NO 93 SQUADRON - Form 540 June 1953

F540 Operations Record Book June 1953 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
SYLT.	JUNE.	1st	MONDAY. Sylt was rather deserted and quiet with the absence of the Jever wing. Flt.Lt. Lee of 4 Squadron was in charge of all authorisation of flights for 93 Squadron while the latters Flight Commanders were on the flypast at Gutersloh. Fg.Off. Spearman took the Meteor 7 to Jever for the collection of spares. This aircraft went u/s with tyre trouble and was unable to get a wheel change as all personnel were on a Coronation Day Parade rehearsal.
		2nd.	TUESDAY. CORONATION DAY. There was a parade this morning though the weather was bad with heavy continuous rain. The parade was shortened because of this. The afternoon saw the return of the Squadron, landing at 16.30 hours. The flypast, from reports, was good. Fg.Off. Spearman returned from Jever by Vampire. The evening proved quite a celebration. Squadron Officers were invited to the Sergeants Mess where an equally riotous party was in progress. The Ball in the Officers Mess saw sun rise of the following day with vastly reduced numbers! "Coronation Day" at Sylt, will certainly be a memorable one.
		3rd.	WEDNESDAY. Standown.
		4th.	THURSDAY. Due to interruptions in the flying programme during the last fortnight, we have had to resort to flying in pairs on the flag. So far it has proved quite a change. For some reason, todays stoppage rate has been phenomenal. Approx. 7 through electrical and mechanical failures. Until today the Squadron held the highest "Rounds fired per stoppage rate" of the Wing, firing something like 1350 rounds per stoppage as compared to about 550 rounds for other squadrons. The weather today has been fair except for haze. This did not interfere in any way with the air firing.
		5th.	FRIDAY. Weather back to normal, i.e. low cloud. The first three sorties were scrubbed due to this. Later in the day the cloud broke a little and lifted to about 1500 feet. Scores today were very good. Flt.Lt. Pearch scoring 30%. Two of 4 Squadrons aircraft had a mid-air collision while doing attacks in trail but returned to base and landed normally. 4 Squadron still held the highest average for the Wing.
		6th.	SATURDAY. The weather today was not too bad although there was quite a considerable amount of broken cloud at about 2500 ft. This did not interfere with the flying programme Nothing of any importance happened.
		7th.	SUNDAY. Standown.
		8th.	MONDAY. The day was quite clear except for haze which was quite thick up to about 1500 ft. This did not interfere with our flying. A "fine" system has been imposed on all pilots who score a "DUCK". The fine which is 2/6d. being in aid of the party which the Squadron are giving to the towing flight pilots. Sgt. Thomas made an excellent score of 42% of the "flag" today. Attacks today were "in trail".
		9th.	TUESDAY. The weather today was hazey and rain started about 1700 hours. This did not interfere with the programme. Money has already started to accumulate in the "DUCK" fund. Total to date about 12/6d. The days average was about 7%. Nothing else of importance happened.
		10th.	WEDNESDAY. The first sorties were "away" at 06.30 hours. Again weather stopped completion of the detail. Visibility at times, was down to about 2- 3 miles owing to rain. From a weather report it seemed that a "clamp" was on and flying was scrubbed for the rest of the day Later, in the afternoon a Squadron photograph was taken. [Thursday missing].
		12th.	FRIDAY. The mornings weather was poor so only limited flying was done. The after- noon was a great improvement and the tow-line was shared with 4 Squadron. Towing was carried out at 3000 - 4000 Ft. It was discovered that the majority of pilots had been over deflecting, with this corrected the daily average rose slightly. Sgt. Walker managed 28%. Fg.Off. Wood went to Buckeburg via Jever with a Vampire on a courier trip. The flying day finished at 18.30 hours.
		13th.	SATURDAY. The weather today was excellent and a full days flying was put in. The Station Commander inspected the Flight this morning. The Wing Commander brought back the target on the tail of one of our aircraft. The Squadron has been scheduled to return to Jever on Tuesday morning.
		14th.	SUNDAY. Standown for the weekend.
		15th.	MONDAY. The last day of our detachment here at Sylt. All the heavy kit was loaded today on the pack wagons ready for tomorrow. There was only about 3/8 cloud, with base 2100 ft., but visibility beneath it was very poor. The last sorties were cancelled because of this. The Squadron leave Sylt with an average of 7.2%
		16th.	TUESDAY. Take-off was set for 08.00 hours, but owing to low cloud and rain, stopped us leaving until 10.45 hours. The first section arrived back at Jever about 30 minutes later. The pilots had to refuel their own aircraft owing to the shortage of ground staff. After the aircraft had been pushed into the hangar work finished for the day.
JEVER.	JUNE.	17th.	WEDNESDAY. The morning was spent unloading the pack wagons and getting the aircraft ready for tomorrow. The afternoon was reserved for sports.
		18th.	THURSDAY. The Squadron provided the Ops Officer and Battle Flight for the remainder of this week. There were three interceptions in all, but only the second was on any great value. Evidently the first and third sorties ended in tail chases. Weather first thing was bad with plenty of low cloud but this later cleared. Battle Flight was stood down at 16.45 hours.
		19th.	FRIDAY. The Battle Flight was stood down today in favour of an inter Group exercise. The Jever wing acting as the hostile bombing force. The target was Wahn the route being via Amsterdam. The Wing Commander Flying has had an accident which has put him in Station Sick Quarters. He was knocked down by a Landrover. The afternoon was devoted to the Station Sports. Flying Wing winning by a large margin. The weather; in morning was poor, but the afternoons proved ideal for sports. The Station was stood down for the weekend.
		20th.	SATURDAY. Standown.
		21st.	SUNDAY. Standown.
		22nd.	MONDAY. Squadron Leader Allen has now taken over as Officer Commanding Flying in the absence of Wg.Cdr. Coulson. There was a large number of CUNIMS about as flying was limited to a certain extent. Battle Flight are now on a 1 hour readiness basis and on duty from 03.00 until 22.00 hors.
		23rd.	TUESDAY. Fg.Off. Hardcastle returned to the Squadron today having been on a P.A.I.'s course. His tour expires at the end of the month so his return is rather short lived. The new pilots have been practising close and Battle formation.
		24th.	WEDNESDAY. Very little flying was done in the morning as the aircraft were being prepared for night flying. The afternoon was reserved for sport. Night flying went off well. The weather being excellent except for a small amount of Stratus to the South of the airfield at about 3000 Ft.
		25th.	THURSDAY. Meppen Range was ours for today and the Squadron concentrated on R/P attacks. Battle Flight was scrambled four times today. There were 2 abortive interceptions. 1 good and 1 poor. There was very little else to report.
		26th.	FRIDAY. The Squadron was concentrating on formation today for the benefit of the new members. Close, Battle and Cloud formation being the main details. Sqn.Ldr. Allen went to Wahn for Fg.Off.Wood took Flt. Lt. Wallace to Fassburg in the Meteor for a Court of enquiry and returned later.
		27th.	SATURDAY. Fg.Off. Hardcastle flew the only sortie today, this being an Air Test. There was the usual Station Commanders Parade in the morning. After which the Squadron cleared up the weeks details and brought log books up to date. One aircraft was given a compass swing. Fg.Off. Hardcastle and Sgt. Walker leave the Squadron today, both having completed their tours with 2nd A.T.A.F. Station stood down for weekend.
		28th.	SUNDAY. Squadron for duty Battle Flight. Pilots were at one hours availability though nothing happened.
		29th.	MONDAY. Most of todays flying was Q.G.H.'s. Sgt. Knight did G.C.A.'s at Wunstorf. Fg.Off. Sanderson went with Flt.Lt. Pearch on a dual check. Battle Flight was scrambled five times today. There was only one abortive interception the majority of the other inter- ceptions were fair although they usually ended up as tail chases. The weather today was excellent with no cloud whatsoever. The Squadron were on night flying - the sorties being either Q.G.H.'s or Navigation trips. The visibility was excellent being about 15 miles.
		30th.	TUESDAY. A" Flight were on Battle Flight in the morning. Two details were flown and all interceptions were good especially when operating under "Rusty" control. "B" Flight provided the Battle Flight in the afternoon and were scrambled three times. Very little flying was done by the rest of the Squadronas only two aircraft were serviceable. Only one aircraft remained serviceable at the end of the day (Apart from Battle Flight) The other having oleo leg trouble.
			Total hours flown - 371:70 Vampire. 6.30 Meteor. Sorties flown - 552 Vampire 8 Meteor. Ammunition expended - 20 m.m. 20,265 rounds. R/P 54
			ADMINISTRATION The squadron returned from A.P.S. in the middle of the month and the after effects have been reflected in a poor aircraft serviceability. The availability of spares and manpower has been no better, and though the squadron received four extra aircraft, bringing the strength up to 20, we have not yet been able to fly any of them. For exercise "Coronet" preparation of equipment and training of M.T. drivers was started.
			MOVEMENTS Flt.Lt. J.S.M. WALLACEJoined squadron 16.6.53. Plt.Off. B.A. SANDERSONJoined squadron 25.6.53. Fg.Off. J.E.F. HARDCASTLEPosted to U.K. 27.6.53. Sgt. J.E.M. WALKERPosted to U.K. 27.6.53
			NOMINAL ROLL OF PILOTS Squadron Leader R.N.G. ALLEN, D.F.C. "A" FLIGHT"B" FLIGHT Flt.Lt. A.W. PATERSON.Flt.Lt. K.M. PEARCH. Fg.Off. A.V.H. STURMAN.Fg.Off. E.K.G. BATES. Fg.Off. J.G.M. WOOD.Fg.Off. G.W. SPEARMAN. Fg.Off. D.W. STANDISH.Plt.Off. A.C. RAMSAY. Fg.Off. A.R. WALLACE.Plt.Off. B.J. REVNELL. Plt.Off. R.D.B. BOULTON.Sgt. D.J. THOMAS Plt.Off. R.S. HANNAH.Sgt. P. KNIGHT. Plt.Off. W.E. BELL Flt.Lt. J.S.M. WALLACE F/Sgt. C.J. TELFER Plt.Off. B.A. SANDERSON Signed AW Paterson (A.W. PATERSON.) Flt.Lt. Officer Commanding, NO. 93 Squadron, R.A.F.