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Aviation History
1951
1951 - 2078.PDF
12 October 1951 491 "Flight" photographs Boeing Washington bombers of the R.A.F. at their base in Lincolnshire during preparations for a night attack on OcA^er 3rd. Cloud, and a forecast of fog, caused this particular mission to be postponed, but, together with Lincolns, the Washingtons were active atHlher liniob in mtO on British cities. Note that the Washington in the foreground (left) is unpointed though the machine in the background has "night black'' under-surfaces. PINNACLE PROCEEDS —and a Great Improvement in our Defences is Apparent EXERCISE PINNACLE, the opening phases of whichwere dealt with last week, was not continued as plannedon the night of Wednesday, Oct. 3rd, due to cloud and the possibility of fog; so the Vampire 10 and Meteor n night fighters were denied a chance to get to grips with the bombers. In the daylight phase, however, there was much activity. Operating from Germany, 100 Vampires of the 2nd Tactical Air Force set out to raid the great American base at Lakenheath, in Suffolk, but were intercepted by defend- ing Meteors, Vampires, and F-86 Sabres of the U.S.A.F.— the latter making their first contribution to an exercise of this sort. Smaller forces of Vampires and Meteors of the French and Belgian Air Forces attacked Sculthorpe and Marham, Bassingbourn and Lakenheath from low level, and American anti-aircraft units were in action against them. Training Command took a part in attempting to confuse the defenders, but in this met with only limited success. London, Birmingham and Glasgow were the targets for heavy Anglo-American attacks during Saturday. On Sunday, October 7th, there were three heavy high-altitude raids—two against London and one against Birmingham— within an hour and a half. First, 2nd T.A.F. Vampires crossed the North Sea at about 30,000ft j they were picked up by radar while far out over the sea, and a series of run- ning fights ensued as far as London. Again Sabres were in action. Meanwhile, North American B-45 jet reconnais- sance bombers of the American 7th Air Division, accom- panied by F-84 Thunder jets, were converging on Birming- ham at about 35,000ft, but were intercepted while still over Northern France. The third attack (the second on London during this phase) was by Thunderjets based in Germany; again they were intercepted over the Continent. In this phase also Flying Training Command was engaged in attempting to "fox" the defenders. On the afternoon of Sunday the main targets were Lon- don and Liverpool, and the fighter controllers were hard put to it in deploying their forces, for there was an interval of only ten minutes between the attacks. Liverpool was the target of R.A.F. Lincolns and Washingtons, which came in from the north-east and changed direction over the Humber. The London raiders were 2nd T.A.F. Vampires but, as in previous attacks, the early-warning system worked with great efficiency and strong fighter forces immediately went into action. I uring Sunday, Mr. Arthur Henderson, Secretary of Stave for Air, was visiting fighter stations and radar units in Eas- Anglia. He was impressed by the improvement in the ded generally, and averred that Fighter Command had shown itself to be a force of high quality, capable of giving a good account of itself in the defence of the United King- dom. Both Pinnacle and Cirrus, he said, had made a real contribution to international stability by demonstrating the improvement in the air defences of the Western European countries. A good deal, however, remained to be done. Other spokesmen paid tribute to the R.Aux.A.F. and R.O.C. and drew attention to the obvious benefits which had resulted from the Auxiliaries' three months' continuous training during the summer. The R.O.C. had 12,000 men and women at action stations, at 1,000 posts, and had made a particularly valuable contribution in spotting low-flying raiders. The postponed night phase was due to take place on the night of October 9th. As we go to press we learn of an unusual "staff outing" during Sunday's phase. It seems that a Lincoln took off from Upwood crewed by officers and N.C.O.s from the staff of No. 3 Group headquarters, Mildenhall. At the controls throughout the six-hour trip was the A.O.C.'s personal assistant, F/O. Musgrave; at his side was the S.A.S.O. of the Group, G/C. Burnett, D.F.C., A.F.C. (of squash and tennis fame), whilst S/L. Dewey, D.F.M., who is normally Group Weapons Officer, kept the aircraft on track. Other members of the crew were F L. Eames, F/L. Hine, D.F.C., F/L. Wright, and F/S.s Beasley and Skinner. The crew completed the detail in company with other Lincolns and Washingtons which attacked Liverpool docks soon after 3 p.m., and were themselves attacked four times by fighters whilst flying at 19,000ft. Needless to say, such a high-class crew did not admit to being shot down in this mock air battle, but claimed five fighters to their credit. Whilst being interrogated by Intelligence on their return, the crew considered that the fighter attacks were "pretty good." BOOKS RECEIVED Gas Turbine Theory, by H. Cohen and G. F. C. Rogers. Long-mans, Green and Co., Ltd., 6 and 7 Clifford Street, London, W.i. Price 30s.The Dam Busters, by Paul Brickhill. Evans Brothers, Ltd., Montague House, Russell Square, London, W.C.i. Price 15s. Parachutes, by W. D. Brown, M.Sc. Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons,.Ltd., Pitman House, Parker Street, Kingsway, London, W.C.2. Price 40s. The Weather, by George Kimble. Penguin Books, Harmonds-worth, Middx. Price 3s. Flight To-day, by J. L. Nayler and E. Ower. Oxford UniversityPress, Amen House, Warwick Square, London, E.C.4. Price 7s. 6d.
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