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Aviation History
1953
1953 - 0474.PDF
470 FLIGHT, 10 April 1953 SERVICE AVIATION Royal Air Force and Naval Aviation News THE QUEEN'S COLOUR IN MANCHESTER TO celebrate the 35th anniversary of the formation of the R.A.F., the Queen's Colour was paraded as part of a large-scale review on April 1st. At the invitation of the Lord Mayor of Manchester, and much to the pleasure of the people of that city, this function took place there for the first time. This choice of location was an especially suitable one in view of the city's charter centenary, now being celebrated. Steady and depressing rain in the morn ing had implied typically Mancunian weather for the afternoon occasion, but about mid-day, before the parade began to assemble in Birchfields Park, the rain stopped and the sun appeared, a light breeze fitfully streaming the Union Jack and R.A.F. Ensign which flanked the dais. After the parade had assembled and the Colour had been marched on, the reviewing officer—Field Marshal Earl Alexander of Tunis, Minister of Defence—was received by the Secretary of State for Air, Lord De LTsle and Dudley, 3?.C, and his party, which included Air Chief Marshal Sir William F. Dickson (Chief of the Air Staff); Air Marshal Sir Basil E. Embry (A.O.C- in-C. Fighter Command); and A.V-M. N. H. D'Aeth (A.O.A. Technical Training Command). With Lord Alexander were the Lord Mayor of Manchester, Alderman Douglas Gosling, O.B.E., J.P.; the Lady Mayoress; the Lord Lieutenant of the County, the Earl of Derby; and the Countess of Derby. At 1430 hrs the reviewing officer mounted the saluting base, together with the Lord Mayor, the Secretary of State and the C.A.S., while A.V-M. D'Aeth, A.V-M. W. H. Merton (A.O.C. No. 22 Group, Technical Training Command), Air Mar shal Embry and A.V-M. R. L. R. Atcherley (A.O.C. No. 12 Group, Fighter Command) took up positions at the sides of the dais. Five minutes earlier, a lone Meteor N.F.i 1 had swept overhead, reputedly to check weather and visibility for the main fly-past, and punctually at 1431 the first formation of the 108 scheduled jet aircraft appeared—six flights of four Meteors, fly ing at about 1,500ft. Two further Meteor formations, of the same numbers, followed, the third group appearing rather lower than 1,000ft. Then came swept wings and long smoky streaks, as 24 of the North Luffen- ham R.C.A.F. Sabres formated tightly at a restrained pace; and finally three flights each of four Canberras. An inspection of the parade was then made by the reviewing officer, accom panied by A.V-Ms. D'Aeth and Merton and the parade commander, G/C. B. A. J. Crummy—followed by ceremonial drill by the massed bands and a march-past by the units on parade. The Colour-bearer party and escort squadron had come from the Advanced Drill Unit, Uxbridge, while of the remaining 12 squadrons present, eleven consisted of R.A.F. and W.R.A.F. recruits, in their eighth week of training, from Hednesford, Padgate, Wilmslow, Bridg north, Cardington and Melksham; and one comprised airmen of No. 21 Wing R.A.F. Regiment, Ouston. On parade were a total of some 1,100 officers, airmen and air-; women. All through the ceremony, the plain, im pressive outline of Manchester Grammar School in the background added part of the city's tradition to that of the R.A.F. The joining of traditions of city and Service was further emphasized in the city-centre Albert Square later that afternoon. After the parade had marched from Birchfields through the city with bayonets fixed and bands playing, the escort squadron and R.A.F. central band halted in front of the Town Hall. As the Colour party and squadron had approached the square, nine Vampires of the city's Auxiliary squadron, No. 613, led by S/L. J. B. Wales, O.B.E., D.F.C., an Avro test pilot, had flown low overhead about 350 m.p.h. To conclude the day's ceremonial, the Colour was Lord IN REVIEW ORDER: At the Manchester Colour parade the reviewing officer was . Alexander, Minister of Defence. With him on the dais as the Colour escort and escort squad ron marched past were the Lord Mayor of Manchester, the Secretary of State for Air and the Chief of the Air Staff. ^w^mrawfaS^W^^ "%7^1 «-»£_- ...1. • Tf: *^i'< • <4& L'.'v^V^vs UB •H ...,:-• , „ •..•• - , ... ^ ' \ w s '• • ^ •;• ; + ' ' : BEARER AND ESCORT: The Queen's Colour being paraded at the R.A.F. anniversary review in Birchfields Park, Manchester. The Colour bearer, FjL J. Cowman, and escort come from the Advanced Drill Unit, Uxbridge. "marched off"—passing directly between statues of Manchester's famed men of science, Joule and Dalton, into the Town Hall. New Provost Marshal AS Provost Marshal of the R.A.F., > A. Cdre. B. C. Yarde, C.B.E., is to be succeeded on April 20th by A. Cdre. North Carter, C.B., D.F.C. Coincident with this change the new title of Director of Personal Services (Provost Marshal) and Chief of Air Force Police will be assumed. Since early in 1951, A. Cdre. Carter has been S.A.S.O. at No. 205 Group, M.E.A.F. and before that was commandant at Halton. R.A.F.A. Annual Report TN his foreword to the annual report for *• 1952 of the Royal Air Forces Associa tion, of which he is chairman of the National Council, Air Marshal Sir Robert H. M. S. Saundby points out that the tendency for membership to decrease has now been checked; total membership stands at 92,910. The report shows Wings Day for 1952 as having brought in over £42,000, in com parison with £26,000 for the former year. During the year under review the Associa tion raised £15,502 for the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund. R.A.A.F. Korea Decorations S IX pilots of the Royal Australian Air Force have been awarded decorations for their service with No. 77 Fighter Squadron, R.A.A.F., and 16 other officers and airmen have been mentioned in despatches. F/L. E. G. Ramsay and F/O. A. Philp both received the D.F.C.; S/Ls. W. Addi-
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