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Aviation History
1956
1956 - 0505.PDF
FLIGHT, 27 April 1956 NO. 16 SQUADRON . . . 505 isolating the Normandy area from the rest of Europe. As part of this plan, No. 16 Sqn. moved with the Strategic Reconnaissance Wing to Northolt. Thus they were near S.A.G.E.F.H.Q., the principal user of all the photographic intelligence collected. In September the wing followed the invasion forces to France, and there the urgent need for certain types of photographic recon- naissance necessitated a number of very difficult and dangerous low-level sorties over strongly defended targets. As a result the casualty rate increased, and during the six months between D-Day and the end of the year the casualty return represented about 75 per cent of the squadron's strength. Many very difficult tasks were brilliantly executed; the sorties of F/O. Gubb over Rotterdam were outstanding, as were the photographs of Venlo Bridge by F/O. Heath. The latter pilot was killed over the same target on his next sortie. After moving up to Brussels/Melsbroek, the squadron settled down to a winter of hard continuous flying until, after the Rhine had been crossed in March 1945, it moved up to Eindhoven for the final stages of the war. The last few days of hostilities found No. 16 Sqn. back to its old task of shipping reconnaissance. Shortly after the war ended it returned to England and was disbanded at Dunsfoid on October 19th. On the following day No. 487 Sqn., with Mosquito F.B.6s at Celle, was renumbered No. 16 Sqn. On March 31st, 1946, the Squadron was reduced to a number basis, but next day No. 56 Sqn., then based at Fassberg with Tempest 5s, became No. 16 Sqn. These aircraft were soon replaced by Tempest 2s and then by Tempest 6s, which remained in service until December 1948, when their place was taken by Vampire 5s, the unit's first jet equipment. The base was then at Gutersloh. It was on November 2nd, 1950, that the squadron moved to Celle, where it has since remained. Present equipment is the Venom F.B.I, which the squadron received in February 1954. With these aircraft it has the dual r61e of high-altitude interception and ground attack. The continuation training programme is therefore based on this requirement. From Celle the squadron can practise air-to-ground firing on the Fassberg range, while detachments to the armament practice camp at Sylt provide opportunities for air-to-air firing at towed banner targets. During its last detachment to Sylt No. 16 became the first squadron to shoot at banners at a height of 30,000ft. The present Commanding Officer, S/L. G. G. G. Walkington, assumed command in December 1954. He has made a large number of changes in the domestic organization of the squadron with the aim of improving the conditions under which the ground- crews work and live. Now, after working hours, the airmen can retire to the rest room which has been provided in the barrack block, and equipped with easy chairs, a radiogram and a library. During working hours they no longer have to down tools and queue at the N.A.A.F.I. van; one of the rooms adjoining the hangar has been transformed into a rest room and tea bar, where they can take their tea break in comfort. Moreover, music is relayed throughout the hangar and workshops during working hours to relieve the monotony of some of the tasks the crews have to perform. Now being prepared is a drying room where the air- men can dry and iron their clothes to reduce their expenses. On the sports field the squadron has not been without success. The airmen's soccer team acquitted themselves very well in the season just ended, reaching a high position in the inter-unit league. At the time of writing, the aircrew soccer team had reached the semi-final of the No. 83 Group Aircrew Soccer Competition for the second year in succession. Last year they were beaten 4-0 in the final by a Belgian aircrew team. In addition the squadron Vampires on the line at Celle. These aircraft have since been replaced by Venom F.B.Js with which the squadron is now equipped. Personnel during an exercise at Florennes, Belgium, in June 1955.(Standing) /70s, Payne, Smith, Lloyd, Russell, McCartney, Howe, Bell, Leary, S/t. Walkington, F/L. Atherley. F/O. Ray, F/L. Lamb and F/O. Bunyan.(Kneeling) F/Os. Smillie, Baldoek, Hassle and Neil. provides football, cricket and archery equipment for its members, and it is hoped to increase the number of available sports. Not only on the sports field has the squadron achieved success. F/O. B. F. Baldock, one of the pilot-attack instructors, won the Leconfield Trophy for the best all-round armament performance in a recent course at the Central Gunnery School. During the last detachment at Sylt the squadron established a record in the operational turn-round exercise. Eight aircraft flew two sorties each, with full ammunition, and fired 9,455 rounds for one stop- page, a performance which reflects very well on the armourers, who often work in difficult and unpleasant conditions. Of the personnel at present serving, several are considered by the squadron to be particularly worthy of mention. Sgt. O. Roberts, N.C.O. i/c discipline, who is now in his third tour with No. 16, was with it in the battle of France. Sgt. D. Johnston has been with the squadron for 4£ years; and Sgt. Sowerby, armament N.C.O., has, together with his armourers, provided much of the effort which has contributed to the armament success. F/Sgt. W. Scott, N.C.O. i/c ground-crew, has been with the^ squadron for only a year, but is described as "a very valuable member." In July 1954 No. 16 Sqn. Association was reformed, under the chairmanship of S/L. R. U. P. de Burgh, with the aim of strengthening the links between past and present members. The association's president is Air Marshal H. P. Fraser, C.B., C.B.E., A.F.C., and the vice-secretary is F/L. G. O. Eades, of the Royal Air Force College, Cranwell. ACOUSTICS COURSE DINNER SOME 95 engineers and scientists attended the one-week course,Acoustics for Aeronautical Engineers, held at the University of Southampton from April 15th to 21st. Proposing the health of the University at a dinner in Glen Eyre Hall on April 19th, Mr. H. B. Irving (Ministry of Supply) said it was hoped that variants of this first course, which had covered a wide field, would be held in the future: these might be of a more specialized nature. Professor Richards and his team at Southampton, he pointed out, had become a "big noise" in the field of acoustics—whether measured in the near field or the far field. Replying to the toast, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the Uni- versity, Prof. E. T. DavieSj referred to the international flavour of the acoustics course; overseas students had come from Sweden, Germany, and Australia. He went on to discuss industry support for university work, emphasizing the value which would arise from the release of senior industry men for short periods at the universities. The unusual double toast of "The Industry and the Ministry of Supply" was proposed by Sir Henry Tizard, Pro-Chancellor of the University. If the aircraft industry were really healthy, he affirmed, we would not have the M.o.S. The industry appeared to be still a baby wanting to be artificially fed—it had, of course, been artificially fed for the last 50 years. For the Ministry, however, we had high praise, although, the speaker hinted, still more praise would accompany more support for the University. The Ministry was doing a good job, and he wished it good health—but only as long as was really necessary. The sooner it disappeared, the better. Sir Cyril Musgraye, Second Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Supply (deputizing for the Parliamentary Secretary, Mr. F. J. Erroll, M.P.) replied, re-affirming the importance attached to the research on noise being carried out at Southampton under M.o.S. contract. The Ministry regarded aircraft silencing equipment as an essential standard tool, he said; unless aircraft noise was reduced, aircraft development would be drastically slowed down.
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