FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1948
1948 - 1858.PDF
552 FLIGHT NOVEMBER 4TH, 1948 The Light That Failed Fog in the London Area Robs R.N.V.R. and R.Aux.A.F. Squadrons of Opportunity to Take Part in Territorial Review " Flight" (Top) At Culham. The Seafires of No. 1832 R.N.V.R. Squadron ready for flight. (Centre left) Meteor 3s of No. d*^"ndrm P Aux. A.F. are refuelled immediately upon returning to West Mailing. (Centre right) Harvards of No, 1832 taxy post the Seafires of No. 1833 from Bramcote. bottom left) Despite their cheery expressions these pilots at Culham are breathing firt and brimstone on Air Traffic Control. (Bottom right) Some of the pilots and ground crew of No. 500 Squadron with their eight Meteors in the background. AT the Territorial Review by H.M. the King in Hyde Parkon Sunday last a number of R.N.V.R. and R.Aux.A.F.squadrons were to have taken part by flying in forma- tion over the saluting base. Weather, however, made this im-possible. A considerable fog persisted over London all day despite brilliant sunshine in the Home Counties. One disappointing piece of news had already broken andanother was in the offing when Flight arrived at the head- quarters of No. 500 (County of Kent) Squadron of the RoyalAuxiliary Air Force, at West Mailing. The visit from six Vampires of the other jet fighter-equipped Auxiliary squadron—No. 605 (County of Warwick)—had been cancelled and the Vampires were now to join the main fly-past stream over Rad-lett; the fly-past itself was in danger of being carolled through poor visibility, and although the sky over Kent was as brightas could justifiably be expected at the tail end of October, reports from London told of haze limiting vision to 200 yards,a depressingly far cry from the required three miles. Under such circumstances, there was little surprise when the opera-tion was finally called off at midday. Local conditions were still suitable for flying, however, andafter lunch F/L. Leggett, the squadron adjutant, in the ab- sence of the Commanding Officer, S/L. Pat Green, led aformation of six of the Meteor 3s in local flying. They were airborne for a short time only, as the aircraft are not fitted with drop tanks, and when the main tanks had been replenishedafter landing the light had become decidedly poor. Several of the Squadron's pilots served in Bomber, Coastal,and Transport Commands during the war, and had their first experience of fighters in the Mosquitoes which until latelyequipped the Squaxjron; the conversion to jet fighters was accomplished surprisingly quickly and smoothly, and the pilotsare very pleased with the handling and performance of the Meteor. At Culham, near Oxford, where three R.N.V.R. airsquadrons had forgathered for the fly-past, the weather was brilliant, and loud were the howls that went up against thepowers that be, and Air Traffic Control in particular, for cancelling the flight. The younger element even suggestedthat the formation should take-off and lose its way in the air; just " happening " to arrive over Hyde Park at the right time. However, it %vas finally decided to put the squadrons into theair and fly in formation over the surrounding countryside. The 12 Seafires, of varying marks, put up a most excellent display,showing the great amount of trouble which had been taken to make the formation a credit to the R.N.V.R. The cancellationwas a severe disappointment. At the end of the flight the squadrons dispersed, each to itsown base; No. 1831 to Stretton, No. 1833 to Bramcote and No. 1832 back to Culham. ,- B 30
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
