NO 93 SQUADRON - Form 540 June 1955

F540 Operations Record Book June 1955 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 Flying Officer G.E. Hickman	REF. TO APPENDICES

R.A.F. Sylt	1st	June, 1955	There was some trouble today with flags returning considerably less than 30 feet long. This was caused by air turbulence set up by the Anning radar reflectors, the towing speed being slightly too high and possibly by a batch of flags of inferior quality. Top scorer - Fg.Off. Sanderson, 30%.
	2nd		Eight sorties were aborted because of the flag being short at the end of the sortie. It is being considered whether it is desirable to adjust the scores to compensate for a short flag, rather than have so many abortive sorties. Top scorer - Fg.Off. Exley, 31%.
	3rd	Monday	Twenty seven effective air to air sorties were achieved - the highest number so far this month. Firing was on Amrum high range at 20,000 feet. Top scorer - Fg.Off. Sanderson, 32%.
	4th		Flying ceased at mid-day when only nine successful sorties had been flown. Thirteen sorties had been aborted, eight of which were for flag unserviceability. Top scorer - Flt.Lt. Hayes, 19%.
	6th	Monday	Low cloud prohibited flying for the day. Pilots had a lecture from a U.S.A.F. Captain on flying techniques on all marks of Sabre aircraft as employed in the United States.
	7th		Flying was at low altitude today, 10,000 feet, with better control and easier tracking giving the expected rise in scores. Top scorer - Sqn.Ldr. Browne, 45%. Daily average, 16.9%.
	8th		Continuous rain throughout the day prevented flying.
	9th		This morning there was a parade in honour of the birthday of Her Majesty The Queen. The visiting Squadrons took pride of place as the standard of No. 4 Squadron was being paraded with due ceremony. This was the first time a Squadron standard had been on parade at R.A.F. Sylt, and the first time this particular standard had been paraded away from R.A.F. Jever. The remainder of the day was a holiday.
	10th		There was a parade for the birthday of His Royal Highness Prince Phillip, before flying commenced at 11.30 hours. 21 effective sorties were flown during the afternoon. Fg.Off. Page had two scores of 38% and 37%, which is a very great improvement on his earlier scores.
	11th		Cumulus cloud tops extended to 10,000 feet, but firing conditions were good at 12,000 feet, under G.C.I. control. Eleven pilots exceeded 20%, and the daily Squadron average was 21.5%. The highest individual score since the Squadron converted onto Sabre aircraft was recorded by Fg.Off. Ramsay, 48%. The progressive Squadron averages are 16.9% low level, and 11.7% high level.
	13th	Monday	The low cloud cleared by midday allowing us to achieve 13 effective sorties. Top scorer - Fg.Off. Busby 26%. Highest overall average - Sqn.Ldr. Browne 21.3%.
	14th		Thirteen effective sorties were made before the weather caused flying to be cancelled for the day. Top scorer - Fg.Off. Chadwick 23%. Progressive stoppage rate :- 2479.
	15th		Firing took place at both high and low level today with six pilots obtaining over 20% for a daily average of 14.6%. Top scorer - Fg.Off. Ramsay 30%.
	16th		We were firing today on a new range at 20,000 feet and 45 miles out to sea. Firing conditions were good but the towing aircraft were often late on the range and short of fuel by the time the sortie ended. Top scorer - Fg.Off Page 29%.
	17th		Air to air firing ceased at midday and in the afternoon it was proposed to send off two sections of aircraft to fire on glider targets. The first detail was successful in spite of the fact that the glider returned with approximately 50 bullet holes in it, but the second glider disintegrated on take off. The Squadron aerobatic team had a practice on the last detail of the day.
	18th		Instead of air firing this morning there were three details of battle formation, combat flying and formation aerobatics. The majority of the pilots also visited the new air to ground range at List on which it is proposed to fire next week.
	20th	Monday	The air to ground programme was cancelled because of low cloud and poor visibility, and only one air to air range was in operation because of shipping. This range was being used by No. 4 Squadron.
	21st		There was no flying because of rain and low cloud, which persisted all day. We joined with the pilots of No. 4 Squadron for a short debate in which it was agreed that the navy is not a dying service. In the afternoon there was a period in the gymnasium.
	22nd		Flying did not start until 15.00 hours because of fog and low cloud during the morning. There were fishing boats on the range and so only cine was possible, 10 sorties being flown. During the morning there was lecture on air to air firing by Fg.Off. Ramsay.
	23rd		Marginal weather conditions persisted all day so there was no flying. Squadron ground duties were carried out, and an inter flight volley ball match arranged.
	24th		There was a break in air to air firing at midday when the Squadron formation aerobatic team put on a display for the press who were taking photographs from a Vampire T.11. The firing was at 20,000 feet with 21 effective sorties being flown. Fifteen sorties were abortive, 12 of which were for aircraft and gunsight unserviceability. Top scorer - Flt.Lt. Hayes 32%.
	25th		Firing did not start until 09.45 hours because of a low cloud base. There were 9 effective sorties, 4 of which resulted in scores of over 20%. The daily average was 13.7% bringing the high level average to 12.3%. Top scorer - Fg.Off. Ramsay 31%. In the evening there was a Squadron party in the Airmens' Mess. During party beer tankards were presented to Fg.Offs. Harper, Macknish and Mitchell on the occasion of their leaving the Squadron. Fg.Off. A. Avery, our radar officer from Technical Wing, R.A.F. Jever, was made an Honorary Member for his services to the Squadron. He is the fourth person so elected.
	26th		Several pilots had a dinghy drill practice this afternoon on one of the Sylt beaches.
	27th		A total of 29½ hours flying today resulted in an average of 15.2% for 26 sorties. Ten sorties were aborted because of aircraft unserviceability. Top scorer - Sqn.Ldr. Browne 32%.
	28th		The flag programme ceased at 14.00 hours and we carried out a double re-arm practice, firing all six guns at glider targets. Both gliders were shot down, the turn rounds for both sections of four aircraft were under 20 minutes, but 14 stoppages were recorded. The daily average, firing at 20,000 feet was 18.9% making the overall average 13.7%. A total of 32 hours was flown. Top scorer - Fg.Off. Hickman 39%.
	29th		The weather made the range unserviceable for firing for the whole day. A proposed competition shoot against the P.A.I. staff was cancelled, and so monthly returns were prepared during the afternoon. The firing has now been completed for the detachment. A total of 490 effective air to air sorties were flown, all of them using radar ranging. The top individual averages were:- Sqn. Ldr. Browne 21.2% Fg.Off. Hickman 17.1% Fg.Off. Ramsay 16.6% Fg.Off. Leigh-Lancaster 16.0% Fg.Off. Bell 15.6% Fg.Off. Exley 15.4% Total sorties - High level - 358 Low level - 132. Rounds fired :- 91,186 Stoppages :- 26 Stoppage Rate :- 3,507
	30th		The air party returned to Jever this morning leaving behind one aircraft which was unserviceable. The rest of the Squadron spent the day preparing for the return tomorrow of the main and rear parties.
			Hours flown during the month :- Hours Sorties Sabre 397.25 630 Vampire T.11 ) ) 34.40 30 Prentice )
			PERSONNEL Fg.Offs. Balfour, Hickman, Leigh-Lancaster, Bell and Exley passed their medicals for Direct Commissions.
	7th		Fg.Off. Davis returned from U.K. Leave
	17th		Fg.Off. Leigh-Lancaster went to U.K. on leave.
	22nd		Fg.Off. Hampton returned to the Squadron after his convalescence.
	24th		Fg.Off. Sanderson left for a P.A.I. course in U.K.
	28th		Fg.Off. Page flew an aircraft to U.K.
			ADMINISTRATION. The Squadron has been on attachment at Sylt throughout this month. It expects to return to base on 1st July, 1955. A large number of personnel have been back to Jever on duty or leave during the month for periods of a week at a time. This has helped to break up the long attachment. There is a proposed cut in man power in July which will bring the Squadron strength down to the new establishment of 14 aircraft.
			OPERATIONAL The Squadron has operated on 14 U.E. throughout this month. An average of 10 aircraft have been kept at A.P.S. Sylt. 397 Sabre hours have been flown which exceeds the Squadron target for the third month in succession, but there are still 24 pilots on strength. The month's training has been mainly devoted to Air to Air firing at the higher levels (20,000 feet). There has been a slow but steady increase in the Squadron's average throughout the month. Pilots averaged 24 effective shoots each and nearly all had an opportunity of shooting at "Winged targets", two of which were destroyed and one severely damaged. A limited amount of tactical flying was included to provide a break and contrast from the daily firing. Air to Ground firing was planned but the programme was cancelled by weather. The high intensity of flying and firing, which has been kept up for over six weeks has almost completely exhausted the supply of gunsight, radar and aircraft spares, consequently serviceability has dropped considerably during the last few days. All pilots agree that the attachment has been one of the most productive and useful periods of flying that they have had. This was mainly because pilots were able to see their flag and films before their next 'shoot' under the new Sylt organisation. Signed DFM Browne (D.F.M. BROWNE) Squadron Leader Officer Commanding No. 93 Squadron.