NO 93 SQUADRON - Form 540 May 1953

F540 Operations Record Book May 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 Plt.Off. R.D.B. BOULTON	REF. TO APPENDICES
JEVER.	MAY.	1st.	FRIDAY. Due to very poor weather today there was little flying - what there was cine work, mainly on parallel ¼'s. We go to Sylt this month and it looks as though the flying preparations have started - perhaps none too soon.
		2nd	SATURDAY. Quite an eventful day for 93 Squadron. Flt.Lt. Paterson returned from leave in U.K. in time to see Flt.Lt. Pearch married at the Station Church. A reception was held in the Malcolm Club and later the couple were given a 'royal' send off amid streamers, confetti and Thunderflashes. It proved quite an occasion for 93 Squadron. In the morning however, there was the usual Station Parade, after which the aircraft were prepared for Monday's Battle Flight. The only aircraft flown was by Plt.Off. Standish on an air test.
		3rd.	SUNDAY.
		4th.	MONDAY. There were four members of 93 Squadron on Battle Flight today. The rest of the Squadron have been working steadily on Cine para. ¼'s in preparation for the Sylt detachment. Flt.Sgt. Telfer has been steadily accumulating hours on aerobatics, getting general handling experience on Vampires having recently flown Tempest 5's at Sylt. Flying started rather late this morning owing to poor weather conditions. The cloud was quite thick, base 300 ft, By 10.00 hours the cloud broke and flying commenced.
		5th.	TUESDAY. Flying this morning was rather limited due to poor weather. With a low cloud base 300ft - 500ft. The afternoon however proved much better and the Squadron was again working on cine para. ¼s. From the cine film results the majority of attacks were out of range, but this is steadily improving. The Squadron also provided the Battle Flight.
		6th.	WEDNESDAY. Today proved quite an eventful day. though the weather in the morning was very poor, following the example of the previous days. Due to this, only 4 cine sorties were flown. Visibility proved very poor and in some cases the cine aircraft lost the target. Sqn.Ldr. McGregor was rather unlucky this morning having had a Barostat failure, but managed a successful landing back at the Station. His engine R.P.M.'s did not fall below 7500 so this was ample for S & L. The afternoon was devoted to sport. The Squadron have become keen "Soft Ball" players, and have now, quite a good team. A match was arranged between 112 Squadron and ourselves where upon we proceeded to win by a considerable margins. Sgt. Webster left the Squadron today, having been posted to Spittalgate, O.C.T.U. A Squadron dinner was held in the Malcolm Club to wish "Webby" all the best of luck on his new course.
		7th.	THURSDAY. Weather was excellent today for a change, and Battle Flight were scrambled five times. They made four successful interceptions. The Battle Flight pilots mentioned the fact that the only successful interceptions were those given by experienced controllers. Inexperienced controllers being the main cause for abortive Battle sorties. The remainder of the Squadron are still concentrating on para. ¼'s.
		8th.	FRIDAY. Weather excellent all day. Battle Flight, however, had one or two mishaps. Sgt. Knight had a Barostat failure during an interception but managed to return to the airfield alright. Fg.Off. Wood had a similar failure but was lucky that it happened during the taxying out for a scramble. Barostats seem to be haunting the Squadron this last week. (A suggestion was made to start a "Barostat Club" for the unlucky types) The Jever Wing was rehearsing for the Coronation flypast this afternoon. One of our Squadron's aircraft had to retire prior to take off due to brake failure.
		9th.	SATURDAY. The usual Saturday Morning Station Parade. After which the aircraft were prepared for Monday. There was no flying today although two compass swings were carried out. Fg.Off. Spearman returned from U.K. leave in the afternoon. The Squadron stood down for the weekend.
		10th.	SUNDAY.
		11th.	MONDAY. Weather today is back to normal i.e. Rain and low cloud. The Squadron did however manage to do low level cross countries, which proved a change from the cine exercises.
		12th.	TUESDAY. The weather was much improved on yesterdays though there was still some odd patches of low cloud. The Squadron were on air/ground firing at Meppen Range today. Weather south of Jever, especially in the vicinity of Meppen was quite good. Sgt. Walker managed the exceptional score of 61% followed by another of 59%. This was one of the highest scores the Squadron has achieved in air/ground so far.
		13th.	WEDNESDAY. Back to Para. Cine ¼'s again today. From the film results the Squadron is improving all the time. This should certainly help to give good results at Sylt. The afternoon was devoted to the Station Sports trials. The entrants from No. 93 Squadron were very many but the results in the field were poor. Most of the entrants were eliminated in the heats.
		14th.	THURSDAY. Today saw a slight change in tactics for the cine exercises. The Squadron were doing para. ¼'s in trail instead of the usual para. solo. Today is also the last flying day before the Sylt Attachment. Some good scores are expected again this year.
		15th.	FRIDAY. There was no flying at all today as the aircraft were being prepared for Tuesday's flight to Sylt. As many as possible will be made serviceable. All the aircraft have been fitted with long range drop tanks, as these will be required for the Coronation flypast, which falls in the middle of our Sylt detachment. All the pilots were on aircraft cleaning and compass swings were carried out.
		16th.	SATURDAY. The Air Member for Personnel made a brief visit to the Station this morning. He was hear only a matter of 45 minutes before he left. Flt.Lt. Pearch arrived back today from his fortnights honeymoon. More or less just in time to be off again to Sylt. There was some misunderstanding with "Gutersloh Movements" with regard to a train for the transport of the wing ground personnel and baggage, but this was soon straightened out.
		17th.	SUNDAY. The Pack Wagons arrived today about 08.00 hours (one day late) and loading was commenced at approximately 10.30 hours. Two pack wagons per Squadron proved quite sufficient. All the Squadrons finished loading about 12.30 hours and the Station was stood down until 08.00 hours Monday.
		18th.	MONDAY. The main Party left Jever at 08.15 hours this morning and arrived at West- erland station at 17.30 hours. Everything ran to schedule. In the evening there was a farewell party for Squadron Leader McGregor and Plt.Off. Goodwill. The Squadron Commander is returning to U.K. having finished his tour in this country. Plt.Off. Goodwill, however, is due for demob'.
		19th.	TUESDAY. The Squadron left Jever at 10.30 hours and arrived at Sylt at 11.00 hours. Fg.Off. Spearman has replaced Fg.Off. Wallace as Squadron Adjutant due to the latter being posted on an O.A.T.S. course in U.K. Flt.Lt. Paterson now commands the Squadron while awaiting the arrival of our new Squadron Commander.
		20th.	WEDNESDAY. The Squadron started flying today. Fg.Off. Wood, the Squadron P.A.I., started off exceptionally well with 26%. A shift system has been adopted by the Squadron i.e. one flight on in the morning, one flight in the afternoon.
		21st.	THURSDAY. Sqn.Ldr. Allen, the new Squadron Commander, joined us today. He was introduced to us by Sqn.Ldr. McGregor who accompanied him up here. The second day of the air/air firing was not quite as good as yesterday, though Fg.Off. Wood is doing exceptionally well. Sgt. Knight produced a good score of 30% today. There was a small "gathering of the clan" in the bar in the evening to welcome Sqn.Ldr. Allen to the Squadron.
		22nd.	FRIDAY. The weather today was poor, the result being that the ranges were U/S until about 14.00 hors when flying started. Squadron average is falling very slowly. It looks as though 4 Squadron are about to take over the lead in scoring, unless some fingers are extracted.
		23rd.	SATURDAY. The beginning of the Whitsun Grant. Station stood down until May, 26th.
		24th.	SUNDAY. Whitsun Grant.
		25th.	MONDAY. Whitsun Grant.
		26th.	TUESDAY. The weather is again perfect for air/air firing though the Squadron average fell about 1% today. No. 4 Squadron have taken the lead now with an average of 8.1% to our 7.9%. It looks as though quite a friendly rivalry is beginning to take place.
		27th.	WEDNESDAY. The weather has again changed for the worst, with low cloud about 800 ft. and showers. There was no flying until 16.00 hours when the cloud base rose to 1500 ft. Conditions were rather poor especially when the towing was carried out at 1200 ft and often when breaking above the flag the aircraft entered cloud. Our daily progressive average is at present 7.3%. Todays scoring was a little better giving 9.1% for the day. The evening proved quite pleasant as it was Fg.Off. Spearman's birthday. There was a general feeling that he should celebrate by having a hair cut, where upon a pair of scissors were "found" and a "duty performed".
		28th.	THURSDAY. The Squadron managed to get a full days shooting today. The weather in the morning being similar to the previous day with the cloud base at 1500 ft. and towing at 1200 ft. The afternoon proved much better when the cloud broke. The daily progressive average began rising today. Fg.Off. Wallace left the Squadron today being posted on a 10 week O.A.T.S. course in U.K.
		29th.	FRIDAY. Flying started at 07.45 today but due to the arrival of a cold front was discontinued at Midday. Fg.Off.'s Bates and Sturman returned to Jever in the morning to collect two spare Vampires which will be required for the Coronation flypast next Tuesday. As we have three new pilots who arrived today from O.C.U.:- Plt.Off.'s Revnell, Hannah and Bell.
		30th.	SATURDAY. Quite pleasant weather today although on one or two ranges the Tempests were forced to tow at 1200 ft. due to patches of Stratus. Fg.Off. "Digger" Bates now has this years highest score for our Squadron so far with 58%. Fg.Off. Sturman flew with the Target Towing Squadron this afternoon for the experience of flying a prop. aircraft again. The Squadron stood down for the weekend at 19.30 hours. Fg.Off.'s Bates and Sturman arrived back today from Jever having been held up due to yesterdays bad weather.
		31st.	SUNDAY. The morning was passed preparing the aircraft for take off at 14.00 hours. Drop tanks were fitted. The Squadron is accompanying the rest of the Wing to Gutersloh in preparation for the Coronation flypast. The remaining pilots are pooling with 4 Squadron to complete a flying programme of air/air for Monday.
			MOVEMENTS. Fg.Off. SPEARMAN.Leave 1st - 11th May, 1953. Sgt. WALKERMedical at Rinteln on 3rd May, 1953. Flt.Lt PEARCH.Leave 2nd - 19th May, 1953. Flt.Lt PATERSON.Leave ended 1st May, 1953. Sgt. WEBSTER.Posted to O.C.T.U. w.e.f. 6th May, 1953. Plt.Off. GOODWILL.Repatriation w.e.f. 19th May, 1953. Sqn.Ldr. McGREGOR.Posted to U.K. w.e.f. 30th May, 1953. Fg.Off. WALLACE.Detached on O.A.T.S. Course w.e.f. 28th May, 1953. Plt.Off. REVNELL. ) Plt.Off. HANNAH. )Posted to Squadron from O.C.U. w.e.f. 29th May. Plt.Off. BELL. )
			ADMINISTRATION The chief event of the month was the detachment of the Squadron to A.P.S. SYLT, which took place on the 19th May. Most of our effort, on the ground and in the air, was therefore devoted to the preparation for this.
			NOMINAL ROLL. Sqn.Ldr. R.N.G. ALLEN. "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. Plt.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, J.E.M. WALKER. Plt.Off. HANNAH.Sgt. D.J. THOMAS Plt.Off. BELL Sgt. P. KNIGHT. F/Sgt. TELFER. Signed RNG Allen (R.N.G. ALLEN.) Squadron Leader, Commanding, No. 93 Squadron, R.A.F.