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Aviation History
1952
1952 - 2296.PDF
224 PLIGHTy 22 Auguit 1952 SERVICE AVIATION . . . points. During the month there was an increase in the amount of supplies dropped by R.A.F. Valettas and R.A.A.F. Dakotas, the former dropping three-quarters of a million pounds of rations, mail and other requirements to jungle patrols on some 130 dropping-zones throughout the Federation, while the latter made a number of drops to isolated police posts in Southern and Eastern Malaya. The weight of supplies dropped from aircraft of both air forces since the commencement of the emergency now totals about eleven million pounds. In addition, one-and-a-half-million leaflets were dropped in the Kuantan area of Pahang, the Kuala Langat area of Selangor, and in the states of Kedah and Perak. During the month 36 casualties, suffer ing from wounds or from fever, were evacuated from jungle clearings by heli copters of the Far East Casualty Evacuation Flight. Air cover was supplied by Hornet aircraft to a number of road convoys, not ably those taking Gurkha families and school children from the Cameron High lands to Tapah Road. Maritime patrols by Sunderlands of the Far East Flying Boat Wing and photo graphic reconnaissances were also flown. No. 612 Squadron Fund F ORMER airmen of No. 612 (City of Aberdeen) Squadron, R.Aux.A.F. are invited to claim shares in the squadron's 1939 fund, which is being disbursed. It is estimated that about 100 men are entitled to participate. Those who were on the strength of the unit on September 3rd, 1939, and who have not previously received grants from the fund, or its predecessor, the 612 Squadron Resettlement Committee, are entitled to be included in the distribution of the surplus money, which is in the region of £500. The Resettlement Committee, which was instituted in 1944, received generous sup port from the people of Aberdeen by voluntary subscriptions. The creators of the fund were W/C. G. R. Thomson, a former squadron adjutant, Mr. James Scott, Councillor James A. Mackie, and Mr. William Veitch. During its existence, the committee gave valuable assistance to personnel and their families. It^found^employment for appli- ARABIAN NUCLEUS: GjC. P. L Donkin, Commanding Officer of the R.A.F. Operational Conversion Unit at Chivenor, Devon, congratulates P\0. Zor.air on completing his course successfully. On the right is PjO. Quaja and in the centre is Mr. Nazir, from the Saudi Arabian Embassy. (See "Saudi Arabian Air Force" on this page.) cants, gave assistance to several who emi grated, and provided grants to those in need, and for educational purposes. It was dissolved in 1948 after it had ful- filledits purpose, and the No. 612 Squadron 1939 Fund was formed in its place to give assistance to any who still required it. Before it is finally distributed, a small por tion of the fund will be devoted to the unit's memorial fund. Applications for participa tion in the distribution should be sent to Mr. G. H. Scott, Kilburn, Pitfodels, Aberdeenshire. Saudi Arabian Air Force A NUCLEUS of the new Royal Saudi Arabian Air Force is being trained in Great Britain and the first two Saudi Arabians have passed out from the Opera tional Conversion Unit at Chivenor, North Devon, as fully qualified jet-fighter pilots. The conception of a Royal Saudi Arabian Air Force goes back several years, to the setting up of a civil air training mission at Taif with the co-operation of the British Government. From among those trained there, nine were selected to be sent to Air Service Training, Ltd., at Hamble, Hampshire, to qualify as commercial pilots. At this time, however, the late Prince Mansour, then Minister of Defence, was discussing with two ex-R.A.F. officers in the British Mission the possibilities of creating a Royal Saudi Arabian Air Force. His father, King Ibn Saud, approved the scheme; and Prince Mansour, with the aid of W/C. R. S. Mills, D.F.C., of the R.A.F. liaison team, completed his first limited plans. In the interim the nine young pilots sent to England had finished their course at Hamble but, instead of returning home, as they had expected, they were told that they were now to train as pilots with the R.A.F. They went first to Finningley in Yorkshire, in January, 1951, where they flew Harvards SEEING THE SIGHTS: Mr. W.J. Taylor, M.P., showing some of the Canadian air cadets, now in this country, over the Houses of Parliament. Mr. Taylor has been largely responsible for the exchange visits of cadets. and Spitfires. From Finningley the nine Saudis went through the Officer Cadet Training Unit at Spitalgate, Lines. Other young Saudis have in the mean time come to England. There are now some eighteen training or about to train at various R.A.F. units. Three are flying jet aircraft at Advanced Flying Schools, in North Wales and Somerset, and three more are at the R.A.F. Technical College, Hen-low, Beds., taking an engineering course between spells of flying training. The first two to complete their training are P/O.s Asaad Zohair and Achram Kamal Quaja, seen in the photograph above. More School Gliders FIVE more schools are now due to receive primary gliders from the Air Ministry for use by the R.A.F. sections of the Combined Cadet Force. The schools are: George Heriot's School, Edinburgh; Whitgift School, Croydon; Clifton College; Edinburgh Academy; and Worcester Royal Grammar School. This distribution will bring the total up to about 40. The gliders issued are of the new Slingsby Primary type, which has been modified in such a manner that the boys themselves can mount it on a 7ft-high tubular tripod, on which it balances so that it can swing through 30 deg in any direc tion. The glider is then turned to face the wind. With only a light breeze blowing over the surfaces the controls become effective and the pupil can learn their reactions without leaving the ground. When the pupil has the feel of it, the glider can be taken off the tripod and launched over the playing field by a winch or rubber catapult. The glider is intended only for gentle manoeuvres at a height of between 40 and 50ft. Reunion T HERE will be a reunion of all ex- members of No. 164 (Argentine- British) Squadron R.A.F. It will be held at the Rose and Crown, Sloane Street, London, S.W.i on Saturday, October nth, at 7 p.m.
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