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SUMMARY OF EVENTS COMPILING OFFICER Fg. Off. C.H.C. Hardie. |
REF. TO APPENDICES |
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| R.A.F. JEVER. |
1st February 1957. |
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The visibility and cloud-base were still too low for flying to be carried out.
The groundcrew continued with servicing all day. The aircrew did squadron
jobs in the morning, and after lunch they did parachute training and played volley ball. |
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2nd |
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The Squadron was able to fly 18 sorties in the morning before the 36 hour
weekend. |
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4th |
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In fine weather the Squadron had a reasonable days flying, totalling 30 hours.
After 1600 hours five aircraft were armed up as the Squadron is on Battle Flight
tomorrow. The pilots are now busy studying the Hunter Mk. 6 Pilot's Notes in
preparation for March when the Squadron re-equips. |
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5th |
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The Squadron started their period on Battle Flight today. Interceptions were
hampered by maintenance work at the G.C.I. station and were not very successful. |
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6th |
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Flying was possible all morning before the sports afternoon. The practice
interceptions were better but still can be improved. The Squadron has flown 63.15
hours to date this month. |
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7th |
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The Squadron continued with Battle Flight in restricted flying conditions. 25
sorties were carried out with 5 aircraft. On the first sortie the cloud-base
deteriorated to 150 feet and visibility to below a mile and there were a few anxious
moments before all the aircraft got down. |
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8th |
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In spite of the fact that the cloud base was between 600 and 1,000 feet 20
sorties were flown mainly by the more experienced pilots. |
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9th |
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Flying was carried out until lunchtime when the Squadron was released to 2 hours
availability over the weekend. |
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11th |
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The Squadron flew 19.05 hours today and finished their weekly duty as Battle Flight. Lt. T.F.B. Young R.N. returned from the Winter Survival Course. |
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12th |
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Flying was not possible in the morning due to poor weather. The wing watched
two films entitled "The Conquest of Space" and "History of Flight" before carrying
out parachute training. Restricted flying was possible after lunch. |
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13th |
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Due to weather only two sorties were flown in the morning. After lunch the
groundcrew serviced the aircraft in preparation for Exercise Guest. The aircrew
played the pilots of No. 4 Squadron at 6-a-side football: we lost 4 - 6. |
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14th |
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The squadron flew 57 sorties today (51 on Exercise Guest) although the weather
was rather poor at first. A patrol of two aircraft was maintained all day on the Anti-
Rat Patrol. The remainder of the sorties were High Level Interceptions several
"kills" being claimed. The aircrew cooked their own lunch at the dispersal to the
envy of the groundcrew. On the next exercise the whole Squadron will do the same. |
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15th |
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Again the weather was too bad for flying and a lecture was given on Air Traffic
Emergency Procedures. Afterwards Flt. Lt. J. Yates talked on Barrack Damages and
procedures for the care of buildings. A few sorties were possible in the
afternoon before the squadron went on a 48 hour pass. |
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18th |
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Poor visibility prevented flying until 10.30 hours. The majority of the sorties
were at high altitude, doing cine. |
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19th |
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The Officer's Promotion Examinations started today, seven of our officers are
taking them. The weather was too bad to fly in the morning Flt. Lt. J. Lomas
gave a lecture on his experiences with the U.S.A.F. The aircrew spent the afternoon
in the gymnasium. |
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20th |
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In the morning, the groundcrew continued to service the aircraft as flying was
not possible. The aircrew played basketball and volleyball. A sports afternoon
followed. |
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21st |
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In good weather the squadron flew 32.05 hours including 11 night flying sorties.
No. 4 Squadron combined with us for a practice flypast with 16 aircraft. |
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22nd |
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With five aircraft serviceable, the Squadron was restricted in flying due to the
weather. In the afternoon No. 93 Squadron and No. 4 Squadron did a fly-past with 16
aircraft for a visiting party of German Naval Officers. |
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23rd |
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In the morning the Squadron watched their cine films. No flying was carried out. |
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25th |
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The Squadron flew 22-15 hours today. Due to the weather all descents were controlled
with G.C.A. approaches. Fg. Off. A.J. Landon was taken to R.A.F. Hospital Rostrup as
it is suspected that he has a collapsed lung. |
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26th |
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Once more, flying was not possible due to bad weather. In the morning the Wing
listened to a lecture on the engine and fuel system of the Hunter Mk. 6 After lunch
squadron jobs. A new pilot, Plt. Off. P.J. Faid arrived today. |
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27th |
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Before the sports afternoon, the squadron flew 14-15 hours in good weather. In 421
sorties the squadron has flown a total of 315-15 hours so far this month. |
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28th |
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In a full days flying 27-55 hours were flown. Seventeen Canberras were intercepted
under G.C.I. control on Exercise Ambled. Two Hunters went to Brustum in Belgium on
a N.A.T.O. commitment, to exercise the servicing facilities. The results were good,
the Belgium Air Force being very co-operative. Two new pilots arrived today, Flt. Lt.
J.J. Parker and Plt. Off. G.A. Talbot. |
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FLYING HOURS
Operational type Day Night Sorties
Hunter Mk.4 327.15 15.15 461
Training Type
Vampire T.11 10.50 15
338.05 15.55 476 |
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1st
3rd
9th
11th
21st
23rd
25th
26th
28th |
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PERSONNEL
Sqn. Ldr. H. Minnis proceeded on four days leave.
Fg. Off. A.W.E. Johnston proceeded on four days leave.
Fg. Off. J.E. Pigdon returned from Old Sarum.
Lt. T.F.B. Young, R.N. returned from the Winter Survival Course.
Fg. Off. C.H.C. Hardie proceeded on the Aviation Medicine Course.
Flt. Lt. B. Watson attached to R.A.F. West Raynham.
Lt. T.F.B. Young, R.N. proceeded to U.K. on Avon Handling Course.
Fg. Off. B.A.E. Sanderson proceeded on leave.
Sqn. Ldr. H. Minnis proceeded on leave.
Plt. Off. P.J. Faid posted in from R.A.F. Chivenor.
Flt. Lt. J.J. Parker posted in from R.A.F. Chivenor.
Plt. Off. G.A. Talbot posted in from R.A.F. Chivenor.
OPERATIONAL
The Squadron started the month with a target of 284 hours. This was reached by the
23rd of the month and an additional target of 334 hours was authorised. This was
completed by the 17th.
During the month difficulties have been experienced with pilot availability.
This was caused by a comprehensive lecture programme in preparation for promotion
examinations and by the promotion examinations themselves. Sickness and courses
aggravated these difficulties.
Exercise 'Guest' on the 14th was very successful from the Squadron point of view
a total of 51 sorties being flown to fulfill a mixed anti-rat and I.D.F. commitment.
For this exercise the squadron gained valuable training in operations from a dispersal.
Serviceability has been mainly good throughout the month.
Battle Flight from the 5th to the 11th was completed without any particular
difficulty and this exercised the armament trade to the full.
On the last day of the month Exercise 'Ambled' provided numerous Canberra targets
for the Squadron and many interceptions were achieved.
Generally February was a good month with varied flying and satisfying results.
Nominal Roll of Pilots
Sqn. Ldr. H. Minnis, Officer Commanding
'A' Flight 'B' Flight
Flt. Lt. B. Watson Flt. Lt. R.S.G. Poole
Fg. Off. C. Taylor Lt. T.F.B. Young (R.N.)
Fg. Off. C.H.C. Hardie Fg. Off. B.A.E. Sanderson
Fg. Off. W.R. Clayton-Jones Fg. Off. J. E. Pigdon
Fg. Off. A.J. Landon Fg. Off. R. H. Biggs
Fg. Off. A.W.E. Johnston Fg. Off. J.R. Lynn
Plt. Off. A.C. Clifton Plt. Off. P.L.F. Bradley
Plt. Off. R.E. Hymans Plt. Off. A.J. Netherton
Plt. Off. P.J. Faid
Flt. Lt. J.J. Parker
Plt. Off. G.A. Talbot
Signed RSGPoole Flt.Lt.
(R.S.G. POOLE)
Flight Lieutenant,
Officer Commanding
No. 93 Squadron. |
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