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Aviation History
1950
1950 - 1937.PDF
430 FUGHT, 16 November 1950 ACTION STATIONS . . . Command used its B-29s, or Washington^, for the first time, and the latest Mk. 8 Meteors were in evidence at a number of Fighter Command bases. No jet bombers took part, and there was no news of participation by jet night fighters; the former omission was partly covered by the use of Vam- pires from B.A.F.O. to simulate fast, high-flying bombers. The Navy contributed seven squadrons of fighters and strike aircraft—Seafires, Fireflies, Sea Hornets and Firebrands— to the defending forces, which were also supplemented by aircraft of Flying Training Command, including Valettas, Wellingtons and Ansons. By night, the main effort was by Bomber Command, using Lincolns, Washingtons and Mosquito master-bombers. On occasions, diversionary night raids were made by the B-29s and B-50s of the 3rd Air Division and the Flying Training Command aircraft. The latter, incidentally, were used for a dual purpose: to give experience to their crews, and to make the work of the defenders as difficult as possible by providing a "saturation'' effect. The exercise underlined the responsibility resting on the Lincoln squadrons, for they are still the main striking force of our depleted Bomber Command. For this reason it was greatly encouraging to see the keenness and cheerfulness everywhere apparent at Upwood, a typical bomber base, on one evening of the exercise. We flew from Upwood (with S/L. Brain, one of the squadron commanders) in an attack on a Midland target. Most of the Lincolns from our station seemed to find and attack their target without receiving the " I-saw-you-first" flashing of lights, from the Mosquito night fighters, which meant theoretical destruction. We were unable to draw any deep tactical conclusion from a rather noisy and uncomfortable seven hours or so airborne, but the undamped enthusiasm of the Lincoln crews deserves special mention. A visit to Marham, a few days later, provided several Washington crews are briefed for a night attack on Salisbury Plain by W/C. G. V. Fryer, commanding Flying Wing, Marham. A captain's inspection, before take-off, of his crew and their equipment is now the practice throughout Bomber Command. A Norwegian Vampire is refuelled at North Weald, which was also the base for R.A.F. and R.Aux.A.F. Vampires during Emperor. Armourers, under training, prepare to load seven 1,000-lb. bombsinto the forward bomb-bay of a Washington. Single file : pictured during a stream landing at Horsham St. Faith are two Meteor 4s of the Belgian Air Force.
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