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| Place |
Date |
Time |
Summary of Events Compilation Officer: Fg. Off. D.A. Sawyer |
REFS TO APPENDICES |
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| Royal Air Force, SYLT |
1st. |
March |
To-day was the first flying day at SYLT and 13 Air to Air sorties were flown despite
a string crosswind. Plt. Off. Edwards, the Squadron's attached staff P.A.I. had
undercarriage trouble, his nosewheel failing to come down. He attempted to blow it
down with the emergency system, after selecting manual control, but this also failed
to move the nosewheel. Subsequently he made a good landing in manual, despite a
strong crosswind, holding the nose up as long as possible.
Cloud caused pilots to have difficulty in picking up flag at key positions, during
late afternoon.
ROUNDS FIRED: 1900 , STOPPAGE RATE: 1:1900
HIGHEST SCORE: Fg. Off. MAILLARD 23.3% , SQUADRON AVERAGE: 10.7% |
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2nd. |
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Only 5 air to air sorties were flown today due to a very strong crosswind which was at
times 90° to runway heading and gusting to 50 knots. Flying ceased at 11.30 hours
and during the afternoon three films were shown: a security film, "LOW TREASON",
and two others, "SHADOW OF THE RUHR" and "THIS MODERN AGE" (SHIPBUILDING).
ROUNDS FIRED: 378 , STOPPAGE RATE: 1:378
TOTAL ROUNDS FIRED: 2278 PROGRESSIVE STOPPAGE RATE: 1:1139
HIGHEST SCORE: Flt. Lt. LETHBRIDGE 6%, PROGRESSIVE SQUADRON AVERAGE: 9.0% |
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3rd. |
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22 Air to Air sorties were flown today, including 3 at 25,000 ' but the Squadron had no
success at that altitude. Once again, pilots had difficulty in picking up flag at the
key position during late afternoon, this time due to low sun and water reflection.
ROUNDS FIRED: 2599 , STOPPAGE RATE: 1:649
TOTAL ROUNDS FIRED: 4877 PROGRESSIVE STOPPAGE RATE: 1:813
HIGHEST SCORE: Fg. Off. TODMAN 20% , PROGRESSIVE SQN. AVERAGE: 7.8% |
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5th. |
(MONDAY) |
23 Air to Air sorties were flown today.
ROUNDS FIRED: 2445 , STOPPAGE RATE: 1:2445
TOTAL ROUNDS FIRED: 7322 PROGRESSIVE STOPPAGE RATE: 1:1043
HIGHEST SCORE: Fg. Off. MAILLARD 39% , PROGRESSIVE SQN. AVERAGE: 8.9% |
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6th. |
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There was no flying today. Two fronts passed through giving low stratus and steady
rain almost all day and cloud solid up to 20,000 '. The morning was occupied with
assessing of the previous day's cine films, and in the afternoon two films were shown
ROAD TO TOKYO" and "THIS MODERN AGE" (RIDDLE OF JAPAN"). |
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7th. |
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There was no flying today until 11.30 hours., due to ice on the runway. After which 13
Air to Air sorties were flown. During one sortie, flown by Fg. Off. MAILLARD, the
driving band came off a round and it tore a piece out of the blast tube.
ROUNDS FIRED: 1891 , STOPPAGE RATE: 1:945
TOTAL ROUNDS FIRED: 9213 PROGRESSIVE STOPPAGE RATE: 1:1024
HIGHEST SCORE: Fg. Off. McCULLAGH 15 % , PROGRESSIVE SQN. AVERAGE: 8.5% |
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8th. |
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25 Air to Air sorties were flown to-day. The G.C.I. was unserviceable for part of the
day and during this period firing was below cloud.
ROUNDS FIRED: 2885 , STOPPAGE RATE: 1:1443
TOTAL ROUNDS FIRED: 12098 PROGRESSIVE STOPPAGE RATE: 1:1099
HIGHEST SCORE: Flt. Lt. LETHBRIDGE 27 % , PROGRESSIVE SQN. AVERAGE: 7.4% |
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9th. |
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Firing was mainly at 20,000' to-day and 20 Air to Air sorties were flown.
ROUNDS FIRED: 2539 , STOPPAGE RATE: 1:635
TOTAL ROUNDS FIRED: 14,637 PROGRESSIVE STOPPAGE RATE: 1:976
HIGHEST SCORE: Fg. Off. SHARMAN 26 % , PROGRESSIVE SQN. AVERAGE: 7.4% |
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10th. |
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Flying ceased at 11.00 hours to-day due to low stratus and fog, and only 9 Air to Air
sorties were flown.
ROUNDS FIRED: 1019 , STOPPAGE RATE: Nil stoppages
TOTAL ROUNDS FIRED: 15, 656 PROGRESSIVE STOPPAGE RATE: 1:1044
HIGHEST SCORE: Fg. Off. TODMAN 7 % , PROGRESSIVE SQN. AVERAGE: 7.0% |
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12th. |
(MONDAY) |
26 Air to Air sorties were flown to-day. Before 14.00 hours the firing was at 10,000'
and after that time at 17,000' due to G.C.I. being unable to cope with more than two ranges.
ROUNDS FIRED: 3490 , STOPPAGE RATE: 1:1063
TOTAL ROUNDS FIRED: 19,146 PROGRESSIVE STOPPAGE RATE: 1:1044
HIGHEST SCORE: Fg. Off. McCULLAGH 23 % , PROGRESSIVE SQN. AVERAGE: 6.7% |
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13th. |
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All firing to-day was at 17,000', apart from 8 sorties around mid-day when G.C.I. were
not working; a total of 31 Air to Air sorties were flown.
ROUNDS FIRED: 3923 , STOPPAGE RATE: 1:1308
TOTAL ROUNDS FIRED: 19,146 , PROGRESSIVE STOPPAGE RATE: 1:1063
HIGHEST SCORE: Flt Lt. BARREY 27 %, PROGRESSIVE SQN. AVERAGE: 6.3% |
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14th |
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There was no flying to-day due to snow and later in the day, low cloud. The day was
devoted to assessing of cine film and interest films were shown in the Main Briefing
Room for aircrew. These latter were: "WE'RE ALL IN IT" (ACCIDENT
PREVENTION), "NO ALIBI", "ROCKET FIRING". "JUVENILE DELINQUENTS" AND
"BUILDING" The groundcrew were busy re-harmonising the aircraft to Parallel
harmonisation. |
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15th |
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Continuous snow cancelled all flying for the day, and a lecture was given by Fg. Off.
IANSON, one of the staff P.A.I.'s on all marks of the Radar Gunsight. Following
this, the pilots helped ground-crew complete the re-harmonisations. The same films
as shown yesterday were shown again to-day for those that missed them. |
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16th |
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29 Air to Air missions were flown to-day. The heights of firing varied between 10,000'
and 20,000' due to G.C.I. being unable to control us so that all firing had to be in
visual contact with the sea. Many sorties were abortive due to hazy conditions and
pilots being unable to judge distances out correctly. Wg. Cdr. J.R. WEST, D.F.C.,
O.C. Flying Wing at R.A.F. Jever, visited Sylt this evening to check out the Squadron's
progress.
ROUNDS FIRED: 2879 , STOPPAGE RATE: 1:1139
TOTAL ROUNDS FIRED: 25,948 PROGRESSIVE STOPPAGE RATE: 1:1120
HIGHEST SCORE: Fg. Off. YOUNG 20 % PROGRESSIVE SQN. AVERAGE: 6.0 % |
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17th |
(SATURDAY) |
Low stratus formed at ground level early this morning and no flying took place. A film
show was put on for any of the groundcrew who were not occupied. Wg. Cdr. C.S.
West, D.F.C., left this morning for Jever by ANSON due to poor weather. The
Squadron was stood down at 12,00 hours. |
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19th |
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All Air firing was at 17,000' - 20,000' and 29 Air to Air sorties were flown. The
weather was reasonable, but the cloud base was variable and at times was 000'. Group
Captain S.W.R. HUGHES, C.B.E., A.F.C., visited the Squadron to-day to check our progress.
ROUNDS FIRED: 2850 , STOPPAGE RATE: 1:720
TOTAL ROUNDS FIRED: 28,828 PROGRESSIVE STOPPAGE RATE: 1:1067
HIGHEST SCORE: Fg. Off. BRUNGER 14 % PROGRESSIVE SQN. AVERAGE: 5.8 % |
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20th |
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38 Air to Air sorties were flown to-day, mainly at 17,000' - 20,000'.
ROUNDS FIRED: 4331 , STOPPAGE RATE: 1:1085
TOTAL ROUNDS FIRED: 33,159 PROGRESSIVE STOPPAGE RATE: 1:1069
HIGHEST SCORE: Fg. Off. Sharman) 18 % PROGRESSIVE SQN. AVERAGE: 5.6 %
Fg.Off. Maillard ) |
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21st |
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Once again G.C.I. was unable to cope with 3 ranges and most of the 28 Air to Air sorties
which were flown were at 10,000 ' and below.
ROUNDS FIRED: 3255 , STOPPAGE RATE: 1:814
TOTAL ROUNDS FIRED: 36,114 PROGRESSIVE STOPPAGE RATE: 1:1040
HIGHEST SCORE: Fg. Off. Hirst 47 % PROGRESSIVE SQN. AVERAGE: 6.3 % |
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22nd. |
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Air firing was mainly at 7.000' once again due to G.C.I. being unable to cope, but a few
sorties of the 21 flown were at 20,000'.
ROUNDS FIRED: 2280 , STOPPAGE RATE: 1:380
TOTAL ROUNDS FIRED: 38,694 PROGRESSIVE STOPPAGE RATE: 1:944
HIGHEST SCORE: Fg. Off. Edwards 19 % PROGRESSIVE SQN. AVERAGE: 6.3 % |
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23rd. |
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There was no flying to-day due to poor visibility in the morning and continuous rain
in the afternoon. The first three films in the "WAR IN THE AIR" series were shown in
the morning, the afternoon being occupied with assessing of cine films. |
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24th |
(SATURDAY) |
To-day was to have been the last day of Air to Air firing at Sylt, but there was no flying
for Hunters due to poor visibility and all pilots were occupied cleaning aircraft. |
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25th |
SUNDAY |
All pilots worked this morning to finish cleaning the aircraft. |
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26th. |
Monday |
9 aircraft flew back to R.A.F. Jever and the pilots were: Flt. Lt. BARREY, D.F.C.,
A.F.C., D.F.M., Fg. Off. SHARMAN, Fg. Off. EDWARDS, Fg. Off. BYWATER, Flt. Lt.
LETHBRIDGE,
Fg. Off. BRUNGER, Fg. Off. HIRST, Fg. Off. MAILLARD, and Fg. Off.
SHORE. Fg. Off. WHITTAKER flew back in a Vampire T II. Most of the Ground
Equipment was packed to-day. |
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27th |
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Sqn. Ldr. ADAMSON and Fg. Off. McCULLAGH flew the remaining 2 Hunters back to
Jever, and the packing of the Pack Wagons was completed. Some Vampire T II flying
was done at Jever. |
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28th |
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The road party left SYLT this morning under the control of Fg. Off. SANDERSON, and
the rail party, under Plt. Off. RASTALL, left at 06.00 hours. Fg. Off. YOUNG, after
handing over the block and hangar, left by road at 14.00 hours. Once again, some
Vampire T II flying took place at JEVER. |
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| JEVER |
29th |
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There was no flying to-day, as the airfield was being repaired and most of the squadron
were occupied unloading the pack wagons. The Squadron was stood down for Easter
Grant. |
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FLYING HOURS STRENGTH
OPERATIONAL (DAY) 285.10 OFFICERS 20
OPERATIONAL (NIGHT) Nil S.N.C.O.'s 8
TRAINING TYPE 88.00 CORPORALS 13
INSTRUMENT FLYING (ACTUAL) 11.00 OTHER RANKS 48
INSTRUMENT FLYING (SIMULATED) 2.20
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PERSONNEL |
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13TH. |
March. |
Fg. Off. McCULLAGH left unit for R.A.F. Hospital WEGBERG |
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16th. |
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Fg. Off. McCULLAGH returned to unit from WEGBERG |
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21st. |
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Fg. Off. McCULLAGH left unit for C.M.E. |
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25th |
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Fg. Off. McCULLAGH returned to unit from C.M.E. |
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26th. |
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Flt. Lt. BARREY, D.F.C., A.F.C., D.F.M., Fg. Off. SHARMAN, Fg. Off. EDWARDS, Fg.
Off. BYWATER, Flt. Lt. LETHBRIDGE, Fg. Off. BRUNGER, Fg. Off. HIRST, Fg. Off.
MAILLARD, Fg. Off. SHORE flew back to JEVER in HUNTERS. Fg. Off. WHITTAKER
flew back in T XI. |
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27th |
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Sqn. Ldr. ADAMSON and Fg. Off. McCULLAGH flew back in HUNTERS. |
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28th. |
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Fg. Off.'s. SANDERSON, SAWYER, TODMAN, BARROW and YOUNG returned to JEVER by road.
Fg. Off. RILEY and Plt. Off. RASTALL returned by rail. Flt. Lt. WESTON returned
from I.R.E. course at C.F.E. WEST RAYNHAM. |
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OPERATIONAL
March was a good flying month with generally good weather and only 6 days were
completely unfit for flying. The Squadron has been at SYLT for all but 4 days of the
month, and a fairly successful detachment was the result. A total of 38,694 rounds
were fired, with 41 stoppages, the majority of which were electrical, giving an overall
stoppage rate of 1:944. 313 effective sorties were achieved, giving a total number of
hours of 266 hrs. 45 mins. Several Meteor trained pilots took advantage of Target
Towing Squadron's shortage of pilots, to do some towing when they were not required to
fly with the Squadron. The final Squadron Average was 6.3 %, and several good
scores were obtained during the detachment, notable Fg. Off. HIRST, 47 %, Fg. Off.
MAILLARD 39%. |
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ADMINISTRATION
During the concentrated flying that takes place at Sylt, the low establishment of Riggers
and Fitters once again placed a considerable strain on these trades. However, at the
time of writing,two Airframe Mechs. have just been posted to the Unit, and this should
ease things considerably.
signed ABLetbridge
(A.B. LETHBRIDGE
Flight Lieutenant
for Officer Commanding
No. 98 Squadron
Royal Air Force.
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