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Aviation History
1962
1962 - 2113.PDF
476 WORLD NEWS . Seeing the RAF Some 928,500 people visited the 16 RAF stations which were "at home" to the public last Saturday, September 15, anni versary of one of the great days in the Battle of Britian twenty-two years ago. This total of visitors was 22,000 more than in 1961 and was achieved in spite of the day's uncertain weather, only Leuchars in Scot land having completely fine conditions. Biggin Hill, as usual, had the largest crowd —185,000; but not far behind was the V-force station at Finningley, near Don- caster, visited by 140,000 people. Up in the north-east, Middleton St George had a crowd of 120,000. Benson, the only Transport Command airfield open, was the station visited by Flight International. Here the attendance was 27,000 and this would undoubtedly have been more were it not for overcast skies and threatening rain, the latter coming in no uncertain manner at about a quaiter to five, with still an hour of the programme to go. Benson's nearest towns are Reading, Henley and Wallingford, all of which were officially represented. The station has had the freedom of the borough of Wallingford since 1957, and the first Argosy to be based at Benson bears the borough's coat of arms. At the station, the public were able to see every type of aircraft in service with the Royal Air Force today, either on static show or taking part in the flying display. In addition there were USAF, Royal Navy, French Air Force and Belgian Air Force visitors. It was unfortunate that a BAF Fouga Magister was prevented from demon strating by the heavy showers that moved over the airfield later in the afternoon, and that two FAF Super Mysteres and a Vautour were only on static show. Nor was there any tactical support demonstration by one of the station's Argosies. Nevertheless a very varied programme was achieved, which included civilian contributions like a polished show of aero batics by Nick Pocock in his Stampe SV-4C. Sqn Ldr J. S. Fifield, flying from nearby Chalgrove, demonstrated a low- level ejection with a dummy from a Meteor; and there was a 14ft air snatch by Fg Off T. Emmanuel, in a Canberra from Boscombe Down, of a 2301b Trident target. FLIGHT International, 20 September 1%^ RAeS Air Law Group Formed last year, the Air Law Group of the Royal Aeronautical Society is to hold its inaugural meeting on October 31, when the group's first lecture, on Crime In Aircraft, will be given by the Hon In justice Wilberforce, chairman of the groups steering committee. The group has already been called upon to act in an advisory capacity, soon after its formation being invited by the MoA to submit its views as an independent bod\. without obligation to any interested party. on "Crimes and Offences on Board Air craft"—a subject under discussion b\ ICAO's legal committee. Test Pilots' Forum Five famous British test pilots—A. W. Bedford (Hawker). G. R. Bryce (BAG. S. B. Oliver (Hunting), H. G. Hazelden (Handley Page) and E. A. Tennant (Folland) —are taking part in the seventh annual Air-Britain test pilots' forum on Thursday. October 4, at the Holborn Central Library. London WC1, at 7 p.m. It is hoped also to show a new short film of the Empire Test Pilots' School. Memories of old associations with Farnborough—where the type was designed—and with Nos 74 and 92 Squadrons are vividly evoked by this splendid picture of the rebuilt S.E.5a. Prominent in the picture are Hunters of 92 Squadron and Lightnings of 74, both of which were at one time equipped with the famous biplane. The pilot is Gp Capt "Pat" Hanafm, CO of the Experimental Flying Department at Farnborough. Cyril Peckham took the picture ^ps?* W t&?aoo
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