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Aviation History
1953
1953 - 0504.PDF
500 FLIGHT, 17 April 1953 SERVICE AVIATION . memory of her son, S/L. E. M. ("Imshi") Mason, D.F.C.—killed in the Western Desert in 1942 while leading Nos. 92 and 112 Squadrons—was presented to No. 6 Squadron's commander, S/L. E. J. Roberts, by the A.O.C-in-C. Middle East Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Sanders, K.C.B., K.B.E., at a recent parade, at which he took the salute at a march-past. In 1949, Nos. 6 and 249 Squadrons jointly won the trophy, No. 249 winning it in 1950 and No. 6 in 1951. The 1952 competition revealed an improvement in weapons efficiency in all squadrons com peting. No. 6 Squadron, formed at Farnborough in January, 1914, saw much action during World War I, and in 1915, Lt. Walker, a squadron pilot, was awarded the first Victoria Cross for air combat. During World War II the squadron operated in a ground-attack role, achieving considerable success with its Hurricanes. Canal Zone Air Defence ""PHE entire air defence mechanism of -*- the Suez Canal zone was brought into play during the recent exercise "Session," which entailed a three-day work-out of the area's fighter interception control and reporting organization and anti-aircraft and air raid precautions. The exercise was under the direction of Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Sanders, A.O.C-in-C, M.E.A.F. Varsities of Flying Training Command, and Meteors and Venoms from the Central Fighter Establishment, joined Vampire and Meteor squadrons drawn from all parts of the Middle East Air Force for the exercise. Royal Australian and Royal New Zealand Air Force squadrons based in the Medi terranean and No. 97 (Straits Settlements) Squadron of Bomber Command in Egypt on exercise "Sunray" also took part. R.A.F. Regiment light anti-aircraft bat teries guarding airfields were augmented by British Army heavy anti-aircraft guns and an anti-aircraft unit of the Egyptian Army. Egyptian Air Force observers were invited, but did not attend. The exercise developed in three phases, the first of which involved daylight opera tions only. Phase two started shortly after dawn on the second day, merging without a break into the list phase, which ended at midday on the third day. The curtain went up with a sneak raid on Suez by Vampires simulating jet bombers, and this was followed by widely scattered raids at all heights throughout the day, on TWO-BADGE MAN: The markings of Nos. 612 (County of Aberdeen) and 603 (Cityof Edinburgh) Squadrons, R.Aux.A.F., on the tail of the Vampire flown by WjC. Duncan Smith, who is station commander and wing leader at Turnhouse, Edinburgh. a variety of targets including airfields and military installations. Fighters were scrambled by the Zone's early-warning system. The second phase began with a mass raid by Cyprus-based aircraft, aimed at knock ing out the airfields at Abu Sueir and Deversoir. Later in the day umpires adjudged that one of the Deversoir dis persals had been put out of action; the squadron using it was switched to a reserve airfield, where the aircraft re-armed, re fuelled and joined battle. Defending fighters in attacks on high- and medium- altitude raiders were hampered at noon by cloud at 20,000 to 30,000ft, which made visual contact difficult. At dusk, bombing raids were launched over a wide area, and from then until dawn Lincolns, Varsities and Vampires were continuously active. Blackout was imposed in parts of the Zone. Interceptions of raiders attacking singly and in force mounted as the night wore on. After a short lull die weight of the offensive grew heavier towards dawn and at daybreak air fields were subjected to persistent sneak raids. The final stage of the exercise was marked by the biggest mass raid of the exercise, all the strength the attacking forces could muster being thrown against the Zone defences in an attempt to saturate them. A.V-M. Satterly mobilized his en tire defence chain. This was the climax of the exercise, which included virtually all squadrons in M.E.A.F., the Canal Zones' control and reporting system, its ground defences with technical and administrative backing, and the Sea/Desert Rescue Organization. The Royal Yacht T HE 4,000-ton Royal Yacht, which was due to be named and launched by her Majesty yesterday, has the after end of the shelter deck specially strengthened for helicopter landings. The vessel is designed in such a manner that it can be easily converted into a hospital ship in time of war, the royal apartments becoming operating theatres and wards. In such circumstances the ability to fly casualties aboard by heli copter would be a distinct advantage. R.A.F. Club, Cape Town T HE secretary of the R.A.F. Officers' Club, Cape Town, Mr. E. A. R. Fowles, wishes us to remind anyone from Britain connected with aviation—Service or civil— that they will be very welcome at the Club if they are passing through Cape Town. If intending visitors will contact him at Groote Schuur Residential Hotel, Ronde- bosch, Cape Town (telephone 6-2078), he will arrange to have them met. ATTACKERS: Vampires of No. 78 Fighter Wing, Royal Australian Air Force, and Varsities of Flying Training Command, R.A.F., operating from Cyprus during the recent Middle East exercise "Session." (See "Canal Zone Air Defence," above.) : . ••••.:.. ' • •' , . • ... ....
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