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Aviation History
1952
1952 - 0526.PDF
238 FLIGHT, 29 February 1952 AUXILIARY TRANSPORT SQUADRONS Why the Hold-up ? By HENRY MORRIS THERE is considerable speculation as to the whys and wherefores of the complete hiatus that has occurred since it was announced, several months ago, that additional Auxiliary R.A.F. squadrons were to be formed by certain of the independent civil operators. There is still only the original prototype squadron in being and no signs of the imminent birth of others. Month by month international tension seems to increase and a new "incident" or a new threat to Britain's security brews up. Every such incident calls for some quick transfer of Service personnel, of hapless and harassed British civilians, or of stores and equipment; and in all such moves there are signs that air transport is a bottleneck. It is now generally accepted that ample and efficient air transport capacity is a "prime strategic" requirement for any. major power; but so far as the United Kingdom is concerned the general rearmament situation does not seem to offer any strong hopes that the manufacturing resources of the country can turn out even a fraction of the air transport capacity the country needs if it is to play a really effective part in increasing the defensive and offensive weight of the NATO powers. In these circumstances one would expect the establish ment of additional air-transport squadrons to be considered a matter of great urgency. The longer they are delayed the less enthusiasm there will be for their formation, and the shorter training time will there be left for bringing their volunteer personnel up to a reasonable standard of efficiency. The companies already chosen for the formation of additional Auxiliary Squadrons are, as far as one knows, still prepared and very eager to go ahead, so where and THAT there are now eighteen U.S.A.F. combat wings operating against Red China in the Far East and nine combat wings "guarding the western side of the Iron Curtain in Europe" is disclosed by Aviation Week on the authority of official sources. Of this total force less than half is considered modern in terms of equipment. Though the U.S.A.F. is taking action to modernize its Far East fighter units, and will shortly replace the last of its North American F-51 Mustang piston-engined fighters with Republic F-84 Thunderjets and North American F-86 Sabres, these machines are still badly outnumbered. In Europe, our contemporary reports, while the U.S.A.F. and U.S. Navy are gradually establishing a network of bases from England south ward across France, North Africa, and eastward to Turkey, equipment is being modernized only slowly. The eighteen combat wings of the Far East Air Force now flying in Korea include eight fighter wings using F-51 Mustangs, F-82 Twin-Mustangs, F-80 Shooting Stars, F-84 Thunderjets, F-86 Sabres, and F-94S (all-weather development of the Shooting Star); three medium bomber units, using Boeing B-29 Super fortresses; two light bomber wings with Douglas B-26 Invaders; one tactical reconnaissance wing flying Mustangs, Shooting Stars and RB-26 Invaders; four troop carrier wings operating C-46 Commandos, C-54 Skymasters and C-119 Packets; a few strategic reconnaissance units flying RB-29 Superfortresses and RB-45 Tornadoes; and rescue squadrons equipped with Grumman SA-16 Albatrosses, SB-29 Superfortresses and SC-47 Dakotas. Addi tionally there are considerable quantities of Sikorsky H-5 and H-19 helicopters. Official U.S.A.F. sources indicate that no immediate plans are in hand for materially increasing strength in the Korean theatre, though several fighter and troop carrier units are standing by for possible movement should present requirements change. Some build-up in fighter strength for tactical and ground support work is under way "as a precautionary measure." Units based in Europe, although completely equipped, are, according to Aviation Week, "in force only sufficient to provide thinly spread policy (sic) activity in occupied Germany." U.S.A.F. forces available in Europe (U.S.A.F.E.), include four wings in Germany, three in England, and two in France. In Germany the 60th and 433rd Troop Carrier Wings fly Fairchild C-82 and C-119 Packets, while tactical support is provided by the 36th and what is the hitch? Surely this scheme has not become involved in the Government's economy drive? The case for the formation of these squadrons is, if anything, strengthened by that increasing need for economy and the added urgency impelling the rearmament programme. The more difficult it is to secure raw material for new equipment, new manpower for manufacturing that equip ment, and personnel for manning it, the more essential is it to make certain that any existing available source is used to the full. The economics applicable to the operation of these squadrons should be very attractive to the Treasury. Whatever the actual cost of organizing and maintaining this very specialized type of unit it can be but a fraction of that required for the normal Auxiliary squadron, and almost infinitesimal compared with the maintenance of a Regular squadron. The country is assured of a nucleus of experi enced aircrews in full flying training and there is little or no additional Service training required for an aircrew who are in any case flying many days a month on their own business. Moreover, these speciaUzed units should be most attractive to potential recruits. Outsiders joining them would be given training of the highest quality, would be associating with people to whom air transport is bread and butter and not a spare-time hobby, and would have the opportunity of flying along routes normally well off the beaten track of regular squadron training. Enthusiasm cannot be kept indefinitely at high pitch. It is essential that the uncertainty be ended, and the squadrons started off as quickly as possible while the energy and keenness still exist. 86th Fighter Bomb Wings, using Thunderjets. In England reserve forces include one fighter bomber wing, equipped with Thunder jets, and the 81st Interceptor Wing, armed with Sabres. In addition, the Strategic Air Command has one B-50 bomber wing —the 93rd—under training in England. In France, U.S.A.F.E. strength is comprised of the 126th Light Bomb Wing (Douglas Invader) and 117th Tactical Recon naissance Wing, flying RF-80 Shooting Stars and RB-26 Invaders. Bases under construction or in negotiation for construction in France, Spain, North Africa and the Middle East are, for the most part, "some time away." "Unofficial sources," states Aviation Week, "report that tactical and strategic air as well as troop carrier air is slated for at least doubling in strength during the next two years. But official sources say that the outlook for any real material increase in U.S.A.F.E. strength is a dim one for twenty-four months at least." THE RUSSIANS AT FINOW ONE of the best-equipped Russian Air Force bases in Germany is at Finow (30 miles north-east of Berlin), where the runways and dispersal areas have lately been strengthened. A modern drain age scheme has been installed, and fuel tanks have been noted above and beneath the ground in the former Schering-Kahlbaum plant at Wolfswinkel, north-east of the airfield. In addition to a per manent radar station, installed in wooden huts, there is a mobile radar van and mobile R/T. A T-shaped aerial nearly 50ft high is reported, and a powerful beacon rotates permanently at night. Aircraft present are some 90 Mig-i5s, six Pe-2s, and some Tu-2S and II-26S. The Pe-2S are employed as target tugs for the benefit of the Migs, the training flights of which usually last about 20 min. There is no night flying by the Migs but they are often seen with rocket projectiles, which they discharge against mocked-up tanks at Gersdorf. No estimate of personnel strength can be formed. The opera tional pilots are reported to be very young, and female pilots are said to have been seen. Security has been tightened within the last few months, and one unfortunate citizen who stayed for a minute by the roadside was promptly apprehended. U.S.A.F. STRENGTH in KOREA and EUROPE
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