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Aviation History
1954
1954 - 0606.PDF
280 FLIGHT, 5 March 1954 SERVICE AVIATION . . . doubt that the presence of this unit con tributed to the falling off of the enemy night effort. ROYAL AIR FORCE AND ARMY O.B.E. (Military Division).—-To W/C. D. MacKenzie, D.F.C., Far East Flying- boat Wing. W/C. Mackenzie has com manded the Far East Flying-boat Wing since the outbreak of the Korean war, and has moulded its squadrons into a cohesive organization and maintained their flexi bility. He has many times flown on Korean operations with squadrons of the Wing. D.F.C.—To S/L. H. T. Francis, who has commanded a Sunderland squadron of the Far East Flying-boat Wing for 18 months and completed 38 sorties on anti- shipping and anti-submarine operations. To F/O. G. A. Chesworth, who flew his 58th and last sortie in the Korean cam paign in June 1953; although young, he became captain of a Sunderland and undertook the regular Korean commit ments, with their continuous flying hazards, with calm courage and steadfast ness. To F/L. M. G. Bennett, who, as captain of a Sunderland carried out 47 operational sorties in the Korean war; his ability as captain and pilot made possible, in unpleasant and dangerous conditions, operations which would otherwise have been cancelled. Mentions in Despatches.—F/Ls. D. B. Robinson, L. H. Tester, D.F.M., and E. P. Wildy. F/O. G. H. Gilbert. M.Eng. J. Davidson. F/Sgt. R. J. K. Nicholas. Sgts. J. Cahill and M. J. B. Culverhouse. Cpls. L. Elliott, H. E. Garratt, E. H. Longe, T. P. Moulton and L. F. Prudden. S.A/C. R. A. Beynon. L.A/C. C. G. Hartshorn. Capt. A. S. Stepto, R.A., and Sgt. A. J. Brennan. Royal Navy Appointments 'THE Admiralty has announced the * appointment of Vice-Admiral J. P. L. Reid, C.B., C.V.O., as Flag Officer, second- in-command, Mediterranean Station and Flag Officer (Air) Mediterranean, in which post he relieves Vice-Admiral W. W. Davis, C.B., D.S.O., who now is Vice-Chief of Naval Staff. A number of appointments in the rank of captain have also been announced. Capt. J. A. levers has gone to the Naval Air War fare Division at the Admiralty and Capt. P. D. Gick is now in command of R.N.A.S. Lossiemouth. Capt. A. S. Bolt has become Chief of Staff to Flag Officer Air (Home) at Lee-on- Solent and Capt. I. R. Sard has taken over command of R.N.A.S. Gosport. Capt. PARIS PARTY: M. Paul Reynaud, Vice- Premier of France, with Marshal P. A. Juin and Air Chief Marshal Sir Basil Embry at the recep tion given in Paris on February 18th to celebrate the re lease by bombing of French Resistance leadersincarcerated in Amiens gaol in 1944. The meeting was reported on page 227 of our last week's issue. (E) E. Mill is now Superintendent, R.N. Aircraft Yard, Belfast. Capt. K. Williamson, D.S.O., is now with Air Organization and Training Divi sion at the Admiralty and Capt. O. N. Bailey has become a staff officer to Flag Officer Air (Home). Capt. M. P. Lawson has taken up his new post as Captain (E) in the Aircraft Maintenance and Repair Department at the Admiralty. R.Aux.A.F. Appointment T^HE Air Ministry has announced the -*• appointment of S/L. A. R. Poole, D.S.O., D.F.C., to command No. 2611 (West Lancashire) L.A.A. Squadron, R.Aux.A.F. S/L. Poole, who has been serving in various capacities in the R.A.F.V.R. since 1949, was a specialized air gunner during the war and served in, among other bomber units, the famous No. 617 ("dam-busters") Squadron. Duncan Trophy C OMPETED for between fighter squad rons of 2nd T.A.F. for the first time, the Duncan Trophy for air-to-air firing has been won by No. 93 Fighter Squadron with No. 5 Squadron as runners-up. Presentation of the trophy was made by Air Marshal Sir Harry Broadhurst, C-in-C. 2nd T.A.F., to S/L. R. N. G. Allen, who commands the unit. No. 93 Squadron originated in 1940 from No. 420 Flight, which was formed for the purpose of experimenting in the use of aerial mines in the interception of enemy aircraft. This work was discontinued at the end of 1941 and the unit became a Spit fire fighter squadron. It is at present based at Celle, Germany, and is equipped with Vampires. Two Notable Anniversaries T OMORROW, March 6th, marks the anniversary of the launching of two major R.A.F. Bomber Command offensives which are regarded today as turning-points in the course of the air war against Germany. The first was the Bomber Command raid on the night of March 5th-6th, 1943, when 442 aircraft were despatched against Essen in the Ruhr. Marshal of the R.A.F. Sir Arthur Harris, then A.O.C-in-C. Bomber PRESENTATION: Air Marshal Sir Harry Broadhurst, K.B.E., C.B., D.S.O., D.F.C., A.F.C., Commander-in-Chief 2nd T.A.F., hand ing the Duncan Trophy to S/L R. N. G. Allen, D.F.C., Commanding Officer of No. 93 Squadron. (See "Duncan Trophy," above). Command, has since stated that his Com mand's main offensive began with the launching of this major attack against Essen. This raid was of particular import ance, for it marked the first major attack on a German objective in which Oboe, an important navigational aid, enabled path finder aircraft without visual assistance, to pin-point targets. Key aircraft in this historic raid were the eight Mosquitoes carrying the new Oboe equipment on which the success of the operation ultimately depended. They dropped red target-indicators on the aim ing point and these were supplemented by green flares dropped by heavy aircraft. The main force, following the Mosquitoes, were so concentrated that only 14 aircraft (or just over three per cent) of the total were lost in attacking a target hitherto con sidered almost invulnerable. The success ful introduction of Oboe on this night set the pattern for further intensive attacks against Essen and many other industrial targets within range of the new equipment; the Ruhr's industrial haze was no longer a protective covering for the concentrated war industry in this vital area. Exactly one year later the first air attack was launched in the offensive in prepara tion for the invasion of Europe. Marshal of the R.A.F. Lord Tedder, then Air C-in- C. and Deputy to General Eisenhower, has stated that the decision to mount this offensive has been proclaimed as one which contributed most to the paralysing of Ger many's military strength, and was the de cisive factor ensuring success for the Allied landings. It began with an attack on the railway yards at Trappes. During the fol lowing ten weeks 36 similar targets were attacked by Bomber Command and were judged to be so severely damaged that no further attacks by heavy bombers were considered necessary. Reunions THE seventh reunion dinner and annua! general meeting of No. 2 Group Offi cers' Association (including No. 2 Group units, past and present) is to be held or. Saturday, May 8th, at the Park Lane Hotel, London. The A.G.M. is at 6 p.m. and the dinner at 7.30 p.m. A special welcome is extended to ex-W.A.A.F. officers. Particu lars from S/L. J. A. Beattie, 6 Leamington Road Villas, London, W.ll. For their sixth reunion dinner, to be held on Saturday, March 27th, No. 106 Squad ron are foregathering at the Magpie and Stump, Old Bailey, London, E.C.4. Par ticulars and tickets (12s 6d) from R. <->• Purnell, New Orchard House, Sevenoaks Road, Pratts Bottom, Kent.
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