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| Place |
Date |
Time |
Summary of Events COMPILING OFFICER Fg. Off. C.W. Powell |
REFS TO APPENDICES |
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| Jever |
1.6.55. |
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Operational
Today was a full working day after the Whitsun Grant. Still under the influence
of the anti-cyclone, it has been a good flying day.
Two or three sorties of four aircraft were airborne today on high level battle
formation. Together with a number of conversion flights, this made a total of 25
sorties. Five or six aircraft were serviceable all day. |
|
| Jever |
2.6.55. |
|
Operational
The anti-cyclone was still exerting its influence today. A total of 30 sorties
were flown including four section of four aircraft on high level battle formation.
Most pilots are finding the high level battle formation at 40,000ft. and 45,000ft.
is not as easy as it looks. However, with a little practice there should be a big
improvement.
Personnel
Fg. Off. R.G.V. Irish arrived from U.K. Leave having spent a few says clearing
from Fassburg. |
|
| Jever |
3.6.55. |
|
Operational
Serviceability today was not very good and only about fifteen sorties were made
although the weather was again good. Most of the sorties were first attempts at cine
ranging and tracking.
Todays flying brought the total operational hours this month up to fifty. |
|
| Jever |
4.6.55. |
|
Operational
After this mornings parade, there was only time for one detail, which comprised of
a section of four on battle formation and another single aircraft finishing conversion
exercises. |
|
| Jever |
5.6.55. |
|
STAND-DOWN |
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| Jever |
6.6.55. |
|
Operational
With five or six aircraft available most of the day, a total of 54 sorties were
made, mostly on cine ranging and tracking and quarter attacks. For the last detail the
Squadron put up eight aircraft on battle formation at 40,000ft. followed by a close
formation flypast in two boxes. |
|
| Jever |
7.6.55. |
|
Operational
The anti-cyclone has now receded and today was very cloudy with occasional rain.
Because of this, flying was limited for part of the day and only a few sorties on
high level battle formation were carried out. |
|
| Jever |
8.6.55. |
|
Operational
There was no flying this morning due top bad weather, so after one or two films, some
of the pilots started learning to do flight inspections on the aircraft.
This afternoon was a sports afternoon. |
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| Jever |
9.6.55. |
|
Operational
After this morning's parade to commemorate the Queen's Birthday, the rest of the
day was a stand-down. |
|
| Jever |
10.6.55. |
|
Operational
Another parade was held this morning for the Duke of Edinburgh's Birthday.
Afterwards flying was carried out on a rather limited scale, due partly to the fact that
there was a gusty cross-wind at 90 degrees to the runway and also due to the fact that
four of the Squadron aircraft were A.O.G. for various spares.
Even so sixteen sorties were carried out, all of them on cine quarter attacks at
twenty or thirty thousand feet. |
|
| Jever |
11.6.55. |
|
Operational
After lectures on the fuel system of the Hunter IV a few sorties were carried out
on cine attacks. |
|
| Jever |
12.6.55. |
|
Operational
STAND-DOWN |
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| Jever |
13.6.55. |
|
Operational
This morning a depression was centred just south of the airfield, giving us a
cloud base of 500 ft. with occasional rain.
This cloud-base lifted quite early and a total of eighteen sorties were made on
high level battle formation and cine practices.
Fg. Off. P.J. Hardy almost had to land with one main wheel locked up, but
it came down at the last moment, after damaging the undercarriage doors.
Personnel
Sgt. Hardy re-joined the Squadron today for a fortnights continuation training. |
|
| Jever |
14.6.55. |
|
Operational
As the undercarriage trouble mentioned yesterday was the second incident of this
nature, all Hunters have been grounded for a while.
Consequently, the only flying done today was for instrument ratings on the
Vampire TXI.
A number of pilots continued with before flight inspections on the aircraft. |
|
| Jever |
15.6.55. |
|
Operational
Not even instrument flying could be done this morning,as there was 8/8ths of
cloud between 300ft. and 500 ft base, with occasional drizzle.
This afternoon was a sports afternoon.
Personnel
Sgt. Hardy has now become detached to R.A.F. Wunstorf for his continuation training
on Venoms. |
|
| Jever |
16.6.55. |
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Operational
A few aircraft were available today and twelve sorties were carried out. Most
sorties were on aerobatics and further practice on flying in manual controls. |
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| Jever |
17.6.55. |
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Operational
Now that a few aircraft were available, a few sorties were made on high level
interceptions. Four sorties of four aircraft each flew on these trips in preparation
for Exercise 'Carte Blanche'.
The only other flying was on instrument flying, renewing ratings. |
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| Jever |
18.6.55. |
|
Operational
After the usual Saturday morning parade, only four sorties were made. Three air-craft
did some battle formation, while the fourth did a conversion exercise with the only
available pilot who has not yet completed conversion. |
|
| Jever |
19.6.55. |
|
STAND-DOWN |
|
| Jever |
20.6.55. |
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Operational
Although Exercise 'Carte Blanche' has officially started, we are not taking part
until Wednesday. Consequently, a few sorties were made practising cine attacks at
40,000ft. |
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| Jever |
21.6.55. |
|
Operational
A depression just north of the airfield gave very bad weather all day. The cloud-
base was almost four to five hundred feet and visibility was often down to one
thousand yards. |
|
| Jever |
22.6.55. |
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Operational
This morning low stratus with base on the ground, gave a visibility of about 2,500
yards. By mid-day there had been a big improvement.
Our part in Exercise 'Carte Blanche' started at 12,00 hours, but the first pair did
not scramble until 14.00 hours. This sortie turned out to be the only one, but a few
training flights were made. |
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| Jever |
23.6.55. |
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Operational
Once again, due to bad weather, no flying was done before lunch. Two sections of
four were scrambled during the afternoon, but no interceptions were made. Some
training flights on cine practices were carried out, but the total flying only amounted
to 18 sorties even though at least six aircraft were serviceable all day. |
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| Jever |
24.6.55. |
|
Operational
A good day's flying today, with the first sorties airborne at 06.25hrs. and the
last one landing at 20.15 hours.
A few more exercise sorties were made, and of which was close formation for the
whole trip, while some press photographers in Vampire TXI took photographs. |
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| Jever |
25.6.55. |
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Operational
After morning fog had cleared, the first section of four aircraft were scrambled at
07.50 hours.
Heavy thunderstorms curtailed flying rather severely for the afternoon, but a few
more sorties were made in the evening.
A total of 19 sorties were made, 12 of which were on 'Carte Blanche'.
Personnel
Fg. Off. J.B. Craig re-joined the Squadron as P.A.I. after completing the course
at Leconfield. |
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| Jever |
26.6.55. |
|
Operational
This was the best day so far. A total of 40 sorties were carried out, 20 of
which were on Exercise. The first pair were airborne at 04.05 hours and the last
aircraft landed at 20.25 hours.
On the exercise, one or two sorties produced some P.I.'s on a Canberra. |
|
| Jever |
27.6.55. |
|
Operational
Sea fog reduced visibility this morning and prevented any flying until about 0900
hours. The first 'Carte Blanche' aircraft did not get airborne until 11.00 Hours.
Only five sections were scrambled on the Exercise, but 31 sorties were carried out
altogether. The remainder were training flights on high level battle formation and
cine exercises. |
|
| Jever |
28.6.55. |
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Operational
Late last night it was found that the 'war' was over, so a rather late start was
made to enable pilots to recover slightly from lack of sleep.
Two sections of eight aircraft each did practice P.I.'s and then the aircraft were
split up slightly. Another two sections of four aircraft were flown together with
a few single aircraft, including Fg. Off. Craig doing his first conversion trip. |
|
| Jever |
29.6.55. |
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Operational
The Squadron has now completed 300 hours on type this month. Only 14 sorties
were carried out this morning, mainly on high level battle formation.
This afternoon was a sports afternoon, but bad weather rather curtailed the sports. |
|
| Jever |
30.6.55. |
|
Operational
The weather today was rather unsettled, with occasional showers and low cloud. A
number of cine trips were made and the opportunity was taken to practice bad weather
circuits, which were sometimes necessary.
Personnel
Fg. Off. B. Darrington went on three weeks U.K. leave this morning. |
|
Aircraft
Hunter F.4
Vampire TXI |
TOTAL |
Flying
|
Hours SQUADRON STRENGTH
Hours Minutes Sorties Officer's 16
324 15 417 S.N.C.O's(Aircrew) 1
22 35 34 S.N.C.O's 7
346 50 451 Cpls. and below 69
signedCMGibbs
(C.M. GIBBS)
Squadron Leader,
Officer Commanding
No. 118 Squadron
Royal Air Force
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