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Aviation History
1956
1956 - 0264.PDF
262 FLIGHT, 9 March 1956 OPERATION AFRICAN TOUR No. 9 Squadrons Demonstrations During the Royal Visit: The Final Days Kano, Nigeria, February 11th The six Canberras of No. 9 Squadron experienced their firstserious encounter with local flying and other conditions when they left here on Monday morning for their ceremonial fly-pastover the airfield at Enugu shortly after the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were due to land there, from Jos, in a Heron of theQueen's Flight. The E.T.A. of the Heron was 1200 hr (local) and the fly-pastwas scheduled for 1210 hr. Owing probably to low, unpredicted cloud in broken country, the Heron landed at 1207. Told by theground controller that this was expected, S/L. L. G. Bastard (O.C. No. 9 Sqn., and leader of the Canberras) aimed to add tenminutes to the new E.T.A. and go over the airfield at 1217 hr. Letting down a high-speed formation of six Canberras throughcloud, the base of which was lower than some of the high ground in the area, was a somewhat tricky business, but it was extremelywell done and the squadron flew over at 1220 hr—only three minutes after their new scheduled time. An additional fly-past for the Queen was arranged for Friday,February 10th, when she inspected the Apapa Wharf Extension at Lagos, about one hour's Canberra flying time from Kano. Thetime asked for was 1006 hr. Fifteen minutes before this the ground controller on the Wharf discussed with S/L. Bastardwhat should be done if the Royal schedule was behind or in advance. The squadron leader said he was then in a positionto fly past at 1001 or any time later, but he emphasized that once a firm time was given the formation would not be able to comein earlier. At 1002 the controller said the programme was two minutes behind schedule and called for the fly-past at 1008.The leader reiterated that he could not bring the time forward. The formation was then orbiting some 20 miles west of Lagos.At 1006, with the Canberras on their final run in, the ground controller called for them to come in as quickly as possible. Theformation stepped up speed from 250 to 320 kt and reached the saluting position on the new schedule of 1008. Their formationwas said to be exemplary. Serviceability remains excellent—so far no failure to take offon schedule or complete a mission has marred the Squadron's record.On the social side, the Force has been invited to a number of cocktail parties and other gatherings. The Force Commander,A. V-M J. R. Whitley, the Deputy Force Commander, W/C. A. A. N. Nicholson, and S/L. Bastard had the honour of beingreceived by the Emir of Kano in his medieval and resplendent palace; and this morning the Emir and his court (in about 20limousines) arrived at the airfield to inspect the Canberras, pre- ceded by a hornblower. Eight local notables were given Canberraflights in one morning by W/C. Nicholson. Kano, February 17th '""' Perfect timing was achieved in the final fly-past for the Queenon February 11th at Ibadan, capital of the Eastern Region. The fly-past was timed for one minute after the Royal train drew intothe station. The train was one minute late, and the six Canberras, led by S/L. Bastard, were called in to pass over the platformjust 60 seconds afterwards. Climax of the flying programme was yesterday, when thedemonstration was given before a crowd estimated at about 100,000 at Kano—the largest number to have seen such a displayon any of the overseas tours by Canberras. For over a mile the walls of the ancient city were closely packed, and the open spaceoutside the walls provided a perfect setting. The reactions of the vast crowd, said to be the biggest everassembled at Kano, were once more of interest to experienced " observers. They shouted their delight and clapped their hands,and the dust rose twenty feet as they stamped their feet to show appreciation of the rolls and high-speed runs of the two "indi-vidualists," S/L. Bastard and F/L. Thomas. The formation runs led by F/L. Hall again showed a high degree of flying skilland discipline. Owing to the danger of low-flying vultures and hawks, thedemonstration was given at 6 p.m. when it was expected that the fowls would run out of thermals and land. This, however,transpired to be somewhat optimistic. Three of the Canberras hit birds, to the disadvantage of their leading edges; but in onlyone instance was the damage serious and this was put right by the technicians the following morning. Two of these collisions hadoccurred near Sokoto, where the squadron demonstrated before the Kano display. The last flying task before five of the Canberras and Hastings THE accompanying notes, based on dispatches from an Air Ministryofficer who flew out to Nigeria, conclude the descriptions of No. 9 Squadron's Canberra demonstrations and other activities during therecent visit of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh to West Africa. Previous notes appeared in our issues of February 17th and 24th. go to Freetown tomorrow is that of flying photographs of theQueen's visit from Kano to Lagos tonight. At Lagos they will be wired to London, there being no picture-wiring facilities atKano. F/O. Peter Pratt, the pilot, and F/O. D. E. Kinsey will be making the first jet night take-off and landing in Nigeria,except for one previous landing by a Comet at Kano. Freetown, Sierra Leone, February 19th Officers and airmen who could be spared from duty had anexcellent view of the Queen's arrival and departure from Kano airport on February 16th. Next day, A.V-M. Whitley was for-mally received at the palace of the Emir of Kano. Freetown waterfront, between Cape Sierra Leone and KissyDockyard, proved another excellent demonstration point on Saturday morning. The Force Commander watched the displayfrom Government House with the Governor, Sir Robert de Zouche Hall, K.C.M.G., and other officials. Lowish cloud andintense humidity caused the deletion of some of the more spec- tacular aerobatics, but it was a splendid show. Most astonishment, however, was down on the waterfront.The principles of the functioning of the gas turbine are difficult to put across anywhere in West Africa, and here they brought someamusing repercussions. The Canberras had, by some strange freak, earned the name of "steam chickens". After S/L. Bastardhad done several nice rolls, one admirer was heard to exclaim "That driver steam chicken, he savee plenty"; and, when Can-berra 977 disappeared vertically into a cloud—"Steam chicken go for up". Bathurst, The Gambia, February 21st The Canberra-Hastings Force was re-united here yesterdaywith the arrival at Yundum airfield, 20 miles from the town, of the five Canberras and Hastings No. 1 from Freetown and thetwo Canberras and Hastings No. 2 which had been left at Kano (owing to lack of space and facilities at Lungi, Freetown). The departure from Lungi was not without its moments ofnear-drama. As the Canberras unstuck, considerable pieces of the thin tarmac coating of the runway became temporarily air-borne too. This caused some concern to F/L. "Jock" Graham, captain of Hastings No. 1 (who took over command of No. 24(Commonwealth) Squadron detachment after the departure for the U.K. of S/L. R. B. Bolt), as he and the ground staff had stillto use the runway. The runway itself, however, was found to be quite usable; but it was then found that the blast from theCanberras had rolled back like a carpet several feet of the P.S.P. surface at the landward end of the runway. The airport authori-ties rapidly got into action, and what appeared to be several hundred Africans were rushed in five lorries from their laboursat the other end of the runway, which is under repair, to re-lay the P.S.P. The result was that Hastings got away to its E.T.D. The four hundred miles between here and Freetown saw aremarkable change in the weather. Refreshing Atlantic winds have made the temperature like the best of English summers andhumidity is negligible. The Force, mindful of the terrible weather reports from home, were thankful for this gentle return to sternerclimes. Gibraltar is said to be many degrees cooler than usual. The Governor of The Gambia, Sir Percy Wyn Harris, in thecool of last evening invited the officers of the Force to cocktails in the delightful gardens of his Residence. Conditions were ideal for this morning's demonstration off thewaterfront. The Governor and the Force Commander, A. V-M. Whitley, along with the senior Ministers, watched from Govern-ment Wharf, and on the jetties and beaches behind and flanking it was literally all the population of Bathurst and thousands whohad come to town from the river territories. The flying was as ideal as the weather. No. 9 Squadron has never done better. The smallest of the colonies visited, The Gambia, has openedits heart and its homes certainly no less generously than any of its bigger and wealthier West African neighbours. Those dueto leave here on the long haul to Gibraltar at dawn tomorrow in Hastings No. 1 are envying those going by Canberra and HastingsNo. 2 on Thursday. Today's was the last of the demonstrations. The Force is proudthat every scheduled mission has been flown on time; in view of the conditions this 100 per cent record is indeed a fine one.
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