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Aviation History
1964
1964 - 0674.PDF
397 HJGHT International, n March 1964 Two Tigers leap into the air as Lightning F.I-equipped 74 "Tiger" Sqn, Fighter Command, leaves RAF Coltishall for the last time on Feb- ruary 29.^ As already reported in these pages, 74 Sqn has been re-deployed to RAF Leuchars, where it was greeted by the station pipe band playing "Scotland the Brave." As the Lightnings' canopies opened after arrival, a voice was heard from one of them: "Are the natives friendly.... ?" the Parliamentary Secretary to the MoA, heavily pressed by members during ques- tion time, deferred a decision until this week. It was necessary, said Mr Marten, to re-examine certain financial aspects of the tenders. This may, in fact, mean that the Govern- ment was taking another look at the American Hughes 300 light helicopter. A senior vice-president of the Hughes com- pany mounted a massive promotion opera- tion in London immediately after the defence debate, in which Mr Thorneycroft said that the Hughes had been eliminated. The Hughes executive circulated a question- ing memorandum among MPs. He claimed that the 300 would be some £8,000 cheaper than the alternatives, the Hiller E4 and the Agusta-Bell 47G-3. The Government was criticized in the House last week for eliminating the Hughes so swiftly, its evaluation being completed only four days before Mr Thorneycroft spoke. RAAF Re-equips Transport Arm THE FIRST THREE of 18 DHC Caribous being built at Malton, Ont, for the RAAF, will possibly have arrived in Australia when this is read. The delivery flight was being led by Wg Cdr T. S. Fairbairn, OC 38 Sqn, the C-47 unit which is re-equipping with the STOL tactical transports. Conversion training began at Toronto in January. Delivery will be completed later in the year. The question arises of new equipment for the RAAF's other C-47 squadron, No 34, a special transport unit equipped with VIP C-47s and two Convair 440s. Although there is little chance of an early order, the RAAF is known to be considering a twin- turboprop replacement, the choice lying between three well-established rivals. Under consideration is the Hawker Siddeley 748MF, which has been chosen for the RAF; the Handley Page Herald Series 400, eight of which have been ordered by the RMAF, with which the RAAF has close links, and the Fokker F.27 Troopship, which has the advantage of being virtually identical with the civil Friendship, the standard short-hauler of Australian domes- tic airlines. The Japanese recently tried to arouse RAAF interest in the twin-Dart YS-11. Recruiting Fall CONTRARY TO WHAT MIGHT BE SUPPOSED, it seems that the holiday season is the best for RAF recruiting. Recruitment during the last quarter of 1963 slumped by almost two-thirds from that of the July-September quarter, from 1,034 to 345. The Army's returns also show a reduction, but the Navy and Marines gained a few more recruits. Army Pilot Commended ARMY AIR CORPS PILOT WO2 R. W. Bowles, DFM, of 12 Ind Liaison Fit at Wildenrath, has been awarded the Queen's Commen- dation for Valuable Services in the Air. Last November Warrant Officer Bowles flew a severely injured German civilian from Emmerich to a hospital in Dusseldorf, at the request of a German surgeon, in weather so bad that fixed-wing aircraft were grounded and German helicopter units had to refuse the appeal. RAF Pilot in USAF Emergency AN RAF PILOT ON AN EXCHANGE POSTING, Fit Lt David Parsons, made a successful crash landing in a USAF C-130 Hercules at Knoxville, Term, after a disaster-laden flight on March 3. After the forward main door opened at 19,000ft, sucking a crew- man to his death, Fit Lt Parsons lost the use of one engine and was unable to lower the nosewheel. Fit Lt Parsons is serving at Seward AFB, Nashville, Tenn. THREE RAF REUNIONS: the first reunion of the RAF Handling Sqn, Boscombe Down —the men who write the Pilot's Notes —will be held in the Officers' Mess at Boscombe Down on July 3; details from Fit Lt G. E. W. Evans, RAF Handling Sqn, Boscombe Down, Wilts. No 3(F) Sqn —the "Shiny Three"—intends to hold a reunion dinner in the London area in May, at a time and place undecided but sugges- tions from past members of all ranks are invited by Fit Lt A. C. East, RAF Valley, Anglesey. The annual all-ranks reunion of the Ferry Wing, RAF Benson, is timed for 8 p.m. on April 18, at the Beetle and Wedge Hotel, Moulsford, Berks. Details from Fit Lt R. Rankin, Officers' Mess, RAF Benson, Oxon. THE RAF ANNIVERSARY CONCERT On April 2, at 8 p.m., at which the Halle Orchestra and the RAF Central Band will play, will be attended by Princess Marina, president of the RAF Benevolent Fund, in aid of which it is held. Tickets are obtainable from the Royal Festival Hall, London SE1. AIR MARSHAL SIR WALTER PRETTY, formerly AOC-in-C Signals Command, took up the post of Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Personnel and Logistics) on March 1. TAKING OVER AS FLAG OFFICER, Naval Flying Training, in July in succession to Rear- Admiral P. D. Gick will be Rear-Admiral D. C. E. F. Gibson, who has been Flag Officer, Aircraft Carriers since January last year.
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