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| Place |
Date |
Time |
SUMMARY OF EVENTS COMPILING OFFICER Fg. Off. C.H.C. Hardie. |
REF. TO APPENDICES |
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| R.A.F. Jever. |
1st March. 1957 |
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While the monthly returns were being finished , flying continued in good weather:
23.15 hours were achieved. |
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2nd |
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Before flying stopped for the weekend, 8 cine sorties were flown. The squadron is now
expected to re-equip with the Hunter Mk.6 in a fortnights time. Meanwhile the pilots
and groundcrew are looking with envious eyes at No. 4 Squadron's Hunter Mk.6's |
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4th |
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Flying was not possible before 13.00 hours as the visibility was below 100 yards at
times. The Squadron commenced another week of Battle Flight today. |
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5th |
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In good weather the Squadron flew 34.55 hours, mainly on practice interceptions. The
highlight of the day was when Fg. Off. A.W.E. Johnston made a successful forced landing
at Ahlhorn, after his engine had flamed out at altitude. |
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6th |
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Poor weather returned once more to stop flying today. Lt. T.F.S. Young, R.N., who has
just returned from the Rolls Royce Avon Engine Course, gave the pilots a lecture on the
Avon 203 before the sports afternoon. |
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7th |
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The bad visibility continued and no sorties were flown on Battle Flight. In the
afternoon a squadron squash competition was held. Fg. Off. B.A.E. Sanderson and Plt. Off.
G.A. Talbot have yet to play the final. |
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8th |
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In the afternoon there was a short clearance in the weather which enabled the Squadron
to fly 8 sorties on Battle Flight. The poor weather has restricted the flying
considerably this month and does not look like clearing until Monday. |
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9th |
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The Squadron was available for Battle Flight this morning until relieved at lunch time. |
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11th |
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On a fine, sunny day the Squadron flew 26.45 hours on the last day of Battle Flight.
Emphasis is now being placed on cine training and giving dual checks to the new pilots. |
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12th |
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The good weather continued, 9 night sorties were flown bringing the days total to 38
sorties. Two aircraft were used for air to sea firing most of the day, to train the
new Squadron armourers. |
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13th |
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Before the sports afternoon the Squadron concentrated on cine sorties. Sqn. Ldr.
H. Minnis led the aerobatic team on the last trip before lunch. |
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14th |
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With only 5 aircraft serviceable the Squadron managed to fly 27 sorties. Fg. Off.
R.H. Biggs was ferried back from Wildenwrath after attending the Aviation Medicine
Course. Fg. Off. C.H.C. Hardie left on detachment to West Raynham for the I.R.E. Course. |
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15th |
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The airfield being 'red' all morning, the Squadron dispersed to play badminton and
squash. In the afternoon 4 sorties were flown under Amber III conditions. |
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18th |
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Todays flying consisted mainly of cine sorties, 20 of which were flown. Lt. T.F.B.
Young R.N. took a Mk. 4 Hunter to Buckeburg whilst the Squadron were eager recipients
of XG296 - 93 Squadron's first Hunter Mk.6. There was night flying in which 4
aircraft went to Wunstorf, landed, refueled and flew back on a cross country exercise. |
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19th |
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The airfield was under a steady drizzle all day long, with a cloudbase of at times down
to 200 feet. In the morning a flying doctor, Wg. Cdr. Mercer gave us the latest on the
ejection seats we shall be using in the Mk.6 Hunters. In the afternoon Lt. T.F.B.
Young R.N. gave us a talk on naval coastal forces, baffling us all by likening naval
hydrodynamics to supersonic aerodynamics. |
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20th |
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Flying today was on a limited scale due to the number of pilots available. The airmen
are engaged in football on the pitch outside the hangar at every available opportunity,
showing quite a lot of talent. |
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21st |
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The Squadron has stopped operational flying of the Mk. 4's today to allow the
ground crews to prepare them for their various destinations. We flew 5 instrument
flying sorties in the Vampire T.11 and two air tests in the Hunter 4's. |
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22nd |
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A mass oral inquisition on the Hunter Mk.6 took place today sorting out the differences
between the Mk. 4 and the Mk. 6. 93 Squadron's first sortie in a Mk. 6 was flown today
by the Squadron Commander, Sqn. Ldr. H. Minnis, who executed a lazy eight on take off. |
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23rd |
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Two more familiarisation sorties were flown on the Hunter 6, making three of us who have
flown it. The ground crew are working hard on the four other aircraft in an attempt
to have them serviceable on Monday. |
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25th |
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The weather was very bad here all day so in the morning the Squadron logged 20 man
hours of sport. |
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26th |
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Ten conversion sorties were flown, having only 2 pilots of our present strength who
have not yet converted. |
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27th |
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The aerobatic team took off for a practice but cloud conditions prevented this so they
flew battle formation. Another 8 sorties were flown, allowing everyone to complete
their first solo in the Mk. 6 - apart from those on leave and courses. |
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29th |
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General handling and familiarisation was carried out today. Several of the
ground-crew were take up for a flight in a Vampire T.11. without too disastrous
results. |
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30th |
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With the end of the month looming ahead and the ever mounting heap of statistics
that goes with it, the crew room looked more like the Central Registry. On return
from a party at Leeuwarden Fg. Off. R.H. Biggs took his instrument rating test and
was awarded a green ticket.
In the evening, Fg. Off. J.E. Pigdon threw a party at his residence. The Squadron
descended on his house, finally breaking the place up at about 0300 hours.
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FLYING HOURS
Operational type Day Night Sorties
Hunter Mk.4 & 6 210.50 15.25 324
Training Type
Vampire T.11 48.10 1.20 45
259.0 16.45 369
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4th -
9th
6th
11th -
18th
18th |
7th
14th |
PERSONNEL
Fg. Off. A.J. Netherton proceeded to R.A.F. Wildenwrath for Aviation Medicine Course
Fg. Off. A.J. Landon and Fg. Off. A.J. Clifton proceeding on leave to U.K.
Lt. T.F.B. Young, R.N. returned from the R.R. Avon Handling Course at Derby.
Fg. Off. R.H. Biggs proceeded to R.A.F. Wildenwrath for Aviation Medicine Course.
Fg. Off. J.H. Lynn returned from leave in U.K.
Fg. Off. C.H.C. Hardie proceeded to R.A.F. West Raynham on the I.R.E. Course.
OPERATIONAL
1. The flying effort was affected this month by the following factors:-
(a) The "run-down" in Mk.4 aircraft prior to re-equipment with the Hunter Mk.6's
so that by 14th March only 8 Mk.4's were available for flying and all Mk.4
flying ceased on 20th March.
(b) During Battle flight in the first part of the month 4 days were unfit for
flying because of fog.
This resulted in a total of 226.15 hours Hunter and 49.30 hours Vampire T.11
flying.
2. During night flying 4 aircraft landed away but re-fuelled (at Wunstorf). This
was considered to be of great benefit and will be included in our night flying
training whenever possible in future.
3. The Hunter Mk.6 conversion has presented no problem and 16 pilots have flown
the aircraft.
4. The unserviceability of the Mk6 has been disappointing, mainly due to a lack of
spares. 5 out of 10 Mk.6's are at present A.O.G.
5. Flight Commander Capability.
Nil. Signed H.Minnis Sqn. Ldr.
(H. MINNIS.)
Squadron Leader,
Officer Commanding
No. 93 Squadron. |
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