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| Place |
Date |
Time |
Summary of Events COMPILING OFFICER Fg.Off. G.E. Hickman |
REF. TO APPENDICES |
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| R.A.F. Jever |
1st.
1954. |
October |
Today's shooting resulted in an average of 3.5 per cent.
Fg.Off Chadwick who yesterday scored 35 per cent, which is the second highest
score of any Sabre pilot at Sylt, failed to score today. |
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2nd |
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No flying today because of poor weather.
Flt. Lt. Colvin went to Jever to collect an aircraft. |
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4th |
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Only three sorties were flown today, which were all abortive, due to a
spinning flag. The weather closed in at 07.30 hours and it did not stop
raining for the rest of the day. |
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5th |
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The weather was bad, and the day was spent watching survival films, and a
series of combat films taken on D.-day.
Flt. Lt. Colvin returned by road. |
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6th |
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The weather was the same as yesterday. This afternoon "B" Flight pilots
went on tour of the Air Sea Rescue Station at List. |
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7th |
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Because of an extremely strong cross wind, Sabre flying did not start
until 10.30 hours when it was decided to fly off the short runway, which
was into wind. The best scores of the day were obtained by Fg.Off.
Balfour (18 and 11 per cent) and Sqn.Ldr. Browne (14 per cent)
Fg. Off. Sanderson collected a Sabre from Jever. |
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8th |
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Today's shooting brought the Squadron average up to 4.5 per cent. We are
behind 4 and 20 Squadrons. The highest score of the day was by Sqn.Ldr.
Browne who scored 26 per cent.
Fg. Off. Page had his rear fire warning light come on in flight this
morning. He made an emergency landing on the airfield, and it was found
that some turbine blades were missing. The engine was category 3.
[Click to see Sabre Pilots Notes description.] |
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9th |
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Firing was impossible due to low cloud and mist. The cloud base lifted
slightly, and Sqn.Ldr. Browne and Fg.Off. Busby took two Sabres to Jever
for servicing. |
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11th |
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The first six sorties were cancelled due to fog, and the programme started
at 08.15 hours. Several sorties were lost during the day due to aircraft
unserviceability - mainly gunsights.
Fg.Off. Busby returned in the Prentice and Fg.Off. Bell flew to Jever to
collect another Sabre. |
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12th |
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Flying was held up this morning due to a slippery runway, and a strong cross
wind. Fg. Off. Pigdon fell off the wing, as he was climbing out of his
aircraft, and broke his arm. |
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13th |
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No flying today, because of bad weather. |
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14th |
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Fg. Off. Ritchie left for Wunstorf by train this morning with a small advance
party. The Squadron was due to carry out a double re-arm today, but
it was postponed until tomorrow. |
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15th |
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The weather was the same as yesterday, and the re-arm exercise had to be
cancelled. The day was spent packing kit and ground equipment on to the
train which leaves tomorrow.
The final average was 4.7 per cent, and the stoppage rate for this detachment
was 5859 (4 stoppages). The top three averages were:-
Fg. Off. Balfour 13.3 per cent.
Sqn. Ldr. Browne 13 per cent
Fg. Off. Chadwick 12.2 per cent.
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16th |
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The main party left for Wunstorf this morning. The rest of the day was spent
tidying up the hangar, and offices, and getting all the aircraft serviceable. |
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18th |
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The cold front is still with us, and we could not leave for Wunstorf today. |
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19th |
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The Wing started with the move to Wunstorf at 14.00 hours, but we were delayed
by the Venom blocking the runway with a burst tyre. All aircraft eventually
arrived at Wunstorf by 17.00 hours.
Flt. Sgt. Shrubsole flew an aircraft to Jever for servicing. |
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20th |
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Seven aircraft were serviceable today, and everyone had at least one trip.
The sorties were all individual sector recces, finished off with a G.C.A.
Flt. Lt. Darcy started his Sabre conversion, and Fg. Off. Hampton flew his
first sortie since he broke his arm seven weeks ago. |
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21st |
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The Squadron carried out Battle Flight duties today. Unfortunately the G.C.I.
had no targets until 12.00 hours. During the afternoon several sorties were flown
and quick turnrounds were the order of the day. |
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22nd |
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Until midday flying was limited by weather to one pair from each Squadron, when
the weather improved to allow a full flying programme. |
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23rd |
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The day started with a station parade. After the parade there was a Wing
formation of 12 aircraft, of which we provided 8. |
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24th |
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Stand down. |
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25th |
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The weather was good today, and we did 27 hours flying, most of which was in
sections of four. Sqn. Ldr. Browne and Fg. Off. Exley carried out a strike
on Fassburg airfield, but did not see the camouflaged targets, which were in
the woods.
F/S Shrubsole returned from Jever in a Sabre. |
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26th |
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Another good days flying (36 hours). |
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27th |
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The day started well, and Sqn Ldr. Browne took a six up at 08.30 hours.
Twenty hours had been flown by lunchtime, when the weather closed in, and
finished flying for the rest of the day. All pilots were kept busy during
the afternoon, passing their Crew Chief tests. |
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28th |
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Flying was restricted to one section from each Squadron for the first hour
this morning, and flying was cancelled for the day at 14.30 hours. This
was due to a signal from Headquarters stating that the artificial feel device
for the ailerons controls on all Sabre aircraft was to be checked for security. |
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29th |
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The Squadron carried out Battle Flight duties today. Most of the sorties
ended with the sections splitting into two pairs, and intercepting each
other. |
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30th &
31st. |
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Station Stand Down. |
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Rounds fired - 14618
Stoppages - 3
Stoppage Rate - 4873
Hours flown in October :-
SABRE 4 - 284.30
METEOR 7 )
)- 33.00
VAMPIRE T.11 )
Total - 317.40
Total sorties flown - 492 |
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5th |
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PERSONNEL - Flt. Lt. D'Arcy joined us from 14 Squadron, Fassburg. He is to
take over "A" Flight when Flt. Lt. Horrell leaves. |
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15th |
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Flight Lieutenant Colvin and Fg. Off. Mitchell started Continental leave. |
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17th |
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Fg. Off. Pigdon went on leave. |
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29th |
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Fg. Off. Page went to U.K. on leave in a visiting B. 29. |
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ADMINISTRATION
1. The Squadron move from A.P.S. Sylt to Wunstorf took place between 16th and
19th October, 1954. The air party arrived after being delayed a day by poor
weather. The Squadron return to Jever, our home station, is postponed until
the middle of November, because the runway is being extended.
2. All available personnel and aircraft have been brought down from Jever
to bring the Squadron up to full strength.
[Click to see story of extension.] |
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OPERATIONAL
3. The flying at Sylt was strictly limited by weather, and consequently there
was a lack of continuity in training with very few effective sorties. The
final Squadron average was correspondingly low.
Radar ranging was used on 60 per cent of all live shoots, and proved rather
difficult to handle at first. However most pilots gained valuable experience
and a few good scores were achieved. The radar serviceability was about 60 per cent.
A satisfactory radar flag has yet to be developed, as a large percentage of them
spin, 'cant' or fall off. There was some intensive flying after our arrival at
Wunstorf. This consisted of refreshing all pilots on the standard operational
procedures. Quite a few sorties were flown on "Exercise Barrage", but few
targets were available. Battle Flight duties were carried out on two days.
Usually the section of four aircraft were split into pairs for interceptions.
This has only limited value but suitable targets are rare.
Three low level strikes were carried out on Fassburg airfield to enable
the R.A.F. Regiment to practice their guns for airfield defence. The extra
hours flown during the last ten days of the month made a good ending to an
otherwise unfavourable month's flying. |
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Signed DFM Browne
(D.F.M. BROWNE)
Squadron Leader
Officer Commanding
No. 93 Squadron.
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