|
|
| Place |
Date |
Time |
SUMMARY OF EVENTS COMPILING OFFICER Fg. OFF. J.C. HAIG |
REF. TO APPENDICES |
| |
|
|
 |
|
| R.A.F.Jever |
|
|
Wednesday 1st July -Saturday 4th July, 1959
Very few sorties were flown this week owing to
a combination of aircraft unserviceability and weather. The accent was on Green Salad
interceptions and these are becoming much better as the pilots become more familiar with
with the equipment. A total of only 14 operational sorties and 4 non-operational sorties
were flown in the period from 1st - 3rd, no flying taking place on Saturday morning. |
|
| |
|
|
Monday 6th July - Saturday 11th July, 1959
The week started with three days of Air-Ground
firing at Strohen range. Owing to the recently imposed restriction on Indicated Airspeed,
the low level navigation part of the sortie was quite different, a speed of 360 Knots being
used instead of the usual 420 Knots owing to the aircraft being limited to 400 kts.
Although a little difficulty occurred at first with pilots over-anticipating the pin-points,
it was naturally soon found that low-level navigation at this speed was much simpler.
The actual firing part of the sortie was also changed; only 60 rounds were carried, a
maximum of six live passes were allowed and all firing done using the pipper. To
further complicate matters, a higher break off altitude was set to ensure that the new
maximum of 5G(plus) was not exceeded in the pull out. The pilot's scores were not high,
but this may be partly attributed to the new pattern of attack required. The best score
was 50% by Flt. Lt. J.J. Parker.
On Thursday, five aircraft were scrambled on Exercise Argus, a total of seven interceptions
being made. The rest of the flying that day consisted of syllabus training and air tests.
On Friday, more 'Green Salad' sorties were flown.
Saturday morning was, as usual, devoted to servicing the aircraft, no flying taking place. |
|
| |
|
|
Monday 13th July,-Saturday 18th July, 1959
The week had a good start with glorious weather
and a reasonable aircraft serviceability.
Monday was spent doing High level Battle Formation and Cine 1/4's in order to stop the
Operational Training progress chart from looking so blank.
Once again the Squadron was elected to perform the arduous task of Battle Flight which
commenced at dawn on Tuesday. By holding back the flying until there were at least
six aircraft fully serviceable, the Battle Flight commitment did not seriously interfere
with Squadron training. The greater part of the sorties flown consisted of High Level
Battle Formations of four aircraft and Cine 1/4's and weave. Several sorties of 2vs.
2 high speed interceptions were also flown. The cine 1/4's on these sorties were carried
out with the two target aircraft flying line abreast at 2,000 yards and the two attackers
synchronising their attacks on their respective targets. This enabled the formation to
stay together during the cine part of the sortie so that a four aircraft Tactical Q.G.H./
G.C.A. Let-Downs. A novel idea tried at the end of the week was a pairs manual close
formation Q.G.H. followed by a run-in and break from close formation and a manual
landing. This had a very practical aspect in that it would be used if one aircraft of
a pair had an auxiliary gearbox failure over 8/8 cloud cover. The F.700 for the
aircraft soon became frayed at the edges due to pilots frantically checking the date that
S.T.I. 61 had been carried out. Only two pairs were scrambled on Battle Flight this
week, one of these being a practice and the other ending in a border patrol.
On Tuesday Fg. Off. M.A. Harvey returned to the Squadron complete with brand new wife,
only to tell us that he could not perform Battle Flight standby's as he was suffering
from heat exhaustion.
On Saturday there was a short G.C.T. course for officers during which 93 Squadron
naturally obtained the two highest pistol shooting scores these being 71 and 64 out of
a possible 80, by Fg. Off. D.J. Gleen and Fg. Off. J.C. Haig respectively the former
score included one round which effectively 'killed' a wooden table. |
|
| |
|
|
Sunday 19th July - Saturday 25th July, 1959
Battle Flight continued until Monday at
20.00 Hrs. Z and during that time only one aircraft was scrambled. The pilot was
Flt. Lt. J.T. Hall who made an almost incredible scrambling time of 7 mins. 20 secs:
from putting his flying clothing on to airborne, this included a pre-flight check. He
was a member of the 30 minute pair and was scrambled when both aircraft of the 5 minute
pair became unserviceable on start-up. After this fantastic effort, he found to his
chagrin that the scramble was cancelled and was told to return to base as soon as he had
called G.C.I. on the operating frequency.
The aircraft serviceability and weather continued to be first class and as soon as
Battle Flight was over, an Air Combat Phase was started. This lasted the rest of the
week and was of considerable tactical value. Perhaps the most valuable parts were the
debriefings by Flt. Lt. J.J. Parker and R.D. Stone, the latter being an ex-D.F.L.S./
D.F.C.S. Instructor. Air to sea firing was also carried out using all four cannon:-
Rounds fired(Total for July) 5697
Stoppage rate 1:1424.2
The first night flying of the season took place on Friday, a total of 10 sorties being
flown, some of the pilots being introduced to night formation flying. The rest of the
flying consisted of high level Navigation Exercises.
On Saturday only one air test was flown. The rest of the morning was spent, as was any
spare time during the week, preparing for the move into dispersals which is due to take
place in August. The Squadron had changed dispersals with No. 2 Squadron and a problem
arose of how to move the tents. This was eventually solved by uprooting the tent and
transporting it complete on the back of a Magirus, a remarkable sight.
On Saturday evening the pilots of the Squadron held a barbeque to welcome, rather
belatedly, the new Squadron Commander, Sqn. Ldr. D.S. White The Barbeque was a great success and the evening was enlivened by an immaculate impromptu Cabaret performed
by Flt. Lt. R.D. Stone and Fg. Off C.R. Lamont thus proving that even Flight Commanders
may have survived in civilian life. |
|
| |
|
|
Monday 27th July,-Thursday 30th July, 1959
Monday morning started for everyone at
0745 hrs. with Strike Phase Brief given by Flt. Lt. .D. Stone. Monday and Tuesday
were then spent doing low level Strikes on targets photographed by No. 2 Squadron and a
reasonable degree of accuracy was obtained considering the little practice that this
phase receives.
On Tuesday an even more pleasing target was reached. Immediately following the last
sortie of the day it was noted to everyone's great delight that the monthly flying hours
target had been achieved. The decision was then taken that flying would cease except for airtests in order that more work could be done to improve serviceability of the
aircraft.
On Wednesday a lecture was given by Capt. Tregear on the Army's part in the Low Level
Strike Role. This was followed by a Strike Phase debriefed by Flt. Lt. J.J. Parker from
which pilots came mentally prepared for the next strike phase which will occur in
August whilst we are in dispersals, Thursday was spent preparing those dispersals for
habitation and the Station was stood-down for the August Grant at cease work. |
|
|
|
| Operational Type |
Day |
Night |
Sorties |
| Hunter Mk 6 |
279.40 |
11.20 |
253 |
| Training Type |
35.35 |
- |
53 |
| Totals |
315.15 |
11.20 |
306 |
|
|
| |
|
|
OPERATIONAL |
|
| |
|
|
July has seen a comprehensive months training both on the ground and in the
air and included an introduction for a number of the pilots to night formation flying.
The flying task was completed by the 28th of the month as the result of a tremendous
amount of hard work put in by the ground crew. 5697 rounds were fired for stoppage
rate of 1:1424.2 |
|
|
| |
|
|
Signed DS White
(D. S. WHITE)
Squadron Leader
Officer Commanding
No. 93 Squadron |
|
|
