FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1954
1954 - 1108.PDF
500 FLIGHT, 16 April 1954 SERVICE AVIATION . . . attacks on the battleship Tirpitz. The citation to his award recorded that in January 1945, he was detailed to attack the U-boat pens in Bergen and that while over the target his aircraft was attacked by two fighters: "The first burst of machine-gun fire from the enemy aircraft struck the tailplane, rudder and elevator. The port inner engine was set on fire and the rear turret put out of action. After the fighters broke off their attack S/L. Iveson's aircraft came under heavy fire from the anti-aircraft batteries. It was almost impossible to maintain level flight." S/L. Iveson then instructed another member of the crew to lash the control column in such a way as to ease the strain; and under these most trying con ditions he flew clear of the fire zone and afterwards reached a home-based airfield, where he landed his seriously-damaged aircraft safely. Iraq Flood Relief "THE extent of supplies air-lifted from •*- British Service stocks in the Canal Zone to Iraq to assist in the fight against the recent floods near Baghdad, and to help relieve flood victims, had by April 6th amounted to 200,000 sandbags and 830 tents. A further 150,000 sandbags and 1,179 tents were then still to be lifted by R.A.F. Hastings to complete die Services' commitment. In addition, the R.A.F. in Iraq supplied 300,000 sandbags from their own resources; and when the R.A.F. com pleted its air-lift the British Services in the Middle East had supplied the Iraqis with over 200 tons of relief materials. The air-lift of sandbags and other sup plies from Egypt to Iraq was carried out by twin-engined Valettas of the M.E.A.F. Transport Force, and four-engined Hast ings of R.A.F. Transport Command, flying the 700 miles across the Sinai Desert, Jordan, and the Syrian Desert to the Iraq capital. The floods began when the usual rise of the Tigris at this time of year, caused by melting snows in Persia and Turkey, was aggravated by exceptionally heavy rains for 12 hours in the Baghdad area, the heaviest since rainfall records were first kept. This swelled the Tigris, and the nearby Diyala River, causing the former, which flows through Baghdad, to rise to within inches of the top of the bunds, some of which are 15 feet high. Foreseeing the danger to Baghdad, Air Headquarters Iraq, at Habbaniya, 50 miles from the capital, telephoned the Iraqi Ministry of Defence offering any assistance the R.A.F. could give, in the name of the A.O.C., Iraq Command, A.V-M. J. G. Hawtrey, C.B.E. Men of the R.A.F. Iraq Levies were ordered to stand by, with vehicles ready to rush supplies by road to Baghdad. At first the Iraqi Government felt that help was not required, but as die Tigris rose Habbaniya was telephoned very early on March 29di, requesting that sand bags be sent quickly, in as large quantities as possible, to help bolster the bunds and close minor breaches. Immediately A.V-M. Hawtrey ordered 100,000 sandbags to be despatched by air, since at the time the condition of the desert road to Baghdad was uncertain. The crews of two Valettas then at Habbaniya were alerted to start the air-lift. One of them, consisting of F/O. G. J. Skermer, F/O. J. A. Nimmo and M.Plt. Graydon, flew eight sorties to Baghdad, between 1030 hr and 1900 hr that day. R.A.F. Rowing Activities WITH the Royal Air Force Rowing Club from Wallingford, Berks, off to a flying start in 1954, having scored vic tories in the Reading and Putney head- of-the-river races, news that the 90 Group (R.A.F.) Rowing Club have entered a coxed clinker four in the Avon head-of-the-river events at Evesham on Easter Monday suggests that rowing is again on the up-grade in the R.A.F. The 90 Group Club, whose oarsmen have all been accepted as full members of Marlow Rowing Club, on the Thames, expect a busy season. They hope to enter a four in the several Thames Regattas, leading up to Royal Henley, where a 90 Group four may well be seen in the Wyfold Cup. This the R.A.F. Rowing Club won last season to secure its sen sational Henley "double" after winning the Thames Cup. The rejuvenation of the Group Rowing Club is due in no small measure to the energy of its coach, S/L. G. J. Henry, who some 25 years ago rowed No. 3 for Strasbourg University and the University of North Wales. The 90 Group four will not be the only R.A.F. representatives on the Avon on April 19th, for the R.A.F. Benson Rowing Club is entered in the eights contest. A.O.P. Trophy Presented AS his first duty since becoming the **•Honorary Air Commodore of 663 Air Observation Post Squadron, R.Aux.A.F. Viscount Leverhulme, the Lord Lieuten ant of Cheshire, presented the Air O.P. Efficiency Trophy to the unit at Hooton Park on April 4th. This was the third year in succession in which the Squadron has won the trophy and this time a small replica was also pre sented for permanent keeping. Addressing the Royal Artillery and R.A.F. personnel of the Squadron, Lord Leverhulme referred to the fine spirit of teamwork amongst the officers and men of both services, regular and auxiliary. During the presentation, Meteors of Nos. 610 and 611 Squadrons, which are also stationed at Hooton Park, carried out a fly-past and salute, and Capt. John Gooding, R.A., put up an impressive, if bumpy, display of low and slow flying in violently gusty weather in an Auster 6. The parade was the last ceremonial to be handled by 663 Squadron's adjutant, F/L. E. Dodd, who is retiring after 40 years' service. F/L. Dodd has seen most aspects of Air O.P. work during his ser vice—his first flying tour was as an R.F.C. balloon observer in 1917. Reunion OFFICERS of No. 70 O.T.U., R.A.F., *•' M.E.F. (Nakuru and Shandur) are holding a reunion at 6.30 p.m. on Satur day, April 24th, at the Phoenix Hotel, Princes Street, Oxford Circus, London, W.l. Particulars from R. E. Hall, 23, Oakhurst Road, West Ewell, Surrey (Ewell 7111). PASSING-OUT PARADE: On April 6th the passing-out parade of the 61st Entry to the R.A.F. College took place at Cranwell. The reviewing officer was Field Marshal Sir John Harding, G.C.B., C.R.E., D.S.O., M.C., Chief of the Imperial General Staff, who is seen below inspecting the cadets. On the right are two prize winners, F/Cdt. Sen. U/Off. R. S. Blockey (Sword of Honour) and Sen. F/Cdt. R. L. Holmes (Queen's Medal). The photograph on the left shows the Colour and senior entry marching off parade to the strains of'Auld Lang Syne." "Flight" photographs
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
