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Aviation History
1956
1956 - 0126.PDF
126 FLIGHT, 27 January 1956 SERVICE AVIATION . . . Squadron Flying Clubs THE next few weeks will see the begin-ning of operations by a second R.A.F. squadron flying club—that of No. 61Squadron, stationed at Upwood, Hunts. The instructors will be Canberra pilots ofthe unit and the trainees will be airmen members. Chairman is the squadron com-mander, S/L. N. L. Hartley. Money to buy two Tiger Moths was contributed byofficers and airmen and the club already has about 30 members, a figure which itis hoped to double. The first R.A.F. squadron flying clubwas formed by No. 47 Squadron at Abing- don, Berks, just over a year ago. Under thechairmanship of the squadron commander, S/L. D. P. Boulnois (who holds the A.Iflying instructor's category of the Central Flying School), this club logged 340 hours'flying during 1955. Seventeen members— mostly ground tradesmen with no previousflying instruction—flew solo and five pro- gressed further to gain the private pilot'slicence. They included a cook's assistant, two corporals in technical trades, a navi-gator and an Army captain. Among those who reached the solo stage was a motherof four children—the wife of a flight ser- geant. The club has recently adapted itsTiger Moth for glider towing, and it will be available to give towed launches to thegliding club which is shortly to open at R.A.F. Bicester, Oxon. During the yearthe club reduced its charges from 30s to 27s 6d an hour—about half the rate chargedby most private flying clubs. "Shiny Twelfth" CongratulatedK NOWN throughout the R.A.F. as the"Shiny Twelfth," No. 12 Squadron lately received congratulatory messagesfrom the Commander-in-Chief, Far East Air Force, Air Marshal Sir Francis Fres-sanges, and the Air Officer Commanding, Malaya, A.V-M. W. H. Kyle, for its Can-berra bomber operations against the terror- ists. "I would like to congratulate you onthe effort you and your squadron have put up in the recent intensive operations againstthe Communist terrorists," the C-in-C. signalled to No. 12 Squadron's commander,S/L. F. D. C. Wright, D.F.C. "You have upheld highest traditions of the Royal AirForce in the skill with which you have conducted these operations. My heartiestcongratulations." A signal to the squadron from the A.O.C., Wearing her Sash of Merit as the best all- round cadet of the 36th Officer Cadet Train- ing Unit, W.R.A.F., is F/O. Doreen Varcoe. The reviewing officer was Air Chief Marshal Sir John Whitworth Jones. Malaya, who directs air operations in theFederation, read: "Now that the intensive operations on which you have recently beenengaged have been completed, I want all members of your squadron to know thatthe very hard work and efficient standard of operations was well worth while and thattheir efforts were very much appreciated." No. 12 Squadron, which succeeded No.617 Squadron (the "Dam Busters") in Malaya, maintained a heavy bombing effortevery day for eight days, the Canberras making one or more strikes a day duringjoint air-ground operations in Negri Sem- bilan. S/L. Wright, who has completed16 operations since the squadron's arrival in Malaya, will soon be returning to theUnited Kingdom. R.A.A.F. Tropical Exercises A LL fighter, bomber, maritime and trans-•**• port squadrons of the Royal Australian Air Force will take part in tropical exercisesat Darwin or Townsville throughout this year. Tropical trials of the Avon-Sabre,which were begun at Darwin last year, will be continued at Garbutt, near Townsville,where there will be increased activity gener- ally. Six Avon-Sabres from the R.A.A.F.'sTrials Flight at Williamtown, near New- castle, N.S.W., should by now have arrivedat Garbutt. At least three squadrons are scheduled to visit Garbutt from southernbases, including No. 11 Maritime Squad- ron, operating P2V-5 Neptunes. No. 10Maritime Squadron, operating "long- nosed" Lincolns, is permanently based atGarbutt. Citizen Air Force units from Melbourne (No. 21) and Adelaide (No. 24)will fly their Vampires to Garbutt, and No. 25 (City of Perth), No. 23 (City ofBrisbane) and No. 22 (City of Sydney) Squadrons will visit Darwin. 54 Squadron History A COMPLETE history of No. 54 Squad-** ron, R.A.F., from its formation at Castle Bromwich in 1916, is being com-piled. Much information has already been collected, but we are informed by S/L.W. J. Stacey, the officer commanding, that some fairly large gaps remain to be filled in.S/L. Stacey asks former members of the squadron to send him at R.A.F. StationOdiham, Basingstoke, Hants, any photo- graphs, anecdotes or appropriate informa-tion. Material will be returned, if desired, as soon as copies have been made. R.N.Z.A.F. Catalinas """THE New Zealand Minister of Defence,•*• the Hon. T. L. Macdonald, has an- nounced that the Royal New Zealand AirForce is to dispose of its six Catalina flying- boats. These became surplus to require-ments when reconditioned Sunderlands were received. Mr. Macdonald stated thatthe Catalinas had been retained as a reserve but the cost of preserving them in service-able condition was no longer warranted. It would cost about £30,000 to refit eachaircraft. Reunions "THERE will be a reunion of the R.A.F.-^ and R.A.F.V.R. Equipment Branch on February 28th. Those interested shouldwrite to R. H. Cain, Greenhayes, Tilford Road, Farnham, Surrey.A reunion of United Kingdom members of No. 458 (R.A.A.F.) Squadron will takeplace in London on February 25th. All enquiries to R. Murrell, 13 Lovell Road,Enfield, Middx. Two recent ceremonies: (Left) Air Chief Marshal Sir George H. Mills signs the General Order on his recent assumption of command of Allied Air Forces Central Europe; on the left is Lt.-Col. Eldon Downs, U.5.A.F, acting adjutant general, and on the right Air Marshal H. P. Fraser, Chief of Staff. The right-hand picture shows the Chief of Air Staff of the R.N.Z.A.F. (A.V-M. W. H. Merton) presenting, for the first time, the Sword of Honour which he has donated to the R.N.Z.A.F. The recipient is A.P/O. J. S. Boys.
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