F540 Operations Record Book June 1956 NO 93 SQUADRON. PRO Kew No. AIR27 Piece 2803 Microfilm Row1 Draws 52-71 Place Date Time SUMMARY OF EVENTS                           COMPILING OFFICER   Fg. Off. Clayton-Jones     REF. TO APPENDICES         R.A.F. Jever June 1st, 1956           The airmen came in early, prepared for an early start but the weather was border line, and the first pair were not airborne until 08.30 hrs. when Fg. Off. Taylor and Garthwaite went off on a weather recce.           Flying continued on a limited basis, and the aerobatic team, who were to have flown to Wahn in the morning, postponed take off until after lunch, but managed to get one practice in before they left.   When they finally did get away the smoke canisters on 2 of the aircraft fired on start up, and 118 Squadron's dispersal was covered in orange smoke.   It had some training value, however, since the crash crews were in the dispersal (a distance of about half a mile) before the smoke had cleared. Fg.Off. Exley had trouble with his P.V. ram, and had to abandon take off.   He joined the others later at Wahn, having borrowed the Wing Leader's aircraft.   Unfortunately the aircraft was not modified to fire smoke canister.     2nd             There was a Squadron 48 after a Guest Night for the German Navy.           At Wahn the aerobatic team did 2 practices in not too good weather conditions.     3rd             The weather at Wahn in the morning was deplorable, and it looked very much as though the cloud would be too low for any formation aerobatics.   Met however, were sure that it would be alright by the afternoon, and miraculously there was a gap over Butzweilerhof where there were 300,000 people.   The team carried out it's full programme of loops, rolls and formation changes, ending with a bomb burst trailing coloured smoke.   At a reception given in the evening, to all participants, each competing team were presented with a picture of Cologne Cathedral from the river, a cocktail jug and a cigarette case per pilot.     4th             Cloud covered the airfield and extended well over 20,000 feet.   Flying was limited to one pair per Squadron, and was mostly close formation cloud flying.   The aerobatic team returned from Wahn underneath the cloud in the afternoon.     5th             It was a fine day and 6 aircraft were serviceable.   4 of these were flown on battle formation and tail chase exercises, and the remaining 2 were used on cine. 40 day sorties were flown.           A night flying programme was also carried out and 16 night sorties were flown. These were either on circuit practice,and local recce, or cross countries     6th             Since most pilots were flying well past mid-night, there was no flying today. Sqn.Ldr. Browne took a Hunter down to Fassberg to watch the fly past and formation aerobatics at a rehearsal for the I.D.C. demonstration.           The afternoon was a sports afternoon, and most Squadron members played cricket, tennis or went swimming.     7th             Out of the 5 aircraft serviceable, 4 were used for high level battle formation and dogfighting practice, and 1 on practice forced landings and aerobatic sorties. Sqn.Ldr. Browne took a 4 up for formation aerobatics, which included Fg.Off. Taylor, who is being trained for the No. 3 position.     8th             A front was coming through and flying was restricted to 2 staggered pairs per Squadron.   These were used for cine quarter attacks, mostly at 30,000 feet.   A test was carried out on firing 2 coloured smokes together, the colours being orange and white.   The white was not successful.   Flying ceased at 16.00 hours and the Squadron took part in the Wing athletics on the sports field.   Outstanding from the Squadron was Fg.Off. Leigh-Lancaster, SAC Langharne, and SAC Whitticane.           Lieutenant T.F.B. Young R.N. a Fleet Air Arm pilot joined the Squadron from R.A.F. Pembrey.     9th             A Squadron parade was held, instruction was given in parade procedure, with emphasis on Flight Commanders', and supernumeraries roles.           Ground training was carried out after the parade on the mock-up ejection seat. All pilots have to do the drill once per month.     11th             All but 4 of the Squadron pilots went to Hohne near Fassberg, for a demonstration by the Army.   The weather unfortunately was bad and much of the demonstration could not take place.   However, they were able to see the static display which included all the equipment that the Army are using in B.A.O.R.           The 4 remaining pilots flew 4 trips each, on cine quarters, and formation aerobatics.     12th             The airfield was red until 10.55 hrs. mainly because there were no diversions. Sqn.Ldr. Browne and Fg.Off. Taylor took off for a weather check, after which, 27 sorties were flown, mostly on high level battle, with snake climbs and descents. Fg.Off. Ritchie returned from leave.     13th             It was a full working day and 47 sorties were flown.           Fg.Off. Ritchie was diverted to Oldenburg after a 118 Squadron pilot blocked the runway with an unlocked undercarriage, crash landing on the crash strip.  [XE665 Cat4].     14th             35 sorties were flown on mixed practices, although mainly high level battle formation.     15th             12 aircraft were serviceable for the 3rd month in succession, reflecting favourably on the reliability of the Hunter, and the ability of the ground crew.           2 four plane high level battle sorties were flown, 2 pairs cine quarters, and 1 twelve plane Squadron formation fly past and high level sweep.           During the afternoon the Squadron stood down for the Station Sports Day. Fg.Off. Leigh-Lancaster came 2nd in the Hop, Step and Jump, and SAC Whitticane did well in the 100 yards, came 3rd in the 200 metres, and was in the winning Flying Wing relay team.     16th             The day started with a rehearsal for the A.O.C.s parade, which shaped well on the first attempt.           After the parade, the P.A.I.s held a film show on the cine taken during the week.   These films showed a definite improvement in both tracking and general sight handling.           A pilots party was held in the evening to say good-bye to an honorary member, Wing Commander West, and to give honorary membership to Sqn.Ldr. William Sykes.     18th Monday.             The Squadron aerobatic team is to give a demonstration to General Rafaeli when he visits the station on 21st June.   Because of this, Fg.Off. Exley, who flies No. 3 for the team, was recalled from leave in England, and he returned last night.           The airfield was overcast throughout the day, and we were restricted to 1 pair per Squadron.   All the sorties, there were 12, were cine quarter attack exercises with a G.C.A. at the end.     19th             The accent was on cine quarters again today, and also on cloud flying.   It was found that 3 pilots had failed to do the necessary actual for their six monthly instrument rating renewals.   These are being given T.11 cloud flying practice. 24 sorties were flown making a total of 276.05 hours flown on operational type this month.     20th             A party of sailors from a mine-sweeping flotilla which has docked at Wilhelmshaven visited the Station, and one party came to 93 to be shown around.   A Wing fly past was staged and our aerobatic team gave a demonstration of formation aerobatics. There were also 2 high level battle formation sorties.           The Squadron stood down at midday for a sports afternoon.     21st             The Squadron was visited by General Rafaeli, who is Chief of the Italian Air Staff, and by the C-in-C, Air Marshal the Earl of Bandon.           There was a 16 plane fly past and a formation aerobatic demonstration, but the cloud base was only 2,500 feet and the aerobatics had to be somewhat curtailed in the looping plane.   After the display tea was served for the visitors in the crew room. [Click to see local newspaper report on the visit.]     22nd             After Met. briefing a lecture was given by a Martin Baker representative on the ejection seat.           Sqn.Ldr. Browne flew to Strasbourg to reconnoitre the airfield for the forthcoming air display on 1st July.           A programme of air - sea firing was carried out, with a double rearm practice for the groundcrew.   The time taken for the turn round being 18 1/2 minutes.           On a battle formation exercise Fg.Off. Johnston had booster pump failure.   He returned to base immediately, and his engine failed as he turned off the runway.     23rd             Another rehearsal for the A.O.C.s parade was held, which continued to show improvement.   There was no flying, and pilots attended to their various Squadron duties.     25th Monday             4 aircraft were serviceable, which were used on G.C.A.s at Wunstorf, cine quarters and formation aerobatics.           It had been intended to night fly, but after a weather check to the north, where cloud was down to 300 feet, night flying was cancelled.           By the end of the day's flying 340 hours had been flown this month on operational type with 476 sorties.           Fg.Off. Johnston proceeded to Wildenwrath for a course at the Aviation Medicine Centre.     26th             21 sorties were flown on G.C.A.s at Ahlhorn, high level battle formations, and Rat and Terrier exercises.           1 officer flew by Vampire T.11 to R.A.F. Wildenwrath where lectures by the R.A.E. High Speed Research team at 2nd T.A.F. H.Q. were being given.           Fg.Off. Page returned from leave.     27th             Flying still continues though on a rather leisurely basis (only 18 sorties being flown) owing to our having exceeded the flying target.           Lieutenant Young led a four, and they carried out Rat and Terrier exercises. There was also 1 high level battle formation and 1 formation aerobatic sortie.           The Squadron stood down at midday for a sports afternoon.   93 cricket team played Flying Wing H.Q. and Signals team, winning by 61 runs.   Fg.Off. Exley taking 7 wickets for 14 runs.     28th             The aerobatic team carried out a practice this morning, and the rest of the programme continued on a limited basis.   6 G.C.A.s were carried out at Wunstorf, and after training flying in the T.11, and the Prentice, in the afternoon 4 pairs sorties were flown mostly of G.C.A.s because the cloud conditions offered good opportunity for instrument flying.           In the evening there was a dining-in night in the Mess to say farewell to Wing Commander West, the O.C. Flying Wing.     29th             The early part of the day was spent on the last efforts preparations for the aerobatic team's departure.   After a group photograph had been taken, the team, plus Fg.Off. Taylor, left for Wahn where they were to refuel before proceeding to Strasbourg.   Flt.Lt. Hayes and Fg.Off. Ritchie went to Fassberg by T.11, and apart from that the only other flying carried out was on an air test.   The afternoon was devoted to Squadron tasks and preparation of the monthly returns.           Fg.Off. Biggs left for England, while, Fg.Off. Busby and Lieutenant Young went by road to Strasbourg to see the air display.     30th             A Squadron parade was held to practice the drill routine for the coming A.O.C.s parade.           1 air test was carried out, but was curtailed because of approaching bad weather Most of the morning was spent working on monthly returns.                                                                           FLYING HOURS  Operational type.                         Days                      Night                 sorties Hunter Mk.4                               393.45                      11.40                   555 Training Type Vampire T.11                              33.50                        2.10                      43 Prentice                                          2.05                                                          3                               Total             429.40                     13.50                    601.                                                                       PERSONNEL     4th   Fg.Off. Landon returned from Aircraft Recognition course in U.K.     8th   Lieutenant T.F.B. Young, R.N. joined the Squadron from R.A.F. Pembrey.     25th   Fg.Off. Johnston proceeded on a course at the Aviation Medicine Centre.     29th   Fg.Off. Johnston returned.     29th   Sqn.Ldr. Browne, Fg.Offs. Exley, Sanderson, Clayton-Jones and Taylor proceeded to Strasbourg for Air Display.         OPERATIONAL                   June is the fourth month in succession during which the Squadron has comfortable reached the Command Flying Target.   The weather was generally good, and serviceability remained high.   Technical Wing in particular did a significant job by turning out 7 minors for us during the month.   Although this month for the third time in succession the ground crew produced 12 out of 13 aircraft serviceable at the same time, which were flown with pride by the Squadron pilots on a Squadron 'Balbo'.             The training carried out had the emphasis laid on cine gun exercises in preparation for Sylt in August.   Night flying was planned 5 times, but due to uncertain weather, only materialised once, when 16 sorties were flown.   The 5 members of the aerobatic team devoted quite a large percentage of their sorties to formation practice, but this did not in any way limit the flying of the other pilots.             Air to sea firing,and a double rearm gave useful practice to the ground crews. There is however, a need for the pilots to be able to practice cine gun sorties on a towed flag before going to Sylt, so that the maximum benefit can be derived from the use of the Sylt ranges with 'live' sorties from the moment of arrival.   It was suggested to the Group Air Staff on their Pre-A.O.C.s inspection that there is a case for a permanent small detachment from Sylt towing flight to visit stations for a week to 10 days before Squadrons go to Sylt.         Signed A.J. Colvin                                                        for                                                                    (D.F.M. BROWNE)                                                       Squadron Leader                                                        Officer Commanding                                                  No. 93 Squadron.