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Aviation History
1959
1959 - 2283.PDF
This remarkable sequence of pictures from Woomera shows a direct hit (left) on a target Meteor by the Royal Navy's ship-to-air weapon Seaslug, and the aircraft's subsequent destruction, depicted by its own cine-camera SERVICE AVIATION Royal Air Forces and Naval Flying News No. 100 Squadron Disbands AN operational history going back toL 1917 came to an end on September 1, when No. 100 Sqn. officially disbanded atWittering. On September 27 the squadron standard, which was presented to it in 1955by the then Air Marshal Sir George Mills (at that time A.O.C-in-C. Bomber Com-mand), is to be laid up at St. George's Church in Stamford. This standard presentation was made inrecognition of more than 25 years' service, and during that quarter-century No. 100Sqn. had contributed a sterling share to operations in two world wars. In the first,the squadron had the distinction of being (to use the words of the then Maj-Gen. SirHugh Trenchard) "the first complete night-flying squadron . . . sent to theWestern Front," For this role, No. 100 Sqn. was equipped first with F.E.2Bs andB.E.2s and later with Handley Page 0/400s, these larger aircraft enabling it tocarry the bomber offensive into the industrial heart of Germany. On the squadron's standard, the earliestbattle honours are those of Ypres (1917) and the Somme (1918); and its badge bearsa skull-and-crossbones emblem and the motto in Malay, Sarang tebuan jangandijolok ("Do not stir up a hornets' nest"). It was in Malaya during 1941 that thesquadron suffered its heaviest losses, when operating Vildebeests against units of theJapanese Navy. Subsequently it re-formed in the U.K. with Lancasters, operatingover Europe from early 1943 until the end of hostilities; then No. 100 Sqn. went tothe Far East again, this time with Lincolns. Since the end of 1950 it has been home-based and in April 1954 re-equipped with Canberras, originally B.2s but sub-sequently receiving in addition B.6s and B(I).8s. [A short history of No. 100 Sqn.was published in Flight for October 28, 1955, commemorating the standardpresentation.] The squadron, which is commanded byS/L. R. A. McPhie, extends an invitation to former members to attend the laying-upceremony in St. George's church at 11 a.m. on September 27. Those wishing to do soshould contact the Adjutant, No. 100 Sqn., R.A.F. Wittering, Peterborough, North-ants. It is regretted that, owing to the short notice received, ex-members could not beinformed in advance of the disbandment. R.N.Z.A.F. apprentices are in future to train in Australia instead of in the U.K. * * * The freedom of Barry, Glamorganshire, isto be conferred on R.A.F. St. Athan on September 12. * * * Permanent buildings are to replace thepresent wooden-hut living accommodation at R.N.A.S. Lossiemouth, under a big re-buildingscheme. * * * Three Sycamores and a Whirlwind from theCentral Flying School at R.A.F. South Cerney operated a shuttle service between the U.S.Ambassador's residence in Regent's Park and Chequers, the Prime Minister's country house,during the weekend (August 28-30) of Presi- dent Eisenhower's visit.* * * The R.C.A.F. team from No. 1 Air Divisionwon the Guynemer Trophy for the second year in succession at the annual AAFCE air-firingcompetition held at Casaux, concluding on August 29. The Canadians, who gained thetop three individual places, scored 1,697 points. A Fighter Command team (one of thetwo non-NATO units participating) was second with 1,427 and R.A.F. Germany thirdwith 1,075. Eight teams competed. * * * Two Bomber Command aircraft, a Victorand a Vulcan, are to represent the R.A.F. at the annual Toronto Fair and Air Show today and AirMarshalSirEdward Chilton, A.O.C-in-C. Coastal Com- mand (centre), in- specting the parade at Sola, Stavanger, on August 28 when as Air C-in-C. of the Eastern Atlantic Area, NATO, he handed over to No. 333 Sqn. of the Royal Norwegian Air Force the squadron's badge, with a badge of Coastal Command and a photographic album. They were received by Maj. Odd Haabet, the squadron commander (right). At left is Maj-Gen. E. Munthe-Dahl, Air Commander-in-Chief, Western Area tomorrow (September 11 and 12). The detach-ment is being led by G/C. J. E. Johnson, officer commanding R.A.F. Cottesmore, andthe Vulcan (captained by W/C. A. C. L. Mackie) is flying direct to Canada onSeptember 11 from the S.B.A.C. Show at Farnbo rough. * * * Three Fleet Air Arm pilots, Sub-Lt. W. B.Flynn and Midshipmen R. N. Woodard and R. J. Carnie, received their flying badges atR.N.A.S. Culdrose on August 28, after being the first helicopter specialists to train under thenew five-year commission scheme (Flight, May 29). Before going to Culdrose they did sevenmonths' basic flying training and they are now to undertake 19 weeks' operational training inA.S. duties at Portsmouth and Portland. Sgt. J. P. O'Donoghue, stationed with theR.A.F. Fighter Command detachment at the M.o.S. Royal Radar Establishment at Malvern,has been awarded £250 by the Committee on Awards to Inventors for a device by which itis possible to add more realism to synthetic training for air defence radar operators. Knownas "S.T.E.M." (Synthetic Track Evolution Method), it allows pre-arranged pictures of asimulated air attack to be projected simul- taneously on to all radar screens in a givendefence area. A cheque was presented to Sgt. O'Donoghue by the A.O.C-in-C, Air MarshalHector McGregor, at Fighter Command head- quarters on September 7.
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