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Aviation History
1953
1953 - 0869.PDF
FLIGHT, 3 July 1953 ^5 Left, an Auster of No. 1913 Flight leaves an advanced Korean strip for a sortie over the forward areas. Above, the officers' mess of No. 1903 Flight—named "Casa Mitty" after a Canadian officer formerly serving with the Flight. Capt. Peter Tees is seen in transit. THE SHARP END activities, from a few of which I am privileged to quote. Thus, of last winter—"The strip has now become fairly well hard-baked and normally dries off quickly with the high day temperatures. The first heavy rain of the season caused quite a startling change, which literally happened overnight. The whole of the countryside changed colour from the drab brown and grey to a very fresh green which was soon mixed with the blazes of colour of the various blossoms." (Nor did it pass unnoticed that, under the pretext of erecting camouflage, Sgt. Killelea arranged a flower garden around the command post.) Of last December—"The month started with an extremely cold spell which affected everyone from V.I.P. to airman alike." The V.I.P. was the President-elect, General Eisenhower, whose visit was kept so secret that the first the Flight knew of his presence was a host of light aircraft arriving on the strip during breakfast. A bitter north-west wind at about that time hit the Flight severely. The biggest difficulty was getting the aircraft started and de-frosted, and the already urgent need for a hot-air blower became a top priority, resulting in delivery the same day. Internal accumulators and trolley aces, suffered severe punishment owing to sluggish starting. "Pilot comfort," one reads, "is almost non existent, and the bulky clothing which is quite indispensable, together with parachute, only succeeds in cluttering up an already cramped cockpit and effecting a further reduction of one's blood circulation. Feet suffer more discomfort than any other part of the body." Capt. Wilson told me of the comradeship existing between the Flight and L-17, L-19 and L-20 units of the U.S. Army, engaged in similar tasks. It was, in fact, a U.S. Army artillery pilot—Lt. Lane Westberg—who was flying McLaren when he secured his pictures of the Auster and Cessna over the mountains. I took the opportunity of riding in the Cessna with Sgt. Hutchings, and he demonstrated the short take-off, i,oooft/min-plus initial climb, and general handiness. We flew round Gloster's Hill, and saw the positions so valiantly held in the historic action, before putting down at a strip from which No. 1903 Independent Air O.P. Flight was flying. Having served in Malaya and Hong Kong, this R.A.F. unit was sent to Korea in October, 1951, and ever since has operated in support of the Commonwealth Division. The Commanding Officer, Major J. M. H. Hailes, D.S.O.,R.A., being temporarily absent, I was greeted by Capt. G. W. C. Joyce, D.F.C., R.A. (believe it or not, an ex-Naval pilot). He told me that an Auster of the Flight was at that moment conducting a shoot of heavy American guns against enemy artillery and supply areas. The lighter 25-pounders of the Commonwealth Division, he explained, were generally used against troops and supply areas nearer the lines, and the speed with which they could be brought into action for close support or flak sup pression was at once the pride of the gunners and the comfort of the troops and A.O.P. pilots. The tasks of 1903 Flight, in conjunction with the artillery, were stated for me as counter bombardment (this is the primary role), engagement of troops and supplies, observation of enemy defence improvements, photography of enemy features, and cover for minor and major offensives. The Auster A.O.P. 6s have armour plate and the pilots fly solo, with parachutes. On a counter-bombardment sortie the pilot observes and map-spots gun positions and engages any active guns with heavy American pieces. The enemy guns are usually in three or four pits, and hits by the American shells do extensive damage. Having returned from his sortie, the pilot marks an air photograph, which is forwarded to the counter-bombardment officer at H.Q. Royal Artillery. All briefing and shooting is done from air photo graphs. From time to time the targets thus "pre-ranged" are reconnoitred for improvements or activity. Should a pilot happen upon an opportune target, such as troops, in the course of one of these sorties, it is up to him to put the Commonwealth Division's 25-pounders on to them without delay. Dusk sorties are flown in order to spot the flashes of enemy guns, and, if the light allows, the positions are forthwith engaged. A night landing is always incurred. A further responsibility which falls to the Flight in the event of a heavy attack by either side is the flying of dawn sorties to provide information and direct gunfire. On a normal day the Austers fly about seven sorties, of which three may be operational, one a reconnaissance of the Division's front, and one an admin, flight. A typical operational summary would run: "Three counter-bombardment sorties successfully flown, two gun positions being destroyed and one damaged. Im provements noticed in diggings and bunker building. Eight separate groups of men and supplies effectively engaged." In a good month each pilot will put in 45-50 hr flying. (Right) An Auster of No. 1903 Flight in its revet ment. (Below) Dug-outs and tents are the fashion at the advanced strips used by the Auster Flights. ,. ^ • • -i- ^mmi'mn^ i^F-"*""""" KKSStafck 3M WKuii'lMltrJmU ^"V^e" jHP^^
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