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Aviation History
1943
1943 - 1662.PDF
FLIGHT JUNE 24TH, 1943 Wing Cdr. Ian R. Gleed, D.S.O., D.F.C., flying his clipped-wing Spitfire IR-G over North Africa shortly before he was posted as missing. SERVICE AVIATION Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm News and Announcements Tactical Air Force FormedD URING one oJ his visits to Africa the PrimeMinister was impressed by the work of the North African Tactical Air Force and he directedthat immediate steps were to be taken to build such an air arm within the Metropolitan AirForce. This new force has^already been formed and was tried out during the large-scale inter-eervice exercises held in March of this year. The Air Ministry now makes the following offi-cial announcement. As a result of experience gained in the fightingin North Africa certain measur.es of reorganisation have been eHeeted in the metropolitan air force.The Army Co-operation Command, which was formed in December, 1940, to organise, experimentand train in all forms o land/air co-operation, has been merged into a Tactical Air Force designed towork with the army in the field. The organisation of this force conforms closely with that ofa theTactical Ajr Force under Air Marshal Sir Arthur Coningham in North-West Africa.The Tactical Air Force is located in Fighter Command in order te> ensure close integration ofthe work of the tactical reconnaissance aircraft and light bombers with that of the main fighterforce. Air Vice-Marshal John Henry D'Albiac, C.B.,D.S.O., will command the new force, and the following higher appointments are also announced :Air Marshal Sir Arthur Sheridan Barratt, K.C.B., C.M.G., MX., formerly Air Officer Com-mauding-in-Chief, Technical Training Command, to be Air Officer Cominacding-m-Chief, TechnicalTraining Command. Air Marshal Sir John Tremayne Babington,K.C.B., C.B.E., D.S.O., formerly Air Officer Com- manding-in-Chief. Technical Training Command,to be head of the Royal Air Force mission in Moscow. - Promotion GENERAL DUTIES BRANCH. Croup Capt. (Act. Air Comdre.) B. E. EMDRV,D.S.O., A.F.C., AD.C, to be Act. Air Vice Marshal. June 1st, 1943. Awards THE KINO has been of gy tion of air operations: — graciously pleaded to approve the following awards -in recognitionof gallantry and devotion to dul i th ti f i i raciouslds -in recognition ly in the ex'<u- Distinguished Flying Cross Sqn. Ldr. G. G. Avis, R.A.F.O., No. 57 Sqii.—Among his operational sorties arc aUaokp on heavily delended enemy targets, such as Berlin,Essen, Hamburg, Genoa, Turin and Milan. One night in January, 1943, this officer's aircraft v.-nshit by anti-aircraft fire when making his bombing ran over Eseen, one engine becoming un*i*i virt - able. Nevertheless. Sqn. Ldr. Avis successfullycompleted his mission and flew saiely back to base with three engines. Some weeks later, whenreturning from Essen his aircraft was attacked by an enemy fighter and euif'red considerabledamage. By skilful evasive action Sqn. Ldr. Avis brought his aircraft out of danger and enabledhis rear gunner to damage the Me 210. Sqn. Ldr. L. J. BIRCHAIA, R.C.A.F., No. 413(R.C.A.F.) Sqn.—This officer was the first to sight and report the approach of the Japanese navalforces which attacked Ceylon. His timely warn- ing enabled preparations to be made which re-sulted in considerable losses to the enemy. Act. Fit. Lt. D. K. ALLPORT, R.A.F.V.R., No.35 Sqn.—Fit. Lt. Allport has completed a. large number of successful operations against the enemy.His fine record as a navigator has been achieved by the exercise of outstanding skill and courage."Act. Fit. Lt. L, W. D. FAGAN, R.A.F.V.R., No. 10 Sqn.—Fit. Lt. Fagan is now on his second tourof operational duty. For the past five months he has served as squadron gunnery leader withmarked ability and enthusiasm. Act. Fit. Lt. 8. R. WHIPPLE, B.A.F.V.R., No.102 Sqn.—This officer has participated in numerous successfnl sorties, including attacks on such well-defended targets as Berlin, Bremen, Cologne and Essen.F/O. F. E. ALDER, R.A.F.V.R., No. 78 Sqn.— This officer has completed 71 operational sorties,some of which have been against targets in the enemy's most heavily defended Tireas. F/O. P. B. BAJXANTYHE, R.A.F.V.R., No. 97Sgn.—F/O. Ballantyne, as wireless operator/air gunner, has completed a successful tour of opera-tional duty daring which he has taken part in attacks on most of the very heavily defended Ger-man targets, including Essen, CologDe and Berlin. He has also participated in several long-distanceattacks on Italian targets. F/O. J. N. CATTY, B.A.F.V.R., No. 49 Sqn.—As navigator this officer has taken his aircraft to a variety of enemy targets from the Baltic toGermany, Italy and France. •p/O. J. V. CBEBBIN, NO. 9 Sqn.—As air gunnerthis officer has participated in many operational sorties against the enemy. He has inspired com-plete confidence in his crew and his vigilance and coolness on many occasions enabled his captain toavoid attacks from enemy fighters. F/O. R. FELL, R.A.F.V ft.. No. 1C Sqn.-lnNovember, 1943, vhen returning home lrom Genoa, on three engines, F/O. Fell's aircraftcrashed ana biirst into flames. With an utter disregard fnr liis personal safety this officer suc-ceeded in extricating bis injured comrades ami dragging them clear of the blazing aircraft. Howas himself taken to hospital later suffering from bruises and bnrns to head and iace. On anotheroccasion, when on the way to the target, the wire- less apparatus broke down, but F/O. Fell, show-ing fine technical skill, succeeded in repairing the ?et. thus materially contributing to the .-ivrps^fnlif'inpletion of the mission. F/O. J. M. GRANT, R.A.F.V.R., No. 49 Sqn.—This officer is a highly experienced wireless operator. His missions, whii-h have all been per-formed within a very short space of lime, have been mainly directed ag.iinst important amiheavily defended targets such as Berlin, Essen and Hamburg. F/O. 11. \V. GRIFFITHS, R.A.F.V.R., No. 466(R.A.A.F.) Sqn.—This officer has been engaged in operational "flying in different types ol aircraltand against a wide variety of targets, which include Hamburg, Bremen, Cologne and Genoa.One one occasion, F/O. Griffiths was forced to abandon his aircraft by parachute and to spend14 hours in a dinghy before being rescued; on another, his aircraft was badly damaged and onemember of the crew killed by anti-aircraft fire. F/O. J. D. JOHNSTON, H.C.A.F., No. 78 Sqn.—This officer has invariably displayed a very keen desire to proceed on operations. Although nowmainly employed in ground organisation, he is, at all times, willing to fly as wireless operatorwith any crew, and has completed many sorties over the more heavily defended areas of Germanyand occupied territory. F/O. W. B. KIRK WOOD-HACK ETT, R.A.F.V.R..No. 97 Sqn.—This officer lias completed a large number of operational missions as air gunner.Many of these have been attacks on heavily de- iended targets in the Ruhr, Berlin and Gdynia.He also took part in the 1.000-bomber raids on the Ruhr and Cologne and in the daylight raidon Milan. F/O. F. G. G. LUSH, R.A.F.V.R.. No. 97 Sqn.—This officer has participated in a number of suc- otssfnl operational sorties against objectives inGermany and Italy. Excellent photographs have invariably hcen obtained which give evidence ofa high degree of team work. F/O B. MOOBHEAU, K.A.I'.V.R., No. 9 Sqn.—This officer has taken part in many long and arduous nights, including the daylight raids onMilan and Le Creuaot and low level attacks on targets in Germany. On many occasions his vigi-lance ami calmness have enabled his captain to avoid attacks from enemy night fighters. F O. C. D. PERKINS, R.C.A F., NO. 9 8<jn.-Included in his many sorties are raids on Genoa, Turin. Munich arid Berlin; he also took part indaylight attacks on Le Oreusot and Milan. F/O. V T. SPENCfc-R, R.AF.V'.R., No. 78 Sqn.—This officer has invariably displayed great courage and coolness in the execution of his duties asnavigator. lit has always co-operalcd well witii his captain.F/O. T. TRILSBECK, R.C.A.F.. No. 97 Sqrj.— F/O. Trilsbecli has completed many operationalsorties as air gunner in a. very suceepsful crew. His targets have included such heavily defended •Mitres as the Ruhr. Berlin, Turin and Genoa. F/O. W. WA.TT8, R.A.F.V.R., No. 49 Sqn.-This officer lias navigated his aircraft with cool- ness ar.d determination in the face of adverseweatbi-r and strong enemy opposition. Despite any difficulty he has completed all his missions »ccu-
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