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Aviation History
1949
1949 - 1501.PDF
SEPTEMBER IST, 1949 FLIGHT 2(37 Royal Air Force and Naval Aviation Neivs and Anno u ncements SERVICE AVIATION T Farewell to "Plainfare" 'HE last Air Lift sortie to be madeby an Avro York of the R.A.F., and ateo the last Air Lift flight from Wun-storf, was made from that station on the afternoon of Friday, August 26th, by anaircraft of No. 511 Squadron. It was flown by F/L. L. A. Miller, who hasover 300 sorties to his credit; his co-pilot was Air Marshal T. M. Williams, A.O.C.-in-C, B.A.F.O. Hastings and Dakota squadrons' operating from Schleswig-land and Lubeck respectively, will con- tinue to take part in the Air Lift. Seven York squadrons of TransportCommand have been employed in Opera- tion Plainfare. Their aircraft have made29,000 flights and carried some 23,000 tons of supplies into the city. DuringPlainfare it was found possible to in- crease the York's average load from j to g tons. In a message to R.A.F. Station Wun-storf, Air Marshal Williams has said: "Throughout the 14 months of the AirLift the York force has been one of the mainstays of the operation. Its recordis particularly praiseworthy in view of the fact that Yorks are normally long-range aircraft and the crews employed on trunk route operations. They had toadapt themselves quickly and efficiently to the frequent short-range trips involv-ing numerous landings with heavy all- up loads. This change of role has beenadmirably accomplished. The ground trews in particular are deserving ofpraise for their sustained and efficient sen-icing of aircraft on a quick turn-round requirement." An Marshal Williams concluded, "Onbehalf of B.A.F.O. I wish the York squadrons all good luck, and I knowyou will return to your normal role of trunk route flying having benefited fromthe experience gained in the Air Lift." PARA-PRACTICE: Members of the llth Battn. (West London and Middlesex), 4th Parachute Brigade, T.A., make their exit from a Dakota during annual training on Salisbury Plain. The two nearest troops carry Bren gun valises and those below have kit-bags. For Crack Shots v. ; nPO encourage, rifle-shooting in the Ser--*- vice, a marksman's badge is to be awarded to those members of the R.A.F.—other than officers and warrant officers —who reach a qualifying standard inannual range practice. R.A.F. AppointmentsF ORMERLY A.O.C., No. 62 (Southern Reserve) Group, A.-Cdre. F. L. Pearce, C.B.E., D.S.O., D.F.C., has been appointed A.O.C. at Air Head- quarters, Ceylon. A second former Reserve Group Commander to take up an overseas appointment is A.-Cdre. E. D. H. Da vies, C.B.E., previously of No. 65 (London Reserve) Group, who becomes A.O.C. at Air H.Q., East Africa. 12 Group's Gliding Club GOOD progress in the spare-time train-ing of ground crews as glider pilots is reported from R.A.F. Station Linton- on-Ouse, where the No. 12 Group Glid- ing Club has its headquarters. The Club, which is self-supporting, originated at R.A.F. Station Middleton St. George, Yorks, about two years ago. Since moving to Linton nine months ago its membership has risen sharply, and now totals about 50, most of them airmen. A few members are pilots of powered air- craft. Using one or two gliders belonging tothe A.T.C. and the R.A.F., and others which they have reconstructed fromspare parts and scrap, the members spend much of their spare time glidingin the vicinity of Linton. Chief instruc- tor, and chairman of the club, is W./C.A. T- M. Smyth, O.B.E., D.F.C., officer commanding the administration wing at the station. A keen glider pilot and ex-bomber pilot, he took up gliding two years ago while visiting Germany onduty. He later joined the Surrey Glid- ing Club, and since going to his presentstation has devoted himself to furthering the interests of the Club. Anothetgliding enthusiast is W/C. R. H. B. Jackson, chief technical officer at Linton-on-Ouse, who spends most of his spare time building and maintaining gliders forthe Club. "500" Visited ON attachment to Thorney Island forannual training, No. 500 (County of Kent) Squadron, R.Aux.A.F., wasvisited by its Honorary Air Commodore, the Rt. Hon. Anthony Eden, M.C.,M.P., on Monday, August 29th. No. 500 Squadron, which is equipped withMeteor 3s and 5s normally based at West Mailing, is commanded by S/L. HughKennard, D.F.C. Week-end in NorwayT EN Seafire 17s of No. 1832(R.N.V.R.) Air Squadron flew to Norway last week-end for the first over-seas visit by an R.N.V.R. unit of this kind. Leaving their base at Culham onFriday, August 26th, the formation flew to Manston, the departure point, underthe command of " 1832's" CO., Lt. Cdr. G. McC. Rutherford. D.S.C. On the following morning they flewto Gardamoen airfield, near Oslo, where a Squadron plaque was presented to theRoyal Norwegian Air Force, members of which acted as hosts to the R.N.V.R.visitors. The formation returned on Monday, August 29th. Accompanying the Squadron to Nor-way in an Expeditor, in his capacity as Honorary Commander, was Capt.Anthony Kimmins, O.B.E. No. 1832 Squadron recently completed deck-land-ing training aboard H.M.S. Implacable. Auxiliary Appointment WITH the acting rank of wing com-mander, S/L. H. E. Darvill has been appointed to command No. 3617 (County of Hampshire) Fighter Control Unit, which is located at 16, West Cliff Road, Bournemouth. W/C. Darvill, who joined his new command in Decem- ber, 194S, served as an R.A.F. officer at home and overseas, mainly on ops. room and ground controlled interception
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