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Aviation History
1954
1954 - 2087.PDF
102 FLIGHT, 23 July W As the "Wingco Flying" briefs Canberra crews at Witti ing. Marshal of the Royal Air Force H.R.H. the Duks Edinburgh (third from left) listens intently. At extren left is G/C. W. P. Sutcliffe (station commander); ( the Duke's right is Air Marshal Sir George Mill A.O.C-in-C. Bomber Command, and on his left, A Vice-Marshal E. C. Hudleston (A.O.C. No. 3 Group Eight Thousand Sorties Against Grea Britain in this Year's Big Air Defence Test: Phase J Described EXERCISE DIVIDEND THE first phase of the 1954 air defence exercise, code-named "Dividend," took place last week-end and the second phase was due to begin yesterday at 1400 hr. It will close at 1700 hr. on Sunday. At a Press conference held before the exercise opened, Air Marshal Sir Dermot Boyle, A.O.C-in-C. Fighter Command, said that it was by far the biggest air defence exercise held in Britain since the war. Comparing it with "Ardent" (1952) and "Momen tum" (1953), he pointed out that two years ago our radar facil ities and both bomber and fighter forces were considerably smaller than they are now. In "Ardent," he said, the bomber forces were equipped with piston-engined aircraft, in "Momentum" 50 per cent jet aircraft were used and this year that figure is up to 75 per cent. An entirely new idea this year, the Air Marshal explained, is the further sub-division of the phases into missions with short intervals between. When all the attacks'associated with any one mission are completed, the Command and Sector Controllers are given maps showing exactly what has happened and are thus able to rectify faults as the exercise progresses. It is felt that this may easily save die dead period between annual exercises for new ideas to be tried and perfected/ The theme of "Dividend" is very simple; it is air defence against atomic-bomb attack. As Sir Derihot told his listeners "Any com plicated story concerning operations by other forces could confuse the issue, perhaps to a dangerous extent. For instance, operations by land or maritime forces r&t directly concerned with the air defence of the United Kingdom must not be allowed to cloud our vision or influence our actions." During the whole exercisje it is expected that 8,000 sorties will have been flown against Gifeat Britain. These are being made by Bomber Command, 3rd ^ir Force U.S.A.F., 49th Air Division U.S.A.F., 7th Air Division U.S.A.F., A.A.F.C.E., (2nd A.T.A.F,, 4th A.T.A.F.), Fleet Aj£ Arm, Flying Training Command and No. 81 Group, Fighter Command. Although many of these are operating from Continental bases the Continental early warning radar system is tied id with that of this country. On the defence side alone some 80,000 men—and women—are engaged. Included/are the Regular and Auxiliary squadrons of Fighter Command^ Control and Reporting stations, Auxiliary Fighter Control Aits, Royal Observer Corps and A.A. units. This is the first exercise on which the new reserve flights, formed earlier this year/have been engaged. Coastal Command are operating in their normal maritime role in connection with Haul, a naval/air exercise which is taking place concurrentiy .Avith Dividend. In addition Coastal Command, U.S.A.F., Fleet Air Arm and Flying Training Command are operating ajl extensive search and rescue service. The firsr parts of Phase 1 were severely limited by bad weather, but the jfll-weather fighters were able to operate successfully against tRe small forces in the northern and southern approaches. The ma/or attacks were by Canberras against targets in the north, and for* the first time the Hunter appeared as part of the defence, making interceptions at over 40,000ft. Frjom early Sunday morning until the end of Phase 1 improved weather enabled the exercise to go ahead on the full planned scale. Three main raids were directed against the northern, eastern and southern sectors of the country at heights of 35,000ft to 40,000ft. F-86s and F-84s of A.A.F.C.E. were over Britain in strength throughout the day and Fleet Air Arm strike aircraft raided coastal targets. The phase finished with another three major raids against northern, southern and eastern areas. Some sidelights on the exercise, by members of Flight's staff, are given below. Expectancy at Biggin Hill THE atmosphere at Biggin Hill during the first phase of "Divi dend" was quiet—too quiet for many of those present. As luck would have it, the weather turned foul during the night and practically stopped all flying during Saturday, tfie first day for the Auxiliary Meteor Squadrons. A small numfcter of sorties was indeed flown, but pilots reported cloud fromy400ft to 28,000ft; "trade" was scarce and the return to base not f comfortable affair. The three R.Aux.A.F. squadrons based at Biggin for the exercise, Nos. 600 (City of London), 615 (County'of Surrey) and 500 (County of Kent), were due to come ing» action at 1400 hr on Saturday, but sufficient pilots were on hand early in the morning to begin operations immediately. Apajct from bad weather, how ever, most of the "war" appeared to b/ concentrated in any sector but Biggin's and the day ended wi^f the loudly reiterated hope that the morrow would bring bigge/'and better things. In expectation, it was arranged/that aircraft and pilots should stand by at 0400 next morning, after met. briefing at 0345. This time the weather proved considerably better, with a cloud- base at about 1,200ft and good visibility. But again the "war" was hottest in the north and west, and tactical considerations evidently made it inadvisabj^ to commit too many forces from the Biggin area. Some activity1 developed in the early morning, but without any conclusive engagements, and the pace soon settled into one of interminable*1 readiness periods followed by not over active sorties. "Dinghj^bashing"—sitting in the cockpits at readi ness—was in fact tfje principal occupation of those fortunate enough to get that fifr. Once in the air, one Meteor section was told to "Make angefs 49"; their reply is not recorded. Though the Biggin picture might sound gloomy, the exercise was in fact taken/very seriously, and preparations had been made for almost any Eventuality; throughout the week-end the whole of the station personnel were ready for any kind of call on their services. Full security regulations were in force and aircraft widely dispensed. Pilots at readiness took their meals in their cockpits, and operational and flying controls were, of course, fully manned al/the time. This ve^y full preparedness made die lack of any real activity all the more disappointing, though nothing could be held to blame other than the weather and the vagaries of the conflict. New the members of the Biggin Hill Auxiliary wing must base their hopes of intense "trade" on the events of the second phase, which for them is due to begin tomorrow. C. M. L. Duxford's Dividend /"\NE supposes, without having seen the record, that Duxfon s *"' Dividend in the great co-op. was much the same as was do! 4 out to other stations of Fighter Command. Certainly, when ve, reported to the guard-room last Sunday morning at an hour wh> n any hard-working journalist should still be debating who shou i fix breakfast, business was at a pretty low ebb. So there was tip : to relax in the ante-room and prognosticate on the World Glidi: i Championships with the Frying Wing adj., whose name—F/< Mallett—is not unfamijietf in motorless circles. Man's-size coffee cups having been drained, we felt strorw
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