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Aviation History
1950
1950 - 1359.PDF
FLIGHT, 13 July 1950 SERVICE AVIATION Rcyal Air Force and Naval Aviation News 4ond A nnouncenients X * Union Exercises WESTERN UNION Navies tookpart in a further series of exercises during the early part of this month, announces the Admiralty. In the course of these exercises it was intended to in- vestigate the protection, of convoys against attack by aircraft, submarines, coastal forces and mine-laying in re- stricted coastal waters. A convoy was attacked by Dutch air- craft and defended by Belgian fighters, followed by attacks by British M.T.B.s controlled by a French Admiral. Mean- while, a second convoy in the Channel was attacked by more aircraft and more M.T.B.s. The two convoys then met and re-formed; the smaller vessels pro- ceeded direct to Brest; the remainder, proceeding westwards, were attacked by Royal Naval aircraft and by British and Dutch submarines. The exercises con- cluded with a large-scale mine-sweeping operation off Brest. In all phases of the exercise R.A.F. Coastal Command took part, providing air protection for the convoys against submarines and M.T.B.s. The Fighter Command control and reporting system was also in operation for the direction of shore-based fighter aircraft and for giving warning to aircraft attacking the convoys. BANDITS : During the " attack on Amiens prison "—a highlight of the R.A.F. Dis-play—these Spitfire 16s of Nos. 5 and 17 Anti-Aircraft Co-operation Squadrons took the part of defending Me. 109s. Complete with German markings, they gavea most realistic impersonation. Square-cut wing-tips added to the illusion. Kirton-in-Lindsay Graduation AIR VICE-MARSHAL B. V.REYNOLDS, the A.O.C. No. 22 Group, Technical Training Command, was the reviewing officer when 27 newly commissioned members of K.4 Course, No. 2 O.C.T.U., paraded at Kirton-in- Lindsay on July 5th. Twelve of the former cadets are of the Secretarial Branch, nine belong to the General Duties Branch; the remainder are Equipment Branch officers. The Sword of Honour was won by P/O. D. Fish, a navigator, who has been awarded a short-service commission. For Injured AirmenA T Headley Court, near Leatherhead, on July 3rd, the Duchess of Kent formally opened a new R.A.F. rehabilita- tion centre. The estab- lishment has been set up with funds donated b\ the Chartered Auc- tioneers' and Estate Agents' Institute, and will be primarily devoted to the rehabilitation of R.A.F. flying personnel after injury. In addition to Headley Court Man- inn itself, there are a gymnasium, swimming pool and physiotherapy ind occupational therapy departments. (Left) H.R.H. the Duchess of Kent inspects the swim- ming pool at Headley Court. With her are Mr. Arthur Henderson and Air Marshal P. C. Livingston. R.A.F. Award THE KING has been graciously pleasedto approve the award of the George Medal to Leading Aircraftman PeterFrank Anderson, of R.A.F. station. Calshot. During the course of salvageoperations (states the citation) on a Sunderland at Calshot on February 23rd.1950, it was necessary to remove a quan- tity of marine markers from the half-submerged hull in order to minimize the danger of fire and explosion of thedamaged petrol tanks, which contained 1,200 gallons of fuel. Two airmen wereworking on the flying boat when it sud- denly burst into flames and they wereblown into the water under the wing. In a matter of seconds the aircraft wasablaze from end to end. L.A/C. Ander- son, a coxswain, was passing the flyingboat in his marine tender at the time. With complete disregard for his ownsafety he immediately took his tender alongside'the blazing aircraft and rescuedthe two airmen. Had he hesitated for a moment, these airmen would have beenovercome by the heat and fumes and would have perished. L.A/C. Andersonmust have been fully aware of the danger of the petrol tanks exploding and hiswooden-hulled craft being surrounded by blazing petrol. He displayed courageand initiative in keeping with the high- est traditions of the R.A.F. L.A/C. Anderson, who is 23, joinedthe R.A.F. in December, 1944, and began a seven-year regular engagementin December, 1945. Half-yearly R.A.F. Promotions THE Air Ministry has published thefollowing list of half-yearly pro- motions. The majority of these officersalready held in an acting capacity their new ranks, which took effect on July 1st. Air Vice-Marshal to Air MarshalC. R- Steele. C.B., D.F.C., A.O.C.-in-O. ("oastal Command. R. M. Foster, K.C.B.,(.HE., P.F.C.. A.O.C.-in-C, Reserve Com-
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