifteen minutes, before landing to refuel at Celle. From there they flew home in a quiet sky, only to find a runaway horse on the runway at base.
	19		Only the Meteor flew this morning, going to FASSBERG to pick up Sgt. Thomas who has been acting as range officer in place of F/O Sturman. A C.O's parade was held at 08.30 outside the Squadron hangar, and the rest of the morning was spent servicing the aircraft, and cleaning them.
	20		SUNDAY.
	21		Sgt Webster went to FASSBERG for his Green Card test and passed it satisfactorily, while at base the Aerobatic Team continues practising their routine, they now have it timed to eleven minutes, but apparently the allotted time is to be 7 or 8 minutes for the whole display. The Squadron also got in more practice trips of Cine towline quarters. It is a thing which needs a great deal of practice, being a type of circuit and attack quite different from what is normally done. Today too, some Aircraft flew in cloud in the Oldenburg area as targets for the new Radar Tracking Guns with which the A.A. are now equipped. It appears that the practice was very successful, and that they were able to track the Aircraft the whole time they were in cloud.
	22		The weather has really broken now, and an extensive rain belt S.E. of base interfered with the Cine practices being attempted. But it was very patchy and the Aerobatic Team found room to polish their routine even more. General Eisenhower, on giving up his post of Supreme Commander Allied Powers in Europe, is to visit Minden, and six Wings of aircraft from 2nd. T.A.F. are to fly past in formation as a farewell salute. The first practice is scheduled for Thursday 24th.
	23		Today the Wing Commander Flying held the first practice flypast in the formation which is to be used on Monday 28th April. Formation changes were also practised, and the positioning of sections determined. It was an uneventful and satisfactory practice run. 93 Sqdn. is flying eight aircraft, and these, together with seven of No. 4 Sqdn. plus the Wing Commander, comprise the Jever Wing. Each Wing in the formation will fly in four "boxes" of four, disposed as a diamond. Cine practices and Formation Aerobatics were also flown in the morning. The afternoon was a Sports afternoon.
	24		In good conditions, two rehearsals were flown for the fly-past. Jever Wing moved to Wunstorf in the morning, flew twice from there during the day, and back to base at night. The rehearsals were uneventful. This all meant that a very few aircraft were left for incidental flying. The fact that one aircraft went U/S during the day, and had to be replaced, also helped to limit the number of spares left to the Squadron. The Meteor, however, was able to continue with Instrument Flying training.
	25		Increasing cloud now. A third rehearsal was held in bumpier conditions, but went off very well indeed. In contact with a Ground Control, W/Commander Elsdon was able to time the run accurately, at the head of the whole formation. Watching aircraft reported that the formation was evenly spaced over the target. Again, this used up most of the aircraft, and only a few Meteor sorties could be flown.
	26		Four of 93 Sqdn. aircraft and four of No 4 Sqdn. today went to England on a simulated bombing mission to Staines Reservoir. They flew down to Wunstorf, and took off later from there with eight more aircraft of that Wing. Once air-borne, another, sixteen air- craft from Fassberg and Celle wings joined them to make up the total bomber force. On taking off from Wunstorf, the Jever Wing Leader, Wing Commander Elsdon, crashed and his aircraft [VZ867] caught fire. He, however, was not injured, and F/Lt. Paterson led the Jever Wing. The aircraft from Jever landed at North Weald and refueled after a very boring journey, during which the Formation was not intercepted once. They flew back independent of the other Wings, and landed at base at 17.30 hrs. The weather over the whole route was excellent, and what little cloud existing in the morning, had almost cleared by the time the aircraft returned.
JEVER	27		SUNDAY.
	28		Today the flypast took place at approximately 14.10 hrs. in very unfavourable conditions. Scattered, frequent showers made the route bumpy, and rendered visibility poor. The Formation got off track and arrived late as a consequence. The Ground Control, however, said it looked "quite good". Afterwards the Jever Wing returned direct to base, having plenty of fuel in their long-range tanks. Meanwhile the Aerobatic Team had been taking advantage of Jever's clear circuit to practice their routine in relation to a runway for direction.
	29		Long-range tanks were dropped last night, and this morning the Squadron were on Battle Flight readiness. During the day they flew four sorties of the new -routine inter- ceptions. It was a day which began with cloud too low to permit flying, but rapidly cleared, becoming bright, with the layer of Strato-Cumulus breaking up into scattered Cumulus. Apart from this flying the customary aerobatics practice was flown, and I/F training continued with Sgt. Williams now almost ready to take his Green Instrument Rating.
	30		Battle Flight were "scrambled" early this morning, and looked forward to three sorties but were down just too late to manage it. So they flew twice, mainly doing practice interceptions, and very few of these. The Aerobatic Team did their usual sortie. The weather is now very fine again, without, luckily, the usual haze which accompanies hot, dry weather in this dusty part of the country.
JEVER APRIL	1952		ADMINISTRATION There have been a few administrative adjustments during the month as the Squadron completed its settling in on a new Station. One of the main items has been the necessity to adjust equipment holdings and demanding procedures. Arrangements have been made for the Squadron to hold a reasonable range of turn round spares; replacements are demanded directly from the Equipment Section rather than through Technical Wing as heretofore. Accident Prevention and reporting procedure has been reorganised for maximum efficiency.
			MOVEMENTS F/LT Hughes D.F.C. attached w.e.f. 15/4/52
			NOMINAL ROLL OF FLYING PERSONNEL S/LDR S.M.McGREGOR (A) FLIGHT. F/LT J.A.SIMPSON, D.F.C. A.F.C.(B) FLIGHT. F/LT A.W.PATERSON F/O J.E.M.HARDCASTLE F/O M.O.BERGH F/O C.M.R.TUCKER F/O R.L.JAMES F/O A.R.WALLACE P/O E.K.J.BATES F/O A.V.H.STURMAN SGT. J.E.M.WALKER F/O J.C.M.WOOD SGT C.WILLIAMS SGT D.WEBSTER SGT D.J.THOMAS SGT D.C.GARRETT
			VAMPIRE METEOR TOTAL HOURS FOR MONTH.370.5026.40 SORTIES FLOWN46241 AMMUNITION EXPENDED. 20mm - 1400. ROCKETS - 94
			Signed SM McGregor S/L (S.M.McGREGOR)S/LDR Officer Commanding 93 Squadron. R.A.F