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Aviation History
1951
1951 - 2312.PDF
Jwo sections of No. 421 (Red Indian) Squadron durinethe flv-bast On returning to Canada, No. 421 will leave its ;" photograph Right Preparing the Sabres of No. 410 (Cougar) Squadron, R.L.A.T for off-loading from the flight deck of H.M.C.S. "Magnificent." be No. 410 (Cougar) Squadron of the R.C.A.F., which dis- embarked yesterday from H.M.C.S. Magnificent at Renfrew, Scotland. As the representative in this country of the Canadian Government, I wish to extend to the squadron a most hearty welcome to the station which will be their headquarters during the period they will be stationed in the United Kingdom. Early next year, two more R.C.A.F. fighter squadrons will arrive from Canada, and No. I Fighter Wing will then be up to strength. "It is fitting that the first Canadian squadron to be stationed at North Luffenham should be the one which has traditions fully in keeping with those of the station itself. No. 410 (Cougar) Squadron was first formed at Ayr, Scot- land, on June 30th, 1941, as a night fighter squadron. Later it won the distinction of being the top-scoring night-fighter unit of the Second Tactical Air Force during the period from D-Day to V.E. Day. Its records show that the squadron's. Beaufighter and Mosquito crews were credited with 75 enemy aircraft destroyed, two probably destroyed and eight damaged. Of these 85 successes, 60 were won in the eleven- month period between June, 1944 and the end of April, I945-" Mr. Wilgress might have added another note of historical interest: that it was a pilot of No. 410 who made one of the unique "kills" of the war. On the eve of D-Day, at about 11,000ft over Caen, this Canadian pilot saw something the like of which he had never seen before—a Ju88 with an Meio9 mounted on its back. He shot the composite aircraft down. (The Junkers was packed with high explosive and controlled by the Messerschmitt, which released it to glide to its target.) After referring to the squadron's disbandment in 1945 and its training since it was re-formed three years later at St. Hubert, Quebec, the High Commissioner turned to a more general theme. "Canadians," he said, "intend to carry out the obligations which we have assumed under the N.A.T.O. It is an import- ant stage in the fulfilment of these obligations that we are participating in today. This ceremony represents the first passing to the control of the R.C.A.F. of a number of stations on this side of the Atlantic. Later on bases will be provided from which Canadian airmen will operate as an integral part of the forces under the command of General Eisenhower. It is fitting that before proceeding to these bases the Canadianaj nnen should first take possession of a station handed over to Canadian control by the R.A.F., with which the R.C.A.F. nas had sucn a iong ^ close association." Air Chief Marshal the Hon. Sir Ralph also addressed the parade. "Our thoughts for the last five weeks," he said, nave been much in Canada and it therefore seems especially appropriate that it should be at this time that we are welcom- ing No. 1 Fighter Wing of the Royal Canadian Air Force tothis country." He went on to say, "In occupying this station the Wing will assume responsibility for an important sectorof the air defence network, a post of honour which we are happy it should occupy." After lunchjthere was a short flying display, which it had oeen hoped would be given by No. 410 on their Canadian- built Sabres. Unfortunately it was found impossible to off- load them from the Magnificent in time for the show, but No. 42 r from Odiham put up a splendid performance in their Vampire 5s. They are much improved since they came to Britain. W/C. R. T. P. Davidson led the squadron for the last time. The unit is now in the process of returning to Canada to be re-equipped with Sabres, but he is remaining in Britain to become Chief Operations^Officer (Wing Commander Flying) at North Luffenham. The twelve Vampires took off in pairs, roughly nine seconds separating each pair. Against the now blue, almost cloudless sky, they returnedjn three vies, line abreast, with one Vampire in each box. For the next pass the same forma- tions were kept, but in line astern. The third fly-over was, however, easily both the best and most exciting. For this they approached the airfield rather higher, the Vampires formating in three perfect echelons to starboard. Over the centre of the runway they made a quick peel-off to port—each in turn flying low towards the control tower and banking steeply past in salute to the High Commissioner and Sir Ralph Cochrane, who were in the control room. One of the Vampires had to force-land, only just making the end of the runway. Apparently, for some reason, its Goblin could pro- duce only 7,000 r.p.m. In formation again, the remaining eleven Vampires returned to the airfield making another high-speed peel-off —this time to fly a down-wind half-circuit before landing. The landing was as expeditious as the take-off. At one period there was as many as nine Vampires on the runway at once. Although none of the Sabres put in an appearance, a number of No. 410's pilots were present at the ceremony. Many of them were looking very weary after a rough crossing of the Atlantic, plus an all-night bus ride from Glasgow to North Luffenham. They appear to be pleased with the Sabres but have not done sufficient operational flying with them to judge whether they are better than the Vampires for air-to- air firing at their operational ceiling. They are pleased with the finger-lightness of the F-86's powered controls but, at the same time, say this ultra-lightness, plus a slow throttle response, makes formation flying difficult work. They have brought with them 48 Sabres, 37 of which travelled in the open on the flight deck of H.M.C.S. Magnificent.
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