PLACE DATE TIME SUMMARY OF EVENTS COMPILING OFFICER. Fg Off Tonkinson

R.A.F. JEVER OCTOBER, 1960 I. OPERATIONS
During the first week of the month the Squadron carried out air to
ground firing at Strohen range. About 70% of the rounds were fired on
precision shots, the remainder on operational attacks. From 11th to 17th
the Squadron was on Battle Flight, there were two scrambles, one for a
German Air Force aircraft which entered the A.D.I.Z.
During the
A HREF="./glossary.htm#BattleFlight">Battle Flight period Squadron training held
the emphasis on high level battle formation, cine weave and 1/4 attacks.&
Thursday 18th: the Squadron flew six aircraft on 4 v 2 combat. Low cloud and poor
visibility prevented flying in the latter part of the third week. On Monday, 24th the week
was started with a Squadron formation of 12 aircraft. Photographs were taken from a
T.7 chase aircraft, unfortunately there was not time to complete the intended formation
changes before a recall owing to deteriorating weather at Jever.
The 93 Sqn F540 mentions the squadron flying a 12-ship formation on 24Oct60. I remembered I
had a photograph of that event. The F540 mentions that it had to be curtailed due to poor
weather closing in at Jever. The photograph does indeed show us all between layers and above
low cloud cover. My log book confirms that we all had to recover in pairs GCAs.
(Thanks to Chris Stone.) [Not in original F540].
In the last week of the month the Squadron started
to operate its aircraft with 4 x 100 gal. tanks. High/Low strikes were made on targets
in the U.K. Sections of four fly out at high level and let down to make a landfall in
East Anglia; the run into the target being made at low level in Uxbridge I area. The
withdrawal is made at low level and the climb back to height started just short of the
coast. So far all these sorties have been highly successful. Exercise Amled
flown on 27th. 3 F.84 F's and 8 Canberras were claimed.
Hours Flown
Day Nite Total Sorties
Hunter F.6 312.15 13.25 325.40 302
Hunter T.7 28.25 2.20 30.45 32
Total 340.40 15.45 356.25 334
|
I. Air to Ground |
Precision |
Operational |
Rounds
|
2381
|
1011 |
Hits |
934
|
249 |
Average |
39.2% |
24.6% |
II. Administration
On Thursday, 13th the Station Commander inspected the Squadron and was complementary in his remarks. Friday 21st: together with the rest of the wing the Squadron paid the Dutch Air Force a return visit at Leeuwarden. Fg.Off. Ashwood attended the Aviation Medicine Course.
III. Personal
Flt.Lt. Hardie joined the Squadron on Tuesday, 4th. Flt.Lt. J.T. Hall left the Squadron on Wednesday 19th to take up his flight commander appointment on No. 43 Sqn. Fg.Off. Fahey carried out Swift familiarisation with No. 2 Sqn. which he joins on the disbandment of No. 93 Sqn. On Monday 31st October Flt.Lt. Sneddon and Fg.Off. Crane joined the Sqn. Flt.Lt. Ryan won the Sqn. cine trophy.
IV. General & Social
A committee (Fg.Off's. Ashwood, Haig and Tonkinson) was set up to organise a disbandment party. At a Sqn. Dinner night on Friday 28th, Flt.Lt. Paddy Hine was dined out, Flt.Lt. Hardie & Flt.Lt. Sneddon were dined in.
Signature O Bergh (M.O. Bergh) Squadron Leader Officer Commanding No. 93 Squadron.
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