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Aviation History
1949
1949 - 0316.PDF
2O6 FLIGHT FEBRUARY 17TH, 1949 No. 43 Squadron Re-formed taneously as makes no odds, and the cockpit covers slid forward in precision, all closing as one. One Meteor remained as a reserve and the remainder took off as a three, a two and a single, in which F/L. Clayton put up an individual show. Despite a certain amount of mist which affected the visibility, the timing was perfect. Clay- ton would perform some evolution, leaving the airfield clear just as the formation of five arrived and, as they crossed the opposite perimeter, he would return to keep up the interest. The formation-flying was perfect, and those who remem- ber No. 43 in its heyday with Fury biplanes would agree that equal skill and precision are just as inherent in the squadron to-day. It is a great pity that all the Dismal Jimmies who kept telling us about what is wrong with the R.A.F. were not at Tangmere last Friday to see just a little bit of what is right with our great Service. The Meteors having landed and been parked in the same parade-ground manner with which they took-off, a move was made to a nearby hangar where, with a bar and buffet lunch to help, old and new members of No. 43 and their guests refought old battles and talked of present problems. Souvenirs on show of the Squadron included the original victory screen of the First World War and quite a number of enemy aircraft are shown on this to have been shot down by people whose names are familiar to us all to-day. Historic albums were there to recall memories and, on the wall, some photographs of the Squadron in the past. Among these were a number of Flight photographs showing the Squadron doing tied- together formation-flying on its Siskins in 1930, and of F/L. Philip Lucas, one of the earliest members of the Squadron when it was re-formed in 1925 after the 1914-18 war, rolhng a Mark I Hurricane. The new crest stencilled on the noses of No. 43's , the squadron badge and the pre-war squadron markings' in black ^ and white check. ~f No. 43 (Fighter) Squadron was formed at Stirling on April 15th, 1916, and went to France January 17th, 1917. It returned to England in December, 1918, and disbanded a year later. Re-formed at Henlow on July 1st, 1925, it moved to Tangmere on December 12th, 1926, where it stayed until the outbreak of war in 1939. In the Second World War the Squadron served in Scotland; over Dunkirk; in the Battle of Britain ; in the N. African campaign; invasion of Sicily; Salerno; Italy and Southern France. It was disbanded in May, 1947. Enemy aircraft claims in both wars total 269 destroyed, 30 probables and 127 damaged. GLIDING CONFERENCED URING the week-end of January 29th-3oth the British Gliding Association held a conference of chief instructors at the London Gliding Club, Dunstable. As reported in Flight, January 20th, the objects of the conference were to discuss improvement of the existing methods of solo training, by the interchange of experience and ideas amongst dubs, and by the raising of such standards as might be found necessary. Secondly, to gain information on two-seater instruction from those who had used this method. Under the general chair- manship of Mr. P. A. Wills, C.B.E., the conference was very well attended and the resolutions passed showed the clubs to be very alive to the problems with which they have to deal. They were also shown to be making a serious and successful attempt at efficient operation in spite of the lack of money forcing them in many cases to use unsuitable equip- ment. The final resolution passed was that the chief in- structors' conference should become an annual event, to be held in the late winter so that information gained during the previous year should be available to all clubs before the next season's flying commenced. Since no club has either the money or the space to run an International Meeting, the 1949 National Gliding Contests will present a problem to the B.G.A. The Derby Club is considering holding an informal meeting, but has suggested that the National Contests should be held on a points basis for the best flights made throughout the season, as was the case last year. Such an arrangement, however, would not, of course, provide the real practice for future international team members since pilots would not be flying in direct com- petition with each other under International Rules and Con- ditions. However, enthusiasts should be thankful to the Derby Club foi offering to run an informal meeting where pilots can at least get together and fly. LEARNING THE HARD WAY (Continued from page 187) tank clear of the deck and it did not burst.foam sets. Whilst the crumpled Avenger was being movedto the after lift, Lt. Baldwin arrived back with a new Sea This accident certainly gave the deck crews some realFury, bnt had to orbit for 18 minutes before being able to exercise and also afforded an excellent test of the crash barrier land-on, as there was some delay in clearing the lift. After lunch, Lt. Cdr. Thomas took off again in the Avenger and made a perfect land-on, catching No. 1 wire. Four minutes later, at 1359, a Firefly 5 from 816 squadron, 20 C.A.G., came in for a landing. This aircraft, flown by Lt. D. Buchanan, R.A.N., with the Air Engineer Officer, 20 C.A.G., Lt. Cdr. (A) R. Manners-Clark in the back seat, had flown down from Eglinton, Northern Ireland, where the Group is now in train- ing, dropped in at Lee-on-Solent for hinch, and then come out to visit Sydney. Lt. Buchanan made a very good initial gear. Cranes, tractor trolleys and a fork lift truck were quickly brought into use but, despite the workmanlike handl- ing, it was an hour and a quarter after the accident before the Firefly was lowered down the after lift. When the accident occurred, Lt. P. C. S. Chiltern had been sitting in the second Avenger at the end of the catapult, ready and waiting to be shot into the air, and he said he felt decidedly uncomfortable looking out of the cockpit and seeing the Firefly slithering rapidly toward him. Despite the perfection of the day, it was not the sort of weather to go approach, but, despite the batsman's very definite signals of swimming and, in this connection, the pilot and passenger of t :___ J 1,» — m:ii ;J_ _ n 1 j.t_- a_ ' _!___ _•_ J _ IL , t -»-»• _ ti _t»i_ __ • \ . i. -i * 1 .««being too low, spoilt it all by neatly flying slap into the round-down. It was a classic "collection." The ship wasnot pitching very much and rolling only slightly when the Firefly sliced off its undercarriage legs against the round-down, the Firefly could be considered to be very lucky men indeed.Flying was resumed with Chiltern's catapult take-off in the Avenger until, at shortly after half-past four, on his fourthlanding, the position of the sun made it nearlv impossible for skated on its belly up the deck to smash into the first crash him to see the batsman and he made a rather dicey landing barrier and pull it out sufficiently to run on and slightly with the Avenger engaging a wire, then climbing about 15ft distend the second barrier. As the steel arrester wires were into the air and descending with a tremendous bump. After scraped against the steel deck plating, sparks flew out; fric-• this, the Avenger was put away and, from the flight control tional heat generated in the ruptured undercarriages caused bridge, it was announced that flying was completed and so, the hydraulic fluid to smoke, but, fortunately, the Firefly's at 1640, we altered course 180 deg and steamed home to dihedral springing from the centre-line kept the wing drop Spithead. C. B. B-W. B 24
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