December 1955
Operations
Due to exceptionally poor flying weather during the month of December, squadron pilots logged a minimum number of hours. Flying included: X-ctys to other bases, Mental DR, Navigational trips, cine gun exercises on aircraft and drogue, aerobatics, practice forced landings and ground controlled approaches. In addition sections of four aircraft took part in a divisional interception exercises with Yellowjack on 8 Dec, two Catfish Escort exercises on 13 and 16 Dec and a Yellowjack IFF Calibration run on 15 Dec. During the month F/O Hollingshead and F/L Lepard, both newly arrived from Chatham started phase training exercises. With the announcement on 15 Dec that 410 Squadron would go to Rabat, Morocco in February for air firing, flying exercises were concentrated on 1/4 attacks and cine practice but due to very poor weather, it was only possible to get four drogues airborne. Instead, attacks were made on other aircraft.
Ground training for the month included lectures on airmanship, prevention of cracked windshields, armament, air firing, emergency procedures, aircraft recognition and intelligence and two training films show at wing operations.
Courses
5 Dec 55 - F/L Lepard attended the Decompression Course held by the USAF at Wiesbaden Germany.
28 Nov -2 Dec 55 - F/L Spurr attended a special weapons indoctrination course at Fontainbleau.
Accidents - NIL
Aircraft Strength - 27
Pilot Strength - 25
Flying Time - 174:50
Administration - Transfers
1 Dec 55 - 202004 F/O BA McLeod was posted to the Station Instrument Flight.
5 Dec 55 - 70177 F/O WG Hollingshead arrived on the squadron from the OTU at Chatham.
22 Dec 55 - 46007 F/O HJ O'Mara was transferred to 410 Squadron from the OTU at Chatham.
January 1956
Operations
With the prospect of flying to Rabat for air firing in February, flying exercises were concentrated on air to air cine practice. During the month thirty-five drogues were taken airborne on the tow line designated to 1 (F) Wing and attacks were carried out by two sections of three aircraft. During January F/L Lepard and F/O Hollingshead completed phase training, and with the arrival of F/L Gourlay from Chatham, a new schedule was begun. From 4 - 11 Jan ten pilots under the command of F/L Carew were stationed at 3 (F) Wing as 410 Squadron again was required to provide aircraft for Zulu alert. During the week eleven practice scrambles averaging one minute were made. Other flying included aerobatics, beacon let-downs, and ground controlled arpproaches, high level formation flying and instrument practice at the T-33 and simulator Flight. Toward the end of the month a number of aircraft were air tested for engine changes and all aircraft scheduled to fly to Rabat were flown to ensure that drop tanks recently fitted were draining.
Ground training for the month included lectures in meteorology, cine-gun and air firing procedures, gunnery, current events, medical and a one hour general discussion period. During the month F/O's Boyd, Frioult, Holt, Liukko, Mitchell, O'Mara and Titterton wrote the annual promotion examinations and supplementals were written by F/O's Kozik, Shilliday, Thorne, Thomson and Venus.
Courses
2 - 8 Jan 56 - F/O McElmon attended the RAF Intelligence Course at London, England.
3 - 8 Jan 56 - F/O Thomson attended Current Affairs Lectures sponsored by Nottingham University.
During January F/Os McKay and Kozik attended the Decompression Course held by the USAF at Wiesbaden, Germany
Accidents - NIL
Aircraft Strength - 26
Pilot Strength - 26
Flying Time - 392:40
Administration - Transfers
5 Jan 56 - 12980 F/L Gourlay was transferred to 410 Squadron from the OTU at Chatham.
February 1956
Operations
An advance party of officers composed of S/L Bain, and F/O's Drake and Mitchell departed Marville for Rabat by North Star aircraft on 31 Jan. Due to excessively strong head winds the Sabre pilots were unable to take-off until 2 Feb when 14 aircraft departed for Rabat. Later that day the remainder of squadron pilots left Marville by North Star. Having landed at Istres in 60 knot winds, gusting to 80 knots, the sabres arrived at Rabat with only one incident. The drop tanks on Sabre 23319 flown by F/O Frioult failed to drain between Istres and Rabat so that the four plane section led by F/O McKay was forced to divert to Iran to refuel and then proceeded to Rabat without further incident. Due to exceptionally poor flying weather squadron pilots were unable to complete their flying schedule. Of the 21 sorties required for individual pilots, it was only possible to complete 14 as the weather was below limits on 11 of the 23 days spent in Rabat. On 17 Feb F/L Lepard became lost while towing a drogue, dropped the drogue over the water and diverted to Bulhant, a USAF relief airfield a few miles north of Casablanca. Squadron scores for the air firing exercise were as follows:
Squadron average overall firing - 24.8%
Squadron average competitive firing - 32.0%
Squadron average Chadburn Trophy Shoot - 23.8%
Drop tanks were fitted for the return trip to Marville on the afternoon of 26 Feb and aircraft were test flown on 27 Feb. Eight pilots returned to Marville on 28 Feb by North Star and the remainder returned by North Star and Sabre on 1 Mar.
Courses
Nil
Accidents
23 Feb 56 - During a daily inspection a short circuit occured in the starting system of Sabre 23348 rendering the aircraft unserviceable. It was necessary to leave this aircraft in Rabat for future disposal.
Aircraft Strength - 25
Pilot Strength - 25
Flying Time - 602:15
Administration - Transfers
26 Feb 56 - 33697 F/L RD Carew was transferred from 410 (F) Sqn to 1 Air Division Headquarters.
March 1956
Operations
On 1 Mar twelve aircraft were ferried from Istres to Marville completing the Rabat air firing exercise for 410 Squadron for 1956. Remainder of flying for the month included instrument practice at the T-33 Flight, high level formation practice, aircraft test flights, aerobatics and ground controlled approaches. On 20 Mar twelve aircraft were flown to 3 (F) Wing in preparation for another week of Zulu alert. Later that day five spare pilots departed 1 (F) Wing by Dakota, leaving three pilots to replace unserviceable aircrafts. During the week ending 28 Mar 104 sorties were completed at 3 (F) Wing for a total of 165:05 flying hours. During the month a new schedule of phase training was begun for new squadon pilots. On 7 Mar four practice interception sorties were completed with the Yellowjack GCI unit and on 15 Mar four pilots took part in Exercise Trolley Trot.
Ground training for the month included lectures on navigation, meteorology, tactics, emergency procedures, flight safety and aircraft recognition.
Courses
7 Mar 56 - F/O Mitchell departed for Canada to attend the Pilot Attack Instructors Course.
12 - 28 Mar 56 - F/O's McElmon and Creelman attended a Ski Course provided by the French Army at Meribel les Allues.
13 - 16 Mar 56 - F/O McKay attended an air to ground operations course with the USAF at Ramstein.
14 Mar 56 - F/Os King, Roden, Gourlay and Campbell attended the Decompression Course with the USAF at Wiesbaden.
Accidents
6 Mar 56 - F/O Thorne while flying Sabre 23325 encountered abnormal controls due to a fracture of the casting connecting the actuator to the starboard aileron.
9 Mar 56 - F/O England encountered explosive decompression at 38,000 feet due to a fracture at the rear of the aircraft canopy.
9 Mar 56 - F/O Boyd overstressed aircraft 23319 to 7.75 G during a tail-chase.
Aircraft Strength - 24
Pilot Strength - 28
Flying Time - 590:05
Administration - Transfers
1 Mar 56 - 35298 F/L IF Campbell reported to 410 Sqn from the OTU at Chatham.
1 Mar 56 - 224933 F/O RH Roden reported to 410 Sqn from OTU Chatham
1 Mar 56 - 10103 F/O RH Perks arrived on transfer to 410 Sqn from AMCHQ at Rockcliffe.
5 Mar 56 - 30364 F/L AH Milne was posted to 410 Sqn from 441 Sqn.
19 Mar 56 - 7882 F/O CF Barlow, the new engineering officer reported to 410 Sqn on transfer from 423 Sqn St. Hubert.
April 1956
Operations
Flying for the month included high level formation practice, practice spins, aerobatics, practice forced landings, ground controlled approaches, air tests, night flying and cross-country navigational trips to other bases. On 3 and 7 Apr four and eight pilots took part in Exercise Scrimmage. On 3 and 4 Apr four aircraft were flown on a practice fly-past over SHAPE with 441 Squadron. On 10 Apr sixteen pilots were given practice in night flying in preparation for the coming Zulu Alert. F/O Holt had a rather harrowing experience. When attempting to land, a lookout was kept for a final GCA run so that the aircraft was almost landed in a small woods off the end of the runway. An overshoot was made and on the next approach he neglected to lower the wheels and on overshooting scraped the drop tanks of the aircraft on the runway. The third attempt at landing was successful. On 12 Apr fourteen pilots took part in Exercise Argus and on 17 Apr six pilots did calibration runs for the Yellowjack GCI Unit. On 18 Apr 410 Sqn took over alert duties. During the week 18 - 25 Apr 236 practice scrambles were made by pilot's working in two shifts from approximately 0350 GMT to 1130 GMT and from 1130 GMT to approximately 1905 GMT. S/L Liggett, F/L Campbell and F/O Roden successfully completed phase training making 410 Squadron fully operational. During April squadron pilots flew a total of 657 sorties.
Ground training for the month included lectures in navigation, meteorology, emergency procedures, flight safety, aircraft recognition and intelligence.
Courses - NIL
Accidents
10 Apr 56 - While night flying F/O Holt failed to lower the wheels of aircraft 23186 while landing and on attempting to overshoot scraped the drop tanks on the runway damaging them beyond unit repairs. There was nil damage to the aircraft.
20 Apr 56 - The engine of aircraft 23330 flown by F/O Boyd flamed out at 38,000 feet and a successful forced landing was made at Geilenkirchen following engine relight at 9,000 feet in a forced landing pattern. Investigation revealed that a fuel leak in the low pressure shut-off valve caused the engine failure.
26 Apr 56 - The nose door of aircraft 23313 flown by F/O Roden was lost in flight severing the utility hydraulic line. A successful wheels-down landing was carried out and assessment was made as mechanical failure.
Aircraft Strength - 24
Pilot Strength - 28
Flying Time - 829:05
Administration - Transfers
(Omission from the Mar 56 Historical Report):
1 Mar 56 - 20065 S/L LJ Liggett arrived on 410 Squadron on transfer from the OTU at Chatham.
May 1956
Operations
Flying for May included practice forced landings, ground controlled approaches, aerobatics, air tests, practice spins, navigation trips and formation practice. During the month pilots started a cine schedule drawn up by F/O's Thorne and King, the squadron PAI's. This included five exercises beginning with simple ranging and tracking in both manual and radar functions and ending with high overhead attacks at 35,000 feet. F/O Swanston, a new squadron pilot completed five sorties of initial phase training after a unit check out by the station instrument flight. On 3 and 8 May sixteen and eight aircraft took part in exercise Argus and Rejuvenate and on 8 May forty-six sorties were flown in Exercise Swordslash. Twenty-four squadron pilots completed a night flying sortie on 7 and 8 May. On 24 May two sections of two aircraft did practice interceptions with the Yellowjack GCI unit. The month closed with 410 Squadron taking over alert duties on 30 May.
Ground training for the month included lectures in navigation, meteorology, tactics, emergency procedures and flight safety. From 15 to 18 May twelve 410 Sqn pilots, including the OC S/L Fisher took part in the annual Escape and Evasion Exercise - Sabot Slog. Six pilots were successful in evading capture and reaching thier rendezvous points.
Courses
1 May 56 - F/O Titterton departed for Canada to begin the Flight Safety Course at Trenton and Toronto.
25 May 56 - F/O Liukko attended the Decompression Course with the USAF at Wiesbaden.
Accidents
3 May 56 - An aileron hinge on aircraft 23179 flown by F/O Creelman, failed in flight. Following recovery from a series of rolls to the left, the aircraft was landed without further incident.
Aircraft Strength - 25
Pilot Strength - 27
Flying Time - 712:40
Administration - Transfers
23 May 56 - 27836 F/L HM Lepard was posted to 441 Squadron.
24 May 56 - 233041 F/O LW Swanston was transferred to 410 Squadron from the OTU at Chatham.