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Aviation History
1962
1962 - 2171.PDF
506 FLIGHT International, 20 September 1962 Nine Lives COMBAT REPORTS by three famous Battle of Britain pilots—Bader, Malan and Deere—formed an interesting first-hand item in last week's Battle of Britain exhi bition at the Air Ministry. Two of these reports—by Malan and Deere—were type written and confined to facts; Bader's, hand written in a strong, clear style, not only describes his engagement but criticizes the running of the battle: "If sector con trollers would confine themselves to telling formation leaders where the enemy are supposed to be and leave it to the formation leaders to choose height and place to patrol much better results would be achieved." Bader was at that time (September 9, 1940) leading 242 Sqn; Malan and Deere, whose reports are dated August 13 and 15, were respectively CO of 74 and a flight commander on 54. Deere seems on this occasion to have had one of his nine lives. Having pursued his quarry across the Channel, he just managed to get his damaged aircraft back to Folkestone, where with a dead engine and shot-up windscreen and instrument panel he "managed to gain a little height" to bale out at 1,500ft. 216's Comet C.4s FROM THE BEGINNING OF NEXT MONTH, 216 Sqn are putting their recently acquired five de Havilland Comet C.4s (four Rolls- Royce Avon Mk 350s of 10,5001b thrust) into regular trunk-route service. The Comet C.2s, which have been on worldwide opera tions from 1956 onwards, will now be used on regular trooping runs from Lyneham to Western Mediterranean destinations. The squadron has had its new aircraft since early this year, aad aircrew are now organized into Comet 2 and Comet 4 nights, with ten crews in the former and 14 (all of whom have had Mk 2 experience) in the latter. The commanding officer, Wg Cdr Norman Hoad, points out that the C.4 (which is based on the civil 4C) is "not just a big Comet 2" but quite a dif ferent aeroplane, with the most comprehen sive navigational equipment of any military transport and involving new techniques. On Thursday of last week, Wg Cdr Hoad received the Brackley Memorial A Messerschmitt Mel09G, captured in Sicily during the war, is being rebuilt at RAF Wattisham. It belongs to the Air Ministry Historical Branch. Fit Lt R. J. Hawke, who is in charge of the project and will fly the aircraft, can be seen in this picture talking with technicians SERVICE AVIATIO Air Force, Naval and Army Flying News Trophy from the Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators at Innholders Hall, City of London (picture, page 475). This trophy- has been awarded to 216 Sqn for 1961 (it is given annually) "for outstanding flying contributing to the operational develop ment of air transport." Over the past six years, since they received their first Comet 2s in 1956, the squadron have flown 16£m miles without serious accident—a splendid record, which Wg Cdr Hoad attributes to 216's high standard of training. All aircrew are categorized—to get a "B" category, for example, you have to achieve over 80 per cent in 22 different tests—and a regular rninimum of continuation and simulator training is mandatory before route-flying. Another appreciative gesture which has come 216's way is a trophy donated by the Worshipful Company of Coachmakers and Coach Harness Makers, which last year adopted the squadron. This trophy, which will be formally handed over at Lyneham on September 25, takes the form of a silver representation of 216's badge, to be presented annually to the best NCO aircrew section. The squadron's motto is "216 bearing gifts"—but it looks as though nowadays the gifts are instead being borne to 216 Sqn. ONLY PARTICIPANT in the Ruhr dams attack of 1943 still serving as a GD Branch pilot in the RAF, Gp Capt H. B. Martin. DSO, DFC, AFC, is to become SASO of 38 Group on October 15 with the acting rank of air commodore. For the past year he has been station commander at RAF Nicosia. Cyprus. An Australian, Gp Capt Martin joined 617 Sqn after a tour of operations on Hampdens and Manchesters, and following the dam-busting operation made many other hazardous sorties in Lancasters and did an operational tour on Mosquitoes. A 26 SQN REUNION is being held at the RAF Officers' Mess, RAE Farnborough, at 8 p.m. on October 26. Further details from Fit Lt N. Bacon, Officers' Mess, RAF Manby, Louth, Lines. THE FIFTEENTH ANNUAL REUNION of No 2 Aircraft Delivery Unit, a wartime Middle East ferry organization, is being held at the RAF Reserves Club, 14 South Street. Park Lane, London Wl, on Saturday. October 20, at 7 for 7.30 p.m. Further information from Humphrey Wynn, 35 Hillview Court, Guildford Road, Woking. From the sketchbook of Wg Cdr Norman Hoad, CO of 216 Sqn (see news-item above): a Comet 2 at Kano, Nigeria, with an Army patient being taken aboard by stretcher; and "Hard back on the stick"—onelofthe squadron's Comet CAs landing
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