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Aviation History
1954
1954 - 1240.PDF
MAPLE LEAVES IN SPRING: Sabres of Nos. 410, 439 and 421 Sqns., R.C.A.F., lined up at North Luffenham during Air Marshal Slemon's visit. Note the fin flag and fuselage inscription. SERVICE AVIATION Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm News Canadian C.A.S. in Europe AFTER a 16-day visit to the U.S.A., Air - Marshal C. Roy Slemon, C.B., C.B.E., CD., Chief of the R.C.A.F. Air Staff, arrived at London Airport on April 21st for a European tour. His visit began, on April 23rd, with an inspection of the R.C.A.F. bases at North Luffenham and Langar (as illustrated on this page) and he was then due to visit a number of aircraft factories. Air Marshal Slemon was next to tour R.C.A.F. bases in France and Germany and finally to take part in a five-day N.A.T.O. exercise at S.H.A.P.E. Head quarters, ending today (April 30th). Before leaving for Europe, Air Marshal Slemon had accepted the 1,000th Canadair- built Sabre on behalf of the R.C.A.F. The aircraft is being signed by all those engaged in its construction and then sprayed with a coat of transparent dope to preserve the signatures. "Flight" photographs TOP BRASS AND PIPE BAND: Air Marshal Slemon (third from left) with A.V-M. A. L. Campbell (left), the pipe major, and G/C. D. Somerville, station commander (right), and the R.C.A.F. pipe band at North Luffenham (see news item on this page). R.A.F. in Kenya A CURIOUS air war is being waged against the Mau Mau in Kenya. Amongst the assortment of military and civil aircraft engaged are Lincolns, Vam pires, Harvards and Piper Pacers; the last- named, fitted with Harvard-type bomb racks, are being used in an offensive as well as a support role. The Harvards, though lighdy armed, are proving most effective against groups of Mau Mau hiding in the forests. On one occasion, of a group of 20 terrorists driven from cover by bombing, 19 were killed by accurate fire from the single 0.303in machine gun. On another occasion, how ever, three Harvards flying in formation to a target were caught in a violent down- draught and crashed simultaneously on an open hillside. None of the pilots was seriously hurt and all were rescued by ground troops after a night in the open. Bedding and food were dropped to them from the air soon after the accident. The most recent air reinforcements are four Vampires, now based at R.A.F. Eastleigh, Nairobi, having been detached from a squadron at Aden. On anti-Mau Mau strikes they carry die standard four 20 mm cannon and four 60 lb rockets each. Biggin Hill Under Fire ~D ESERVE and regular units of both the " R.A.F. and Army are to take part in one of the largest airfield defence exercises staged since World War 2. Biggin Hill airfield will be attacked between 0900 and 1630 hr on May 2nd by infantry of the Royal West Kent Regiment, T.A., armoured cars of the London Rifle Brigade Rangers, T.A., the R.A.F. Regiment and regular and Auxiliary fighters from North Weald. Defence will be in the hands of No. 2600 (City of London) L.A.A. Squad ron, R.Aux.A.F. Regt, a Territorial L.A.A. battery, 500 men of the 7th Metropolitan (West Kent) Home Guard, and a mobile column from the Guards' Training Depot, Caterham. The Biggin Hill Meteor Wing will intercept raiding aircraft. SWORD-SWALLOWER: The capacious hold of an R.C.A.F. Bristol Freighter disgorges a slightly damaged Sabre fuselage which has been flown to R.C.A.F. Langar for repair.
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