|
|
| Place |
Date |
Time |
Summary of Events Compilation Officer: Fg. Off PA. BARROW. |
REFS TO APPENDICES |
| |
|
|
 |
|
| Jever |
1956
1st.Dec. |
Sat. |
There was no flying this morning as the airmen were attending trade training
lectures. Pilots carried out their respective ground-duties. |
|
| |
3rd.Dec. |
Min. |
A combination of poor weather conditions and aircraft serviceability precluded the
squadron flying more than 17 sorties. These consisted of cine exercises and individual
sorties of aerobatics, mach runs, Q.G.H.'s and G.C.A's. |
|
| |
4th.Dec. |
Tues |
The weather during today again consisted of low cloud and poor visibility and the airfield
state remained at Amber 2 for most of the day. A tragic accident occurred during the
afternoon when Fg./Off. D.J. Young experienced a fire in the air immediately after
take-off. A rapid climb to about 1,500 feet and a turnabout towards the airfield,
clearing the cloud tops in the process, then Fg./Off. D.J. Youngs' No.2, Plt./Off.
C.W. Shipley observed that his leaders' tailpipe appeared to be extended behind the
aircraft to a distance of some 6feet and soon afterwards smoke was seen issuing from
the aircraft. Fg./Off. D.J. Young on receipt of this information released his hood
and re-entered the cloud layer. The cloud base at the time was 800 feet and Fg./Off.
D.J. Young was seen to eject at an estimated 350 feet by a ground eye-witness.
Unfortunately the ejection seat failed to operate automatically and with insufficient
height remaining to manually release himself, Fg./Off. D.J. Young was killed on impact
with the ground. |
|
| |
5th.Dec. |
Wed. |
The weather this morning severely restricted flying, in addition, very few
serviceable aircraft resulted in no more than 4 sorties being flown. The afternoon
was devoted to sport. |
|
| |
6th.Dec. |
Thur. |
During today the squadron flew 12 sorties on exercise "Argus". The 4 aircraft
involved flew to Geilenkirchen and from there carried out a radar saturation sortie
to Cruil and return.
The ground crew were given funeral drill by Fg./Off. D.A.W. Todman for the
forthcoming funeral of Fg./Off. D.J. Young. |
|
| |
7th.Dec. |
Frid. |
The whole squadron travelled to Hamburg for Fg./Off. D.J. Young's funeral in the
British Cemetery. |
|
| |
8th.Dec. |
Sat. |
Low cloud prevented flying and pilots attended an aircraft recognition lecture. |
|
| |
10th.Dec. |
Mon. |
Low cloud and bad visibility produced an airfield state of red through most of the
day, although a slight improvement during the afternoon to Amber 3 allowed 2 sorties to be
flown. A wing ground training programme was laid on, which pilots attended lectures
being given on: "Design of Guns", "Atomic Warfare", and a film, Exercise Crossroads". |
|
| |
11th.Dec. |
Tues. |
In all 11 sorties of cine and individual exercises were flown. More sorties could
have been flown but for steadily deteriorating weather after midday. |
|
| |
12th.Dec. |
Wed. |
Fog persisted throughout the morning and pilots attended ground training lectures.
The afternoon was devoted to sport. |
|
| |
13th.Dec. |
Thur. |
The weather remained good until late afternoon and the squadron flew 27 sorties on
exercise "Guest". The squadron was engaged on the I.D.F. role and a variation from the
normal high level,interception by engagement on low level "rat patrols". |
|
| |
14th.Dc. |
Frid. |
Flying this morning consisted of 4 sorties of high level battle formation, 6 of
practice interceptions ( 6 successful ) and two low level battle formation. There
was a station standown over the weekend to allow personnel to spectate at the rugby final
at Munchen Gladbach. |
|
| |
17th.Dec. |
Mon. |
A good day's flying with 38 day sorties of battle formation, cine exercises and
individual sorties. A further 12 local night sorties were carried out. |
|
| |
18th.Dec. |
Tues. |
Another fair day's flying with 35 sorties flown. These consisted of high and low
level battle formation, cine exercises and individual sorties. |
|
| |
19th.Dec. |
Wed. |
Fog persisted throughout the day and pilots attended lectures on, "The Soviet
Tactical Air Force", "S.A.R.A.R.H." and a film on, "Guided Missiles". |
|
| |
20th.Dec. |
Thur. |
Fog again covered the North German Plain and pilots attended lectures on, "Personnel
and Aircraft Safety Equipment", "G.C.A.", a film on the "Commonwealth Air Forces
Signals Organisation" and Ejection seat training. |
|
| |
21st.Dec. |
Frid. |
Poor visibility prevented flying for the first two hours of the morning and a lecture
was given on, "Rocket Projectiles". Flying today was not particularly productive
there being only 4 cine and 7 individual sorties. |
|
| |
Sat. |
22nd.Dec. |
In all 12 sorties were flown this morning consisting of battle formation, cine
exercises and individual sorties. At midday the airfield close for the Christmas grant. |
|
| |
Thur. |
27th.Dec. |
Flying was restricted to Amber 2 throughout the day owing to low cloud and bad
visibility in addition to using Search Approach G.C.A. on runway 11. In fact the squadron
completed only 13 sorties of high level battle formation, cine and individual sorties. |
|
| |
Frid. |
28th.Dec. |
Bad visibility persisted through most of the day with an airfield state of Amber 3
during the morning. A slight improvement after lunch allowed flying on a less
restricted basis, in all 21 sorties were completed, of which 14 were cine and the rest
individual. Two dusk sorties were flown. |
|
| |
Sat. |
29th.Dec. |
Soon after meteorological briefing this morning freezing rain was experienced and
the airfield became covered in ice. No flying was done and pilots attended to their
squadron ground duties. |
|
| |
Mon. |
31st.Dec. |
More freezing rain fell during the night and once more flying was impossible.
Pilots attended to end of month returns during the morning. |
|
| |
|
|
FLYING HOURS.
Operational Type Day: 161.40 Instrument Flying Actual: 25.00
Operational Type Night: 6.55 Instrument Flying Simulated: 4.05
Training Type: 24.00 Other Pilots: Nil. |
|
| |
|
|
PERSONNEL. |
|
| |
|
1st.Dec. |
Plt./Off. B. Dale and Plt./Off. P.S. Summers joined the squadron from 229 O.C.U.
Chivenor. |
|
| |
|
2nd.Dec. |
Fg./Off. S.W. Jennings of 94 squadron and Fg./Off. D.A. Watson of 245 squadron were
attached to the squadron for Hunter conversion between 29th. November and 2nd.December. |
|
| |
|
3rd.Dec. |
Flt./Lt. C.J. Barrey D.F.C., A.F.C., D.F.M. and Fg./Off. D.G.Riley left on local leave. |
|
| |
|
4th.Dec. |
Fg./Off. D.J. Young was killed in a flying accident. |
|
| |
12th.Dec. |
|
Fg./Off. D.G.Riley returned from local leave. |
|
| |
21st. |
Dec. |
Fg./Off. P.Shore, Fg./Off. D.A.W.Todman and Fg./Off. A.MacNae left for U.K. leave. |
|
| |
27th. |
Dec. |
Flt./Lt. C.J. Barrey D.F.C., A.F.C., D.F.M. returned from local leave.
|
|
| |
|
|
OPERATIONAL.
The month of December has been an unfortunate month for flying. On the 4th of the month
a tragic accident occurred when Fg./Off. D.J. Young was killed after ejecting soon after
take-off when his aircraft caught fire.
The average aircraft serviceability through the month was 5 although the day to
serviceability varied between 2 and 8.
The weather during the month has on many occasions either prevented flying or
restricted it to Amber 2 or 3 conditions.
On the flying side itself weather limitations have meant that pairs only could be
despatched on cine sorties and practice interceptions. Exercise "Guest" for this month
found the squadron engaged in the I.D.F. role, and variety was provided by several
sorties of low level anti-rat patrols. Overall Hunter hours for the month was 170.35
hours which was only half the monthly target, but was nevertheless very good
considering the restrictions that have been made on flying this month. |
|
| |
|
|
ADNINISTRATION.
During the month there has again been an appreciable change in the ground crew
strength. Serviceability problems during the month have been mainly associated with
S.T.I.s and L.T.I.s on hydraulic pipes. One aircraft was destroyed and one aircraft Cat 3, the
latter as a result of landing with retracted nosewheel.
signed CHJBarrey
(C. J. Barrey)
Flight Lieutenant,
OFFICER COMMANDING,
No. 98 Squadron.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
