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Aviation History
1948
1948 - 0734.PDF
564 FLIGHT MAY 20TH, 1948 Service Aviation R.A.F. Police Auxiliaries Badge W.A.A.F. Non-Regulars each print. This is necessary, since onlya directly vertical shot gives the under- sea information sought; the edge of eachprint shows only the dazzle of sunshine on water. A green filter is used, and theresultant prints are remarkably clear. The squadron began this operation onApril 9th. To date, there have been tight sorties, each producing about 400exposures, and about two-thirds of the area has now been covered. Meeting the " Queens " CUNDERLANDS and Lancasters of*J No. 19 Group, Coastal Command, R.A.F., are meeting the Queen Elizabethand Queen Mary between 200 and 500 miles out from Land's End. The flightsform part of the squadron's navigation exercises, using fast merchant shipping(the "Queens" cruise at 28 knots) and naval surface craft. Times of departure from New York orCherbourg are known at Group Head- quarters in Plymouth, and the ships'positions are estimated at a given time for interception. Essential informationis passed to the Squadron Commander, and the task is to locate, identify andshadow the liners at extreme radar range, which might be up to between 50 and 60miles. Interceptions are made at all hours, day or night, and in almost allweathers. After shadowing for an hour, the aircraft fly in and show themselves,coming down to about 700 feet. In addition to the Cunard Line, ships, belonging to the Elder Dempster Line (west coast of Africa), the Pacific SteamNavigation Co. (South America) and the Union Castle Line (South Africa) co-operate in these exercises, thus providing a variety of interception positions. Theyinclude cargo, passenger-cargo, medium- speed passenger and the fast liners, andrange from 15,000 tons to 83,000 tons. A CAP badge and shoulder flash forthe locally recruited R.A.F. Police Auxiliaries overseas has been approvedby the Air Ministry. The badge, which is chromium plated, is similar to thenormal R.A.F. badge and bears the words "Police Auxiliaries." Theshoulder flash is an oval with the words "R.A.F. Police Auxiliaries" in lightblue lettering. The Auxiliaries were formed just overa year ago for policing R.A.F. stations and property overseas. These dutieswere formerly performed by miscel- laneous forces whose members had avariety of titles—wardens, warders, ghaffirs, chowkidars, watchmen andguards. Generally they lacked super- vision and training, were uneconomicallydistributed and in some cases markedly inefficient. Youngest Unit NOS. 91 and 92 Squadrons of theR.A.F. Regiment (Malaya), formed last autumn from local recruits, recentlyheld their passing-out parade at Kuala Lumpur. The squadrons, now fullytrained, will be based at R.A.F. Stations Changi and Seletar respectively, bothnear Singapore. The squadrons were addressed by Air Vice-Marshal J. Whit-worth Jones, Air Officer Commanding R.A.F. Malaya, who said: "The RoyalAir Force Regiment (Malaya) is the youngest unit in the Royal Air Force,but you have a proud charge. I am sure that in the performance of it you willbe worthy of the great service to which you belong and of the country whichbred you." After formal marching and rifle drillthe Malayan airmen gave a physical training display and staged a shorttactical exercise showing the operational role of the Regiment in the defence ofairfields. WORKING UP AT LEE-ON-SOLENT : A carrier air group, composed of squadrons flying Hawker Sea Furies and Fairey Fireflies, is working up at H.MS. Daedalus (R.NA S., Leeon- Solent) prior to joining H.M.S. Vengeance for the autumn cruise. Officers are seen with oni of their new Seo Furies. OFFICERS and Airwomen of theW.A.A.F. Reserve and the W.A.A.F. Volunteer reserve list (flying)are now to have the silver badge which. as recently announced, is now given tothe R.A.F.V.R. and Royal Auxiliary Air Force. It is to be worn only withcivilian dress, and may be retained by those who satisfactorily complete five" years' service. "P.T," Demonstrations A TEAM of 36 instructors trained bythe R.A.F. School of Physical Training, Cosford, Wblverhampton, hasbeen formed to give public demonstra- tions in different parts of the countryduring the summer. First it is to be seen at Blackpool, where it will remain fora fortnight from May 16th. Two dis- plays will be given daily on the forefront.On June nth and 12th it will take part in a Tattoo in the grounds of WarwickCastle under the auspices of the Warwick- shire County Committee of the BritishLegion. On July 7th the team travels to Ipswich for the annual British LegionFete. On August 5th it will give a dis- play at the Bakewell agricultural show.The team will be available to attend other functions and it is likely to havea full programme. Officer Cadetships for the " A.T.C. '"THE most important recognition to•*• date of A.T.C. service has just been announced. It is the waiving of theCivil Service Commissioners' written ex- amination for certain A.T.C. cadets whocompete for cadetships leading to per- manent commissions in the GeneralDuties, Equipment and Secretarial branches of the R.A.F. and in theR.A.F. Regiment. This concession only applies to A.T.C. cadets who holdthe proficiency certificate and fulfil normal conditions of entry for candi-dates direct from civil life. That is, they must be between 17J and 19, up toschool certificate standard in education and unmarried British subjects. Theconcession does not apply to those who wish to be considered for cadetships inother Services, neither does it debar candidates from sitting the written ex-amination if they wish. Cadets may apply for any or all ofthe four branches, the application being made through their commanding officer.They will have to undergo a medical examination, a preliminary interview (ifnumbers make this necessary), and a full- scale R^A.F. Selection Board. Thoseapplying for Genera! Duties branch cadetsbips will also have to pass flyingaptitude tests. The first selections under this new scheme will be made later thisyear and those chosen will begin their trainiijg next January. Cadets for theGeneral Duties branch are trained at the R.A.F. College, Cranwell, Lines, and forthe Equipment and Secretarial branches at a special Wing of the College locatednearby at Digby. Cadets for the R.A.F. Regiment are trained at the Royal Mili-tary Academy, Sandhurst. Cadets do not pay fees but are enlisted and paidas airmen, and commissioned on success- fully completing the course. Applica-tions should be submitted as soon as possible and must reach the Air Ministrynot later than September 30th.
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