F540 Operations Record Book February 1957 NO 98 SQUADRON. PRO Kew No. AIR27 Piece 2640 Microfilm Row1 Draws 52-71 Place Date Time Summary of Events                                     Compilation Officer:   Fg. Off PA. BARROW. REFS TO APPENDICES         R.A.F., Jever February 1957 1st Low cloud and poor visibility prevented flying today and pilots attended to their respective squadron ground duties.      /TD> 2nd Weather conditions similar to yesterday again prevented flying other than two Vampire sorties.   Pilots carried out their normal ground duties and assisted in harmonisation of gun packs, and aircraft for the forthcoming Sylt detachment.       4th During today 26 Hunter sorties were flown in fair weather conditions.   These sorties consisted of 20 Cine simulated flag and 6 individual flights.   Total hours for the day were 19.25.   Hunter flying finished today in order to service the aircraft for Sylt.       5th The only flying today consisted of 7 simulated flag sorties in Vampires.   Pilots continued the preparations for Sylt.       6th harmonisation of aircraft and gun packs was completed this morning and the afternoon was devoted to sport.       7th Today was spent in loading the vehicles for the Sylt convoy.   One Hunter air test and two Vampire sorties were flown.       8th The squadron road party left for Sylt this morning.       9th Squadron Standown.       10th The squadron rail party left for Sylt this morning .     January 11th The weather today was clear and cloudless and the squadron flew 11 aircraft to Sylt where they arrived at 11.45 hours.   In the afternoon pilots attended the main air traffic and range safety briefings.       12th Low cloud and fog persisted throughout the day and no flying was possible.   Pilots attended the range and firing briefings.   A film show in the morning and the afternoon was devoted to sports.       13th Again low cloud and fog prevented flying and pilots attended a lecture on aircraft production by Fg/Off. M. Watson of the Sylt permanent staff.   The afternoon was devoted to sport.       14th No flying was possible today because of fog.   During the morning pilots attended sea - survival lectures and carried out practice helicopter lifts from dry land.   In the afternoon the pilots travelled to List and carried out wet dinghy drill in the sea, by being dropped in the sea from a range patrol vessel and recovery being affected by helicopter.       15th Today produced the first effective day's flying at Sylt on this detachment and 33 cine sorties were flown, of these, only two were ineffective as a result of aircraft un - serviceability.       16th The weather whilst promising at first deteriorated very rapidly and only two sorties were flown, neither of these were effective.       17th Standown.       18th A good flying day with 33 sorties flown both cine and live.   Of the sorties flown only five were effective and the squadron average at the end of the day was 19.1%.       19th Another good day's flying today with 37 sorties flown.   Nearly all the pilots are now firing live and the squadron increased to 22%.   The stoppage rate is 441.       20th Poor visibility over the range prevented flying before 13.00 hours.   During the afternoon 18 air to air sorties were flown and a slight increase in the squadron progressive average was experienced.   The progressive average was 20.6% and the stoppage rate 539.       21st Some 36 air to air sorties were flown today, in good weather conditions, of these 6 sorties were ineffective.   The squadron average for today was 22.0% giving a progressive average of 20.1%.   The stoppage rate was 765.       22nd Fog prevented flying before 09.00hours but after this cleared 29 sorties were flown of which 7 sorties were ineffective.  The squadron average for the day was 25%.       23rd Fog throughout the morning cancelled all flying, and pilots attended to their squadron ground duties.       24th Sunday.       25th Only 5 effective air to air sorties were flown today owing to the inability of the G.C.I. to control both high and low level ranges.   A further 13 sorties were flown consisting of 6 sorties of simulated flag, 5 of close formation, a weather check and an air test.       26th Low stratus and fog covered the Island today.   Pilots attended films on aerial combat in Korea and camouflage.   The afternoon was devoted to sport.       27th During today the squadron flew 32 sorties of which 17 were effective.   Abortive sorties were accounted for by G.C.I. and flag unserviceability.   The daily stoppage rate was 466 and the daily average 21.3%.       28th A revised system of firing was incorporated today which entailed flying one pair only to each flag.   This was introduced to reduce the rate of abortive sorties due to flag unserviceability when two pairs fire consecutively against the flag.   Some 37 sorties were flown today of which 6 were ineffective due to G.C.I. unserviceability.                                                     FLYING HOURS.    Operational Day        220.50                                 Instrument Flying Actual                        10.45    Operational Night                     .40                        Instrument Flying Simulated                    3.45    Training Types            40.45                                 Other Pilots:                                             NIL                                                        PERSONNEL       11th Fg/Off. E.A. McCullagh left for hospital in the U.K.       13th Fg/Off. F.D. Brunger repatriated to U.K.       18th Flt/Lt I.F. Weston returned from St. Moritz.       22nd Fg/Off. D.G. Riley left for Bad Kohlgrub.       27th Fg/Off N.S. Whittaker returned from U.K.                                                     ADMINISTRATION. The main administrative problem of the month was the Squadron move to Sylt.   On this detachment all the ground equipment was moved by road and the ground crew by train.   To ease the manning problem at Sylt a number of tradesmen from Technical Wing from Jever have been attached to the Squadron.                                                             OPERATIONAL. The month of February started with preparations for the forthcoming Sylt detachment. This was accomplished by flying simulated flag sorties both as pairs and threes, the latter approximating to the pattern as flown at Sylt.   A number of sorties were also flown against a flag target.     The squadron ground movement to Sylt was made on 8th to 10th February.   The squadron aircraft arrived during the morning of the 11th February.   The first week of the detachment was marred by bad weather and only one effective day's flying was accomplished. During the second week there were four and half effective flying days.   The squadron achieved a progressive average of 22.1%.   The weeks highest scorer was Flt/Lt. C.J. Barrey, D.F.C., A.F.C., D.F.M. with a score of 88 %.    During the last week of the month the squadron started firing at 20,000ft. on the Western range.   One difficulty experienced on this range was that if the flag was damaged by the first pair, it was impossible to get a replacement flag flying in time for the second pair.   So on 27th February a system was introduced by which only one pair fired on each flag.    At the end of the month the squadron averages were for low level 21.9% and high level 18.0%.   The total rounds fired were 13,871 and the average stoppage rate 605.                                                                                                                         signed DTAdamson                                                                                                                          (D. T. Adamson)                                                                                                                          Squadron Leader,                                                                                                                          Officer Commanding,                                                                                                                          No. 98 Squadron.