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Aviation History
1957
1957 - 0419.PDF
FLIGHT, 29 March 1957 421 A Hunter F.2 of No. 257 Sqn., on exchange with a Belgian squadron, unsticking from R.A.F. Wattisham last week, with the wheels of a formating Hunter just visible. Below, G/C. ft. J. Gosnett, the station commander (left), and W/C. J. A. Sowrey, w/c. flying (centre), with Cmdt. R. J. E. Corbeel of the 7th Sqn., Chievres, after the arrival of the Belgian Hunters. Australian V.C.A.S. AppointedA N Air Ministry announcement last Monday stated that Her Majesty the Queen had approved the appointment, in September, of A.V-M. E. C. Hudleston as Vice-Chief of the Air Staff with the acting rank of air marshal. He will succeed Air Chief Marshal Sir Ronald Ivelaw-Chap- man, who is being placed on the retired list. A.V-M. Hudleston, an Australian, is the first of his nationality to have been appointed Vice-Chief of the Air Staff. Standard Presentations THE Duchess of Gloucester is to presenta Standard to No. 58 Squadron at R.A.F. Wyton on Friday, June 28. The squadron invites former members to attend the ceremony, and those wishing to do so should communicate as soon as possible with the Adjutant, No. 58 Squadron, Royal Air Force, Wyton, Huntingdonshire. On April 30, Air Chief Marshal Sir Harry Broadhurst, A.O.C-in-C. Bomber Command, is to present a Standard to No. Ill Squadron at R.A.F. North Weald. Former members wishing to attend should communicate with the Adjutant, No. Ill Squadron, Royal Air Force, North Weald, Epping, Essex. Royal Messages to Reserves AFTER the Queen and the Duke of• Edinburgh had received more than 80 commanding and senior officers of the R.Aux.A.F. and the Air Divisions of the R.N.V.R. at Buckingham Palace on March 16 to mark the disbandment of those branches of the Services, each officer was given, on leaving, a signed copy of a message from the Queen. The message handed to the R.Aux.A.F. officers read as follows:— "I have welcomed this opportunity of takingleave of the commanding officers and senior auxiliary officers of the squadrons of the RoyalAuxiliary Air Force which are being disbanded and of sending through them this message ofappreciation and thanks to all their officers, air- men and airwomen. "The history of the Auxiliary Air Force hasbeen a glorious one. The first Auxiliary squad- rons were included in the air defence of Great SERVICE AVIATION Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm News Britain in 1925. By the outbreak of war in1939 the Auxiliary fighter, coastal and balloon squadrons formed an integral and vital part ofour forces. It was aircraft of these squadrons which shot down the first enemy bombers overthis country; and Auxiliary squadrons were heavily engaged in the air over Dunkirk andthroughout the Battle of Britain. Later they were to win battle honours over the Atlantic,in Malta, North Africa, Sicily and Italy, the Arakan and Burma, and in Normandy, Franceand Germany. "After the war the fighter squadrons werereconstituted as the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, and the traditional spirit of voluntary servicefound new outlets with the formation of A.O.P. and field squadrons, fighter control and radarreporting units, some of which are to remain in being and provide further opportunities forvoluntary service. "The association of the force with my familyhas always been close. I was proud to become Honorary Air Commodore of Nos. 603, 2603and 3603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadrons in 1951 and to succeed my father as Honorary AirCommodore-in-Chief of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force in 1952. Members of my family havealways treasured their association with Auxiliary squadrons as honorary air commodores. "I wish as Air Commodore-in-Chief to thankofficers, airmen and airwomen of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force for all that they have givento the service of the country by their enthusiasm, their spirit and their devotion to duty in peaceand war. It is a sad day when it is necessary to tell so many that it is no longer possible to use their services on the duties they haveassumed so willingly. I wish them to know that they can look back with pride and satisfaction toservice well done." The Queen's message to the R.N.V.R. air divisions read as follows: — "Nine years ago a small number of experi-enced pilots and observers, who joined the Fleet Air Arm during the Second World War,and many of whom saw operational service, formed the nucleus of the air branch of theRoyal Naval Volunteer Reserve. "During these nine years some of theveterans gave way to younger officers who had gained their flying badges during their nationalservice in the Royal Navy, and the air branch progressed from Seafires and Fireflies to modernaircraft. The Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve air squadrons had grown up to be a valuablepart of our naval air power. "I remember clearly the impressive fly-pastby the Fleet Air Arm at the Coronation naval review, when many of the aircraft taking partcame from the R.N.V.R. air squadrons, and the fly-past on the occasion of the 50th anni-versary review of the R.N.V.R. "The high proficiency which the R.N.V.R.air squadrons have always displayed could only have been reached by the enthusiastic hardwork of all volunteer officers and ratings, and it is a sad day when it is necessary to tell so manythat this hard work and efficiency can no longer be used. "I wish most sincerely to thank all thoseofficers and ratings whose devotion to duty and untiring voluntary efforts contributed to the Air Marshal Sir Francis Fressanges, C-in-C, Far East Air Force, placing a wreath on the Singapore Memorial after its unveiling by the Governor of Singapore, Sir Robert Black. It bears the names of 24,000 members of the Commonwealth forces with no known grave.
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