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Aviation History
1956
1956 - 0435.PDF
13 April 1956 435 SERVICE AVIATION Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm News The Duke Visits No. 601 Sqn. THE Duke of Edinburgh flew in hisHeron to North Weald last Sunday to visit No. 601 (County of London) Sqn.,R.Aux.A.F., of which he is Honorary Air Commodore. He flew from White Wai-,tham with S/L. B. G. Stanbridge as co- pilot and F/L. G. C. Goodyer as navigator.The Duke was received at North Weald by G/C. J. Rankin, the Station Com-mander, and by No. 601 Squadron's Com- manding Officer, S/L. P. R. Edelston. Hewatched a fly-past, met pilots and ground officers, and inspected three Tiger Mothsbelonging to the squadron's flying club. No. 16 Sqn. Standard THE Duchess of Kent, on a tour of mili-tary units in Germany, presented a standard to No. 16 Sqn. at R.A.F. Cellelast Friday. The weather was bad, and the ceremony, which was attended by Ger-man and allied guests, was held in a hangar. No. 16 Squadron was formed atSt. Omer on February 10th, 1915, and has as its motto Operta Aperta ("HiddenThings are Revealed"), which referred to its role of tactical reconnaissance. Thesquadron is now equipped with Venoms. Effects of the Pay RisesT HE largest increase in the rate of re-cruitment since the announcement of the new pay scales for the Services hasbeen in the R.A.F. Between February 20th and March 24th, 1,579 men extendedtheir engagement to 12 years; normally only 500 do so in the same period. Re-engagements to serve to a pensionable age rose from the average 280 to 1,125, manyof them by men in advanced trades and by junior N.C.O.s. A further 1,285 menapplied to re-enlist after leaving the R.A.F. No official figures are available for theother two Services at the time of writing. Iraq Evacuation A LL R.A.F. units have been evacuated**• from the bases at Habbaniyah and Shaiba, which have now been handed overto Iraq in accordance with the agreement signed on April 4th, 1955. The Duchess of Kent pre- sents the Standard to No. 16 Sqn. at R.A.F. Celle, Ger- many. Receiving it is F/O. D. Payne and G/C. K. J. Mellor is assisting. (See item on this page.) "Medflex Dragon" A MAJOR NATO sea**- and air exercise called "Medflex Dragon" is nowin progress in the Mediter- ranean area. Naval and airforces from France, Italy, Great Britain, Greece,Turkey and the United States are taking part, to-gether with Portuguese aircraft making their firstappearance in a Mediter- ranean exercise. There isno specific strategic back- ground and all phases arebeing treated as incidents in a war between Blue andOrange sides, with Blue as friendly. Initial engagements have beenon a small scale, but from tomorrow all headquarters in the Command will beoperating until the exercise ends on April 20th. The exercise is being directed and theBlue forces commanded by Admiral Sir Guy Grantham, CINCAFMED, while seaforces of the Orange side will be com- manded by their countries of origin.A combined steam-past and fly-past of allied ships and aircraft will take place offMalta Grand Harbour on April 20th, in honour of Gen. A. M. Gruenther,SACEUR, who will be on board H.M.S. Surprise, flagship of Admiral Sir GuyGrantham. Anniversary ConcertT HE Queen and the Duke of Edinburghattended the R.A.F. Anniversary Con- cert in the Albert Hall last Saturday even- This Whirlwind of No. 155 Sqn. has not had a jungle accident; it is hovering in a tiny clearing in the jungle in the Kluang dist- rict of Johore State. Special Air Service sticks drop down to prepare such clear- ings so that the Whirlwinds can bring in men and equip- ment for close-quar- ter operations against terrorists. This pic- ture was taken by Capt. A. J. Grey of the Royal Hampshire Regiment. ing. As detailed on this page on March30th, there were some 750 performers in all, including the Halle Orchestra and theCentral Band of the R.A.F. Proceeds, total- ling about £1,900, are to go to the R.A.F.Benevolent Fund. More Boy-entrant TradesB OY ENTRANTS between the ages of15 and 16^ who wish to join the Ser- vice on leaving school will now have fivenew trade groups from which to choose. They are mechanical transport, supply,secretarial, general engineering and photo- graphy. A total of 1,150 such places willbe available in the R.A.F. this summer. For 600 boy entrants there will be nopreliminary examination, but there is an intelligence test. Aircraft apprenticevacancies number 550 and are open to those between 15 and 17? who obtain apass at ordinary level in mathematics and a science subject in the General Certificateof Education or its Scottish equivalent. Application for entry for aircraft appren-tices must be made to the Air Ministry before May 14th, and for boy entrantsbefore May 1st. Aid from "Dam Busters" FilmT HE sum of £10,000, pan of the pro-ceeds of collections in cinemas through- out the country during the showing of thefilm Dam Busters, has been given to the R.A.F. Foundationers' Trust at Christ'sHospital. The collections were made by permission of Associated British Cinemas,Ltd., and the Essoldo Circuit, Ltd. The foundationerships were originallycreated in 1951 in memory of No. 617 Sqn. by a gift of £10,000 from Dr. BarnesWallis, supplemented by a further £10,000 from the R.A.F. Benevolent Fund. Dr.Wallis was, of course, the inventor of the special bomb used to breach the dams. At present three boys and one girl arebeing sent to Christ's Hospital each year. The latest gift to the trust will certainlyallow this number to be maintained, and will possibly permit an increase.
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