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Aviation History
1961
1961 - 0770.PDF
780 FLIGHT, 1 ju 1961 English Electric hook-up, between a Canberra and a Lightning F. I, during in-flight refuelling trials from the company's aerodrome at Warton in Lancashire SERVICE AVIATION . . . beautifully synchronised aerobatics by twoChipmunks of Nottingham UAS (Sqn Ldr Horth, the CO, and Fit Lt Law),Cambridge UAS putting on a similar show at North Weald and Fit Lt Cameron ofLeeds UAS performing at Yeadon. The USAF made their contribution to the day'sevents with a refuelling demonstration and a C-130. At Hucknall the KB-50J tankerand F-100, F-101 and B-66 were all present and correct; at North Weald the Sabre wasmissing, and the formation had to cry off visiting Yeadon because of low cloud.But in general all the flying went according to plan, and about a million members ofthe public had an entertaining afternoon, benefiting the charities which so ablyorganize these excellent displays. Replacing NZ Sunderlands WITH ample opportunity in recentmonths for studying the Neptune and Hercules at first hand, in their use bythe USAF from New Zealand for Antarctic operations, it looks as though the NZGovernment may consider buying these types for the RNZAF. Recently the Minister•of Defence, the Hon D. J. Eyre, intimated that five Hercules and "eight or nine"Neptunes would be required for the Air Force for long-range transport and mari-time reconnaissance duties. It is suggested in Parliamentary circles (writes a corres-pondent) that this tentative decision has been influenced by Australia's policy ofequipping with American aircraft. Com- menting on the switch from flying-boatsto land-based machines—the Martin Mar- lin was considered, but production hasceased—he comments that this will mean writing-off the Lauthala Bay flying-boatbase in Fiji, development of which is reckoned to have cost £3m. Duxford's Farewell FAMOUS as the oldest of Fighter Com-mand's airfields (dating from theFirst World War), Duxford is to close as an active flying station on August 1. It hasseveral claims to fame in addition to lon- gevity. The first Spitfires were based there(with 19 and 66 Sqns, in 1938); the winner and third man home in the 1959 Daily MailLondon-Paris race, Sqn Ldr C. G. Maughan and Gp Capt E. N. Ryder, bothcame from Duxford: the former, CO of No 65 Sqn, and the latter (now retired)the station commander; both 65 and 64 Sqns received their standards there at ajoint ceremony last July; and it was at A Sycamore of 225 Sqn in a recent exercise with the City of London Bottn, Royal Fusiliers TA). The squadron, based at Odiham, is now engaged in full-time training with infantry units in the use of helicopters in the assault role Duxford in 1924 that Wg Cdr A. W. (nowMarshal of the RAF Lord) Tedder com- manded No 2 Flying Training Schoolbefore it moved north to Digby. One of his flight commanders was Fit Lt F. J. Fogarty,now Air Chief Marshal Sir Francis Fogarty and Air Council Member for Personnelbefore he retired from the RAF in 1957. All officers who have commanded thestation have been invited to a farewell ball on July 14. Duxford's present CO isGp Capt A. L. Winskill, CBE, DFC. Leading the Field WITH an almost continuous history forthe past 46 years it was about time No 12 Sqn found a chronicler and FgOff Tim Mason has commendably stepped into the breach. His Leads the Field*(a title borrowed from the squadron motto, which it acquired with Fairey Foxes in1926) records "Shiny Twelve's" doings from its formation at Netheravon in 1915to its present existence at Coningsby with Canberras. In all these years there hasonly been a break of some eight months— July 1922 to April 1923—so No 12 can wellclaim to be a distinguished veteran among bomber squadrons, especially as two of itsmembers, Fg Off Garland and Sgt Gray, won the first air VCs early in the SecondWorld War. During the war the unit operated Wellingtons and Lancasters:then from 1946 to March 1952, when the first Canberras came, it had Lincolns. * Available to ex-members from No 12(B) Sqn, RAF Coningsby, Lines, price 12s 6d post paid; and to others from BeaumontAviation Literature, 2a Ridge Avenue. Winchmore Hill, London N21, price 17s 6d(18s 6d post paid). Meeting the Hittites AN incident which befell the crew of aTwin Pioneer in the northern hills ofOman has been recounted in the current Air Ministry newsletter. Fg Off A. J. S.James and his navigator M/Nav H. J. Gladwyn of No 152 Sqn, based Bai,rain, were flying over desolate Shih country looking for a suitable airstn when they spotted a likely-looking area irsidevolcanic bowl. After a touch--< lu-aoFg Off James landed and as soon s tLengines stopped the aircraft was sun by scores of natives, some of them c ryjnssteel hatchets. One man, eviden chief, spat angrily at the Twin P,., theneer; another, who spoke a little Arab., (the natives were remnants of the ancie;> race of Hittites), said the chief beliew i the aircraft would stop the rain comir;;;. pg Off James started to pace out a strip prior to take-off but the tribe gathered menacingly round him and he had to return io the Twin Pioneer, being struck on the arm with the flat of the chief's hatchet as he boarded it. When the starboard engine was started, the Hittites scattered and the aircraft managed to take off. Five davs later, Fg Off James flew over the area again. The Hittite chief need not have worried: the entire valley was flooded. IN BRIEF Sqn Ldr Fern Villeneuve. leader of theRCAF "Golden Hawks" aerobatic team, is to receive the AFC for skill, courage and deter-mination in force-landing his Sabre [Flight. November 18. 1960] instead of ejecting; sothat the aircraft would not come down on the town of Newcastle, New Brunswick. The RAF Benevolent Fund is to benefitfrom the United Services Bath searchlight tattoo being held at Bath from July 26 to 29in the evenings, with a matinee on July 29. No 49 Sqn are hoping to write a squadronhistory and would be grateful for any relevant information, which should be sent to theAdjutant, No 49 Sqn, RAF Wittering, Peter- borough, Northants. They state that they'"guarantee to return any photographs, log books or other personal possessions after wehave had photostat copies made." In a written reply the Air Minister, MrJulian Amery, stated that 17 flying accidents in 1960 caused the deaths of 44 members ofthe RAF. Causes of eight of the accidents had been established, probable causes offour were suspected but could not be con- firmed, and in a further four cases the causeswere unknown. One accident was still being studied. Some of the RN aircraft making their firstappearance in the Paris Show flying displays (on June 3 and 4) will be operating from HMSHermes in the English Channel. A Sea Vixen and a Scimitar are making a simulated nuclearattack on Le Bourget airfield; and as a finale, four Scimitars, three Sea Vixens and fourGannets are flying past in formation. All these aircraft are to take off from and returnto the carrier.
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