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Aviation History
1954
1954 - 1172.PDF
528 FLIGHT SERVICE AVIATION Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm News NATO in the Mediterranean— U NDER the direction of Admiral the Earl of Mountbatten, C-in-C. Allied Forces, Mediterranean, units of Southern European NATO forces have been engaged in Exercise Medflex A. A naval force de raid, composed of British and French units, was subjected to strong submarine, surface and air attacks by the Naval Striking Force, Southern Europe, themselves operating in Exercise Shield 1. Italian and French coastal air defence forces made several attacks on the force de raid, and French fighters and R.A.F. bombers were des patched to assist in the force's defence. In the early hours of April 3rd, a night- encounter exercise was held, followed by a final air-defence exercise in conjunction with Italian and French defence systems. Aircraft from the carriers H.M.S. Eagle and H.M.S. Warrior also attacked land targets in North Africa, and ships at sea during the exercise. —and in the Channel CHIPS of the Royal Navy and the & Norwegian and French Navies will take part in a minesweeping exercise in the Channel between April 30th and May 8th. The Allied C-in-C. Channel, Admiral Sir John Edelsten, G.C.B., G.C.V.O., C.B.E., will direct the operations. Practice mines will be laid by ships and submarines of the Royal Navy and by aircraft of R.A.F. Bomber Command in an area south of the Isle of Wight, In addition to minesweepers, units of the Royal Naval Minewatching Service will take part. No. 8 Squadron Honoured AT a ceremony held at R.A.F. station, **• Khormaksar on April 9th the Governor of Aden, Sir Tom Hickin- botham, presented No. 8 Squadron, R.A.F., with the standard awarded by King George VI. No. 8 Squadron, commanded by S/L. A. J. Houston, has served in Aden inter mittently over a period of 25 years, and is the senior fighting force in the colony. Personnel from R.A.F. Khormaksar were drawn up for the ceremony in a hollow GOLDEN WINGS: The noble, gilded bronze eagle which tops the SOft-high memorial to members of the Commonwealth Air Forces, to be unveiled by the Queen at Malta on May 3rd. The coijmn was designed by Sir Hubert Worthirg, O.B.E., A.R.A. The eagle, 7ft 9in high, is the work of Charles Wheeler, R.A. square around the perimeter of the parade ground and the officers and men of the Squadron marched on with the cased standard at their head. The Governor inspected the Squadron before the stan dard was uncased and unfurled. The Senior R.A.F. Chaplin then held a short service of consecration, at which the standard bearer, P/O. R. E. Pyrah knelt to receive the newly-consecrated standard. The ceremony, at which Air Officer Com manding Headquarters British Forces, Aden, A.V-M. S. O. Bufton, was present, ended with all ranks of No. 8 Squadron marching past the Governor, in slow and in quick time, then in review order. The squadron will parade its standard for the first time on April 27th, when a Guard of Honour drawn from its ranks greets the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh on their arrival in the colony. The squadron's aircraft will also fly over the Gothic in salute. No. 8 Squadron was formed at Brook- lands on January 1st, 1915, as part of the R.F.C., and went to France in April that year. Equipped with B.E.2Cs, it con centrated its efforts on long-range recon naissance and day bombing until early part of 1916, when it changed its role to artillery reconnaissance. It took part in the battles of the Somme and Arras, and co-operated closely with the Tank Corps and did outstanding work in the battle of Amiens, one of the squadron pilots, Capt. F. M. F. West being awarded the Victoria Cross. Disbanded at Duxford in January 1920, No. 8 was reformed in Egypt nine months later. In 1921 it moved to Meso potamia where it helped to garrison the country and operated against local tribes men. In April 1928 it moved to Aden. At the outbreak of World War II it began carrying out coastal reconnaissance and anti-submarine patrols and was in con tinuous action against the Italian Forces in the 1940/41 East African campaign. In 1942 it reverted to the anti-submarine role, in which it continued until nearly the end of the war. In May 1945 the squadron was again disbanded, but re-formed later in Ceylon as a special- duties unit employed on clandestine operations behind the Japanese lines. The war with Japan over, the squadron began dropping men, food and supplies to P.O.W. camps and isolated groups of agents. Again disbanded in November 1945, it was re-formed in Aden in the following September. Since then it has returned to its traditional r61e of helping in the Defence and Policing of the Pro tectorate. This year is the 25th anniversary of its arrival in Aden. No. 3613 F.C.U. Appointment T HE appointment has been announced of W/C. R. W. Foster, D.F.C., to com mand No. 3613 (City of Manchester) Fighter Control Unit, R.Aux.A.F., at R.A.F. Bowlee. W/C. Foster joined the R.A.F.V.R. in 1939, and was awarded the D.F.C. after serving with Nos. 605 and 54 Sqns. He subsequently held appoint ments at H.Q., Allied Expeditionary Air Force, 2nd T.A.F. and H.Q., Fighter Com mand, after transferring to die Administra tion and Special Duties Branch. He joined No. 3613 F.C.U. in March 1952. ROY/L INTEREST in some aeronautical hap pening at London Airport is displayed by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother before leaving in a Viking of the Queen's Flight for Wick. Sir John d'Albiac, the airport commandant, seen with Her Majesty, was doubtless able to offer an explanation.
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