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Aviation History
1950
1950 - 0927.PDF
FLIGHT, II May 1950 SERVICE AVIATION one paratroop supply containers. GOING, GONE : A remarkable close-up of a Vickers Valetta, the R.A.F.'s latest twin-engined transport, with " lying on the slip-stream " while a second prepares to make his exit. Beneath the fuselage are racks for suf Royal Air Force and Naval Aviation News and Announcements Exercise "Unity" '"THE Brussels Treaty Organization J- announces completion at Fontain- bleau, on May 5th, of a periodic con- ference of senior officers of the three Services of the countries of Western Union and from the zones of occupation in Western Germany. Many impor- tant matters concerning the organization of the defence of Western Europe, both of policy and practice, underwent searching examination in study and dis- cussion and the results of the conference were described as most profitable. The meeting was held at the invitation of Field-Marshal Montgomery, Chair- man of the Commanders-in-Chief's Committee, Western Europe, and was conducted by him. Pathfinder Club Reconstituted "FOLLOWING a recent meeting of the -•- Council of the Pathfinder Associa- tion, the Pathfinder Club has become the first London organization of its kind to provide for members and ex-members of all ranks of the R.A.F. The Club was founded in 1944 to foster and maintain the spirit and fellowship of the Path- finder Force. The Association states: "A bold step has been decided on. ... The decision is to extend membership of the Club to all serving and ex-members of the R.A.F., believing that such facilities are vitally necessary in helping to maintain a healthy interest in the Service. "This change of policy . . . will place at the disposal of all : those who are accepted the complete services of a re- sponsible club with close Air Force and civil aviation affiliations. The amenities 'or members and their guests include a restaurant and snack bar, residential service, and bar (at mess prices !). " The Council are determined that the highest possible standard of service and comfort should be maintained, at the same time keeping the subscription within reasonable limits. It has there- fore been decided that the scale of mem- bership fees shall be: town members— two guineas; country members—one guinea." Full details of membership may be obtained from The Secretary, Pathfinder Club, 115. Mount Street, Berkeley Square, London, W.i. Operation " Caesar " IN the recent change-over from Britishto Italian administration and the termination of British civil and military authority in Somalia—now returned to Italy under a 10-year U.N.O. trustee- ship—the R.A.F. .played a prominent part. The operation was planned by the Army's East Africa Command under the code name Operation Caesar. A degree of tension during the change- over was foreseen, and to support the Army over this possibly critical period the R.A.F. flew into Mogadishu, capital of Somalia, Brigands from two Middle East squadrons and a squadron of Dakotas from Egypt. Eventually, owing to airfield congestion at Mogadishu, all but two of the Dakotas operated from Eastleigh, Kenya, Air Headquarters, East Africa. The small R.A.F. garrison at Mogadishu was strengthened and A.V-M. A. C. Stevens, C.B.E., then A.O.C., East Africa, made the capital his tactical H.Q. Two possible contingencies were fore- seen, one that in the event of civil dis- turbance the Army might need theassistance of the R.A.F., and the other that i£ the monsoon broke prematurelyand roads become impassable, the R.A.F. would give the Army air sup-port. Happily, neither contingency arose. Nevertheless, the R.A.F. hadheavy commitments to discharge, which relieved the Army of a great deal of theburden of handover. These included a bi-weekly shuttle service between East-leigh and Mogadishu, begun, at Army request, in early January. Dakotas flewin high-priority R.A.F. and Army equipment, passengers and foodstuffs,and also ran a courier-service, flying despatches, coded signals and other im-portant communications in either direction. Dakotas also flew to Aden a numberof British officials who had handed over their duties to Italians, as well as adetachment of the Aden Protectorate Levies who had been doing garrisonduties in Somalia during the change- over. Second Exchange of Cadets "POLLOWING a London conference-L between British, Canadian and American officials, details were an-nounced of plans to repeat last year's successful exchange of cadets of the threecountries. Fifty British A.T.C. cadets wi" be selected for two-week sight-seeing tours of Canada and America, 25 for each country. The cadets will fly from Northolt onAugust 6th in the two aircraft which will, two days earlier, have brought 50Canadian and U.S. cadets across the Atlantic for a corresponding stay in thiscountry, The tours will, in each case,
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