RCAF Magazine
RCAF Magazine
RCAF Magazine
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T H E
Published on the authority of the Chief of the Air Staff, Royal Canadian Air Force
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PICTURE STORIES
1
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[Ka and snow propelled by Inside the aircraft the steward, fuel, spare parts and safety equip-
wind gusting up to 28 m.p.h. herald L.A.C. H. A. Bannister, who is stow- ment that the total weight of the
an unpromising day for flying as, ing away food in the stainless steel aircraft will be 116,000 lbs. on
individually, the crew members galley, receives confirmation from take-off. Entering this information
arrive at No. 412 Squadron's han- the captain on the final number of on the Weight and Balance Sheet,
gar to prepare for Special Flight passengers. The movement con- he shows the captain that the load
III. troller (air), Cpl. K. J. Graham, is arranged so that the aircraft's
Special flights are routine for has been working on documents for centre of gravity will be within
Ottawa-based No. 412 and on this the flight and determines from the limits.
blustery March day a Comet has total weight of passengers, baggage, Satisfied that all is well here, Flt.
been laid on to take a V.I.P. trip
non-stop to Vancouver. Departure FIt. Sgt. W. J. Hoehn carries out a comprehensive pre-flight check while.. .
from the ramp is scheduled for
1300 hours. At 1045 the aircraft
captain, Flight Lieutenant W. B.
Carss, leaves his home in the
P.M.Q.'s at R.C.A.F. Station Up-
lands to begin the elaborate plan-
ning attendant to every Air Trans-
port Command flight.
Proceeding to the cavernous
hangar where the Comet is being
groomed he meets his flight engi-
neer, Flight Sergeant W. J. Hoehn,
who is just finishing his pre-flight
check of 110 items. Flt. Sgt. Hoehn
informs him that the required fuel
load of 53,800 lbs. is on board.
2
John Griiiin Library
1
'')
s'
[Ka and snow propelled by Inside the aircraft the steward, fuel, spare parts and safety equip-
wind gusting up to 28 m.p.h. herald L.A.C. H. A. Bannister, who is stow- ment that the total weight of the
an unpromising day for flying as, ing away food in the stainless steel aircraft will be 116,000 lbs. on
individually, the crew members galley, receives confirmation from take-off. Entering this information
arrive at No. 412 Squadron's han- the captain on the final number of on the Weight and Balance Sheet,
gar to prepare for Special Flight passengers. The movement con- he shows the captain that the load
III. troller (air), Cpl. K. J. Graham, is arranged so that the aircraft's
Special flights are routine for has been working on documents for centre of gravity will be within
Ottawa-based No. 412 and on this the flight and determines from the limits.
blustery March day a Comet has total weight of passengers, baggage, Satisfied that all is well here, Flt.
been laid on to take a V.I.P. trip
non-stop to Vancouver. Departure FIt. Sgt. W. J. Hoehn carries out a comprehensive pre-flight check while.. .
from the ramp is scheduled for
1300 hours. At 1045 the aircraft
captain, Flight Lieutenant W. B.
Carss, leaves his home in the
P.M.Q.'s at R.C.A.F. Station Up-
lands to begin the elaborate plan-
ning attendant to every Air Trans-
port Command flight.
Proceeding to the cavernous
hangar where the Comet is being
groomed he meets his flight engi-
neer, Flight Sergeant W. J. Hoehn,
who is just finishing his pre-flight
check of 110 items. Flt. Sgt. Hoehn
informs him that the required fuel
load of 53,800 lbs. is on board.
2
amount of fuel burnt off, the Comet for a moment, a perceptible re- pressurized comfort seven miles
gradually increases .its height to minder that the aircraft is cruising high and at seven miles a minute
take advantage of the greater along the edge of the tropopause. the travellers quickly cross the
speeds attainable at higher altitude. At such lofty operational heights prairie provinces and, west of
j
the normal air traffic control rules Calgary, see the foothills appear
' and regulations do not apply. Ex- far below like ripples on a mill
As they enter the Central Time cept for the infrequent reservation pond. They strain to catch first
Zone FIt. Lt. Carss glances at his of air space for military traffic, the glimpse of Canada's Rocky Moun-
watch. In Ottawa it is 1600 hrs; captain of a Comet can choose his tains, but this is not to be. Before
Karen and Elizabeth will be get- own altitude, unlike the piston air- the main system can make its im-
ting out of school. In Vancouver it craft skipper far below on the air- pressive appearance an ocean of
is 1300 hrs. and his brother-in-law ways who must fly at the altitudes cloud shrouds the peaks from view.
will be finishing lunch and heading assigned by air traffic control. Contacting air traffic control
back to the office. Now it is coffee The Comet's high speed is also over Carmi, Flt. Lt. Carss receives
time on board the Comet and the a factor to be reckoned with. Al- clearance to start his descent at a
passengers experience one of the though most aircraft find it most point in space some 165 miles east
"selling points" of jets. The coffee convenient to cross Canada on of Vancouver. Speed brakes pop
doesn't cause a ripple in the cup, Green One, the main airway, the out and the Comet eases into a
mute testimony to the smoothness Comet foregoes the luxury of this slight dive. The hands on the alti-
of flight. aerial throughway with its many meter unwind as the Comet leaves
:{ :} navigational aids in order to fly its lofty realm and slants towards
* the more direct great circle route. the clouds. Engulfed in a world of
At seven miles high the Comets The machmeter on the instru- whiteness, the captain flies on in-
are in an almost exclusive domain ment panel indicates the Comet's struments and joins the airway
far above normal traffic. Occasion- speed approaching seven-tenths over Hope. A few minutes later he
ally they share their realm with the speed of sound· but, with the begins an instrument approach to-
military jets but more often they inevitable headwinds encountered wards Vancouver's International
travel in solitude. At 35,000 feet when flying westward, groundspeed Airport. Breaking into the clear on
now the Comet gently undulates is reduced to about 450 m.p.h. In procedure turn, the Comet heads
'
Two days later this time-tested
routine is repeated in reverse. A a Comet Mk. I was delivered to Special Flight III and on scheduled
light glows on the captain's instru- No. 412. The delivery flight gave overseas runs from Ottawa to Mar-
ment panel. The passengers are on the R.C.A.F. the honour of being ville. On one of its fastest trans-
board, the cabin door has closed. the first to operate jet "airliners" Atlantic trips a No. 412 Comet
A gaggle of pheasants standing on across the Atlantic. A second Comet flew from Gander to overhead
the infield watch with obvious in- was delivered to the squadron on Shannon in three and a half hours.
terest as the Comet taxies to the 16 June 1953 but seven months These aircraft are also used as high
live runway. A few minutes later later, as the result of Comet acci- flying, fast moving "targets" for
the aircraft does a gentle climbing dents overseas, these aircraft were Air Defence Command practise
tum over the Pacific Ocean and grounded. From a promising start interceptions. With one exception
heads east towards the Coast the Comets spent three ignomini- Comets can travel to any place
Range. ous years gathering dust in hangars frequented by other R.C.A.F. trans-
Five hours and ten minutes until, in August 1956, they were port aircraft. The one exception is
later the Comet sweeps across the flown back to the U.K. for modifi- the far north, where their imposing
threshold lights at Uplands Airport cation. On 26 September 1957 the weight is too much for the present
and lands. It taxies quickly and two aircraft, now known as Mk. runways. This problem, of course,
smoothly up to the squadron's IXB's, were returned to the can be solved and when it is, the
passenger terminal and shuts down. R.C.A.F. and placed in regular aurora borealis and other stars of
More than half a continent has service. the northern galaxy will have to
been crossed, yet the required ramp The Comets are used for un- share their glory with man-made
time has been made within one scheduled domestic flights such as Comets.
minute. Another trip has ended
and, as usual, No. 412 Squadron's
high standards have been main- HOW'S THAT AGAIN?
tained.
* :{ "What do you think of the New "Oh ... I thought you meant the
The R.C.A.F. became the first Vanguard?" Vickers Vanguard."
air force in the world to fly jet "I think it's a winner." No, no, the Vicar's got an Austin,
transports when, on 29 May 1953, "Yes, it's a good-looking car." the Squire's got a Vanguard."
6 THE ROUNDEL
-%
THERE is a popular superstition up, to tell what it was really like; the use of war paint and feathers.
that jet pilots are a race apart, a although there is little hope that in The basic garment of the en-
tribe of young men square of jaw, doing so I can win for myself the semble was an anti-gravity, or 'G'
bright of eye and big of bicep. The reputation of the mythical jet pilot, suit, a skin-tight affair constructed
pilots of fiction, those chiselled at any rate I can at least bring him of dark green nylon. When clad in
statuesque Apollos, the Terrys and down to my level. mine I resembled nothing so much
the Steve Canyons, only serve to Nothing at jet school approach- as a cucumber, especially so, since
foster the illusion that jet pilots ed the heady good looks of Colonel at waist level my 'G' suit was fitted
are not born, but quarried. That Canyon in flying clothing, and cer- with a rubber hose which, hanging
such is not really the case I have tainly I didn't. I do not have the down by my side, gave me the ap-
only to offer myself as proof. The barrel-chested physique of the pearance of having a little cucum-
Air Force permits me to call my- Colonel, my general outline being ber. The extreme snugness of the
self a pilot in public, yet in no way less like a barrel and more along suit revealed in close detail the
do I resemble the glamorous gen- the lines of a coke bottle. When extent of Mother Nature's bounty
tlemen of screen and script. In fact, dressed for flight I was almost and to add to the remarkable
the kindest thing you can say for frightening, especially if you came spectacle I represented, a white
my appearance, is that I haven't upon me suddenly. Until the era crash helmet covered my entire
got webbed feet. of the jet jockey, no serviceman head with the exception of a small
My first solo in a jet is behind has been so fantastically arrayed portion of my forehead and eyes.
me, and so I am qualified to speak since military circles abandoned My nose and mouth were already
MAY 1959 7
Cartoons by L.A.C. P. LAROUCHE
hidden behind a rubber oxygen landings and simulated bail-outs. Sabre pilots, it seems, refer to their
mask built along the lines of a Finally when we landed, my in- mounts as 'her' although there are
snout and since my eyes were the structor reined back the aircraft no structural details to support the
only part of me left exposed to the and said "Okay, you'll do. You fly implication.
light of day, the sensation was one the Sabre this afternoon." He My instructor came with me to
of having been mummified. sounded somewhat disgruntled my Sabre to help me do the pre-
When I first wore my anti-gravi- over my impending solo, but then flight inspection. He looked down
ty suit, I half expected to become I reflected, after an hour of flying the hole in the front, while I ex-
weightless and float about like with me, none of my instructors amined the one in the rear. When
some grotesque fairy. It was later had ever seemed quite gruntled. our eyes didn't meet, we felt it safe
explained to me that the purpose Together with the four other to assume the engine was safely
of the suit was to protect me dur- pilots who were to fly the Sabre aboard. We shouted hallo!' into
ing violent manoeuvres and pre- for the first time that afternoon, I the holes, and receiving no reply,
vent the blood from draining out waited in the flight room for a few concluded that there wasn't a me-
through my feet. I felt better after last words from the Chief Flying chanic in there trimming the wick.
that. Instructor. The CF! at jet school We examined the guns, checked
Entering the flight room for the was something of a celebrity. He the touch-holes for fluff and kicked
first time, I crossed to where my had just returned from a tour of the nose wheel as we passed. (It
instructor sat. He dropped his operations in Korea, and the de- hadn't done anything, but all pilots
book and said ·Good God!" He gree of saluting and bowing that do that, so we kicked it anyway).
had never seen me in flying gear. went on whenever he entered a I climbed onto the wing and
Respectfully, I reminded my in- room was reminiscent of Julius posed for a moment in case there
structor that I was to receive a Caesar visiting a Roman flop should be someone around with a
final check ride in a T-33 ( a two house. He was one of the 'chin-up, camera, and then inserted myself
seater jet), before going solo in a never-say-die' school. into the cockpit. Squeezing myself,
Sabre. "Okay," he said "Let's go!" "Well boys," he yodeled, when complete with parachute, survival
For an hour we flew around the we had risen from our obeisances, pack, life jacket and crash helmet
general area of the airfield practic- "Get out there, get her up in the into the tiny compartment was no
ing emergency procedures, forced air and show her who's boss!" AII easy matter. Having done so, I
8 THE ROUNDEL
tucked my legs under an instru- Opening the throttle to its maxi- and headed straight down for the
ment panel resembling something mum setting for take off, I aimed domain of the Evil One.
from a science-fiction movie, and my Sabre down the runway. The With engine shrieking, the Sabre
fastened the safety harness over speed indicator started to move dived straight for home, bearing
what I like to call my chest. My and I watched, fascinated, the rate me with it. It was aiming deliber-
little store of bravado was begin- of acceleration. Only moments ately for the roof of its kennel
ning to ebb away and when my in- where the Chief Flying Instructor
later, travelling at a furious pace, had his office in a semi-detached
structor put his thumb in the air
and started to walk away, I pre- I realized that Sabre had used up outhouse. To save myself the em-
tended I thought he wanted me to nearly all the runway and I should barrassment of arriving at his feet
come with him. I had almost suc- do something about getting it into as a burnt offering, I closed the
ceeded in dismounting before he the air. I pulled back on the control throttle and opened the dive
pushed me back in and angrily column ( or 'stick' as it's known in brakes. Simultaneously the 'G' suit
stamped away. the trade), and then said "000£!" I was inhabiting inflated to its max-
The sensation of loneliness was when my G' suit suddenly inflated, imum and tried to squeeze me out
intense. With all its modern devel- striking me a mortal blow in the entirely. Replacing my eyeballs in
opments, aviation still hasn't come paunch and almost severing me in their sockets and swallowing my
up with some means of withdraw- two. liver again, I listened in amaze-
ing the instructor from the plane Recovering, I became aware that ment to a bugle which had started
little by little, until the student is the Sabre had me nicely under to play in my earphones. Wonder-
entirely alone and thus achieves control and having left the runway, ingly I speculated if the control
solo flight. The break is a clean one was carrying me straight upwards tower had come on the air with a
and just as brutal as a mother with the apparent intention of de- trumpet solo, but then with relief
eagle booting her baby out of the livering me unannounced at the I realized it was the warning horn
nest to fend for himself at the first judgement seat. But not for long. telling me not to land because the
sign of a pin feather. As I watched As I gingerly pushed the stick for- wheels weren't down. For a mo-
my instructor disappearing in the ward in an attempt to level the ment there, I had begun to suspect
distance, I almost wept. machine, it did a hasty 'U' turn it was Gabriel calling me home.
Starting up the engine, I strap-
ped my oxygen mask and micro-
phone over my face and prepared With hips and shoulders rolling . . .
to call the control tower for per-
mission to taxi. It was then that I
discovered my oxygen mask caused
me to speak with a curious lisp, ~
and as you may imagine, lisping
among jet pilots is a serious busi-
=
o O
MAY 1959 9
In level flight once more, I de- the sound barrier like? Would I the hysterical leaps of a confirmed
cided to complete the- exercise as catch up with something I'd been spinster who awakes to find herself
soon as possible before sanity left saying yesterday, or would I hear in the arms of Bluebeard. Between
me completely. Searching for 'Les- a loud bang and suddenly discover bounces, my covert glances at the
son Plan One' and finding it in the I'd changed my sex? I ducked my instrument panel revealed that my
map case between an old issue of head and waited. With a gentle Sabre had consumed nearly all of
'True Love' and a half completed shudder the Sabre approached the its fuel and I turned it around to
letter to someone called 'Lil', I barrier, paused there a moment head for home.
read carefully what I was supposed and then leaped forward to super- Three miles from the airfield I
to do. The first thing, it seemed, sonic speed. called the tower and asked for per-
was to fly the Sabre at speed in ex- I opened one eye, and to confirm mission to enter the circuit and
cess of Mach one Or, faster than that I had really achieved super- land.
sound. sonic flight I studied the instru- "Report your fuel quantity,"
I closed the dive brakes and ments for a moment. There it was, snapped a voice. It was my in-
opened the throttle. With the dive plainly indicated on the instrument structor.
brakes going in, as if it were laying panel, I was supersonic! The proud I told him how much fuel I had.
back its ears, my Sabre seemed to smile faded abruptly from my face "Cleared to land," he sneered.
hunch its back for a moment be- when I looked out and found I had His tone implied that he consider-
fore leaping forward with a wild lost a great deal of height and was ed me pretty unsporting, and now
howl at something it saw on the now flying towards a fine stand of I know I was. Only an utter cad
other side of the sound barrier. timber. Rapidly, I urged my mount would land when he has enough
Smoke poured from the exhaust, back towards the clouds. fuel to make it once more around
vapour streamed from the canopy Up above the clouds, I read the the field.
roof and the machine bumped rest of 'Lesson Plan One' which Bringing my Sabre to a halt on
along at ever increasing speed. In instructed me to do gentle turns, the tarmac, I climbed out and
all, my Sabre was behaving very climbing and diving while taking swaggered towards the flight room.
much like a runaway Stanley note of the aircraft's smooth re- With hips and shoulders rolling
Steamer. With mounting appre- sponse. The Sabre may have shown hard in a manner I thought be-
hension, I watched the speed in- a 'smooth response' to the man who fitted a jet jockey, I strode through
dicator climb towards the sonic composed 'Lesson Plan One', in all a group of instructors.
barrier. Finally I could stand it no probability he was an experienced "Poor lad," said one of them
more and closed my eyes. Were all Sabre pilot, beneath my untutored sympathetically, "It must be hae-
those rumors really true? What was hand however, it responded with morrhoids."
10 THE ROUNDEL
T W ENTY questions to tax your memory of military aircraft, past and 13. Popular designation of a
present, have been prepared by Sqn. Ldr. A. P. Heathcote, author of Second World War twin-engine
THE ROUNDEL's current wartime squadron history. We tried this out German night-fighter was:
on our editorial committee members, and if you can better their average (a) Moskito
score of 13, you can consider yourself an expert. Answers on page 32, ( b) Salamander
(c) Gustav
(d) Komet
MAY 1959 11
I
]'% Moose Squadron began the support of the ground forces than Germany in three weeks, it having
month of September 1944 by raid- in any other month. The focal paid an early-evening visit to Dort-
ing Germany in daylight for the points of their tactical activities mund six days after the Emden
first time since its cloud-hopping were coastal strongholds at Le raid.
intrusions of nearly two years be- Havre, Boulogne, Calais ( three
DAYLIGHT DECORATION
fore. Emden, ship and submarine times) and Cap Gris Nez. It is com-
building centre at the mouth of the mon knowledge that these attacks, An intense barrage of heavy flak
Ems River, was the target. The more than anything else, prompted over Bottrop found the range of
Moosemen's aiming-point was the the towel-throwing gesture on the eight Moose aircraft, inflicting da-
dock area and inner harbour, which part of each garrison commander. mage that ranged in degree from
received very severe damage. The squadron had no sooner re- slight to extensive. Distinctly in the
Though only 180 aircraft were in- turned from its third crack at Calais latter category was that done to
volved, they produced a bombing than it was warned to be ready for "P"-Peter. One engine on each side
concentration so intense that it a "maximum effort" the next morn- was put out of action, the hydrau-
seemed all out of proportion to the ing. The call came and 22 VR lics no longer worked, and the con-
size of the attacking force. Lanes (the record for 419) headed trol surfaces were so perforated
Despite this strategical begin- for a synthetic oil plant at Bottrop, that two crew members had to help
ning, September was "Support-the- one of several in the Reich that their captain, Flying Officer J. A.
Army Month" for 419 Sqn. Lan- were to be high-priority targets Anderson, manoeuver the Lancas-
casters. In that 30-day period they in the coming months. This was the ter by pulling manually on the rud-
flew more sorties ( 105) in direct squadron's third "daylight" over der controls. Anderson continued
12 THE ROUNDEL
his bom bing run on the two rem ain- to the steady hammering of the Over Bochum FIt. Lt. Anderson
ing engines and attacked the pri- Ruhr and Rhineland. All but three and crew were faced with a most
mary. of 419's targets in the last quarter unusual predicament. Flak damage
Over the Dutch coast en route of 1944 lay in either region. Most to their aircraft's electrical system
home a third engine began to give of the target names appearing on had produced a short circuit which
less than full power and emergency the ops board in this period were made the navigation lights go on
precautions for ditching were taken. only too familiar; some were not and stay on despite attempts to
These proved unnecessary, as the so familiar. There were Essen, douse them. The lights offered a
pilot somehow succeeded in nurs- Cologne, and Duisburg, for ex- standing invitation to night-fighters
ing the Lane to the Woodbridge ample, which, over a 17-day period to attack the Lancaster, now de-
emergency field, where he pulled in October were each subjected to fenceless by reason of two unser-
off a masterly landing. His efforts back-to-back saturation raids, one viceable gun turrets. The Luft-
on this occasion were largely re- by day and one by night. There waffe obliged with five attacks,
sponsible for his winning the cov- were Dortmund and Duesseldorf, but well timed evasive action saved
eted D.S.O. In the accompanying Stuttgart and Soest, Oberhausen the bomber from further damage.
citation were the words, "This of- and Opladen, Karlsruhe and Cas- This was the tenth time Anderson's
ficer has consistently displayed a trop-Rauxel. There were Bochum, aircraft returned showing glaring
high degree of gallantry and de- Gelsenkirchen, Munster, Hagen, signs of operational wear and tear.
votion to duty on operations ... Neuss, and Ludwigshaven; and
He has set the finest example in there were still others. Few indeed BLOODY BATTLE
pressing home his attacks, often in were the industrial centres of note
the face of fierce opposition ..." in the two main productive areas While returning from Oberhau-
Only ten days after the announce- which were not attacked by 419 in sen, "U"-Uncle was subjected to a
ment of this award a D.F.C. was those three months. It was no mere hail of cannon shells from a Focke
gazetted for the same officer. coincidence that four of the above Wulf 190 which severely damaged
A feature of 419's work in Sep- targets were leading producers of the Lancaster but miraculously
tember was the preponderance of the number one item on Hitler's killed none of its crew. One shell
daylight ops, all but one of its 13 growing list of shortages: oil. exploded inside the fuselage, blow-
objectives being attacked by day. Most of the attacks took place ing the mid-upper gunner out of
In this lay the probable reason for at night, and crews were subjected his seat and depositing him on the
the absence of casualties during the to considerable interference by a floor but causing him no bodily
month. No such welcome statistic still-cohesive enemy fighter force. harm. His partner in the rear tur-
had applied to the unit since Nov-
ember, 1942.
For all of six months now, the
airborne heavy artillery had been Daylight target photo from 18,000 feet.
largely sidetracked from strategical
objectives in favour of those with
a temporarily higher priority tag. In
that interval Nazi industry had re-
covered enough to merit more con-
centrated attention from Harris
demolition crews. Throughout the
next seven months, therefore, Ger-
mans on the home front were to
learn anew the meaning of total
war and the relentless efficiency
with which Command's represen-
tatives could carry it to them. The
Moose Squadron was to log an-
other 68 operations before the war's
end, only two (the first and the
last) being directed elsewhere than
against cities and towns in Ger-
many.
MAY 1959
had shown unusual fortitude by
staying with his guns and shooting
it out with the fighter although half
blinded by blood streaming down
his face.
ELEMENTS ENEMY TOO
As if the enemy's ground and air
defences were not opposition
enough, Nature itself was now
proving a tougher opponent than
usual. Perhaps the worst flying
weather ever experienced by the
squadron was compressed into the
first week of December 1944.
Towering cumulonimbus and its
travelling companion, icing, lay
astride the beaten path of the
bomber stream, and surmounting
it was a thick layer of haze, which
added to the already great hazard
of mid-air collision. At roughly
1940 hours in the evening of 6 De-
cember the Moosemen were taking
FIt. Lt. J. A. Anderson, D.S.O., D.F.C, and crew. L. to r.: F/O A. P. McKillop, aim at their fourth target (Osna-
Sgt. F. W. J. Flippant, FIt. Sgt. M. E. Sanders, FIt. Lt. N. McConnachie, FIt. Lt. bruck) within four days and for
Anderson, Sgt. M. A. Gerrard. Kneeling: Sgt. A. A. Kenyon.
the fourth successive time highly
adverse weather conditions pre-
ret, FIt. Sgt. R. A. Toane, was In so doing he burned his hands vailed. One experienced captain
wounded in the face, and one leg, rather badly. He fainted from shock was quite explicit about the wea-
but fought back as hard as he but afterwards insisted on return- ther in his account of this raid, ex-
could. Also suffering facial and arm ing to his duties. cerpts from which read as follows:
wounds was the wireless operator, This action was the basis for an " . . . Those were 6 ½ hours of
Flying Officer L. W. Sitlington. immediate award of the D.F.C. to the dirtiest flying weather I have
Ignoring them, he grabbed an ex- Cox, Lindsay and Sitlington, and ever seen ... From base we climbed
tinguisher and put out a fire at of the D.F.M. to Toane. The latter to 23,000 feet trying to avoid heavy
his position. The FW's cannon had
knocked out the port inner engine,
riddled the fuselage, tail section, Veteran of 75 operations.
and starboard elevator, decommis-
sioned the intercom, hydraulic, and
pneumatic systems, and punctured
both tires. All navigation aids were
useless. After the Belgian coast was
crossed, the starboard inner quit.
Twice "Uncle" fell into spiral dives
and twice Flying Officer R. L. Cox
managed to regain control when the
Lancaster seemed headed for a
watery grave. Presently the port
inner responded to attempts to re-
start and "Uncle" was eventually
crashlanded at Manston.
Also prominent in the crew's
safe return was navigator Flying
Officer S. B. Lindsay. Despite back
and facial wounds inflicted by
shrapnel he succeeded in extin-
guishing, first, a fire at his position,
and later, a fire at the wing root.
14
icing cloud that covered England
and the continent. We iced up bad-
ly, and the stuff made a weird,
ominous sound as it was flung off
the props and hit the fuselage.
Flew all the way there and back
on instruments, then lost all my
!
!
instruments going home because of !
icing. Even told crew to stand by /,
to bail out, but things began to im-
prove. My instruments started to
work again when I joined the cir-
cuit to land."
In spite of the elements, only
one of the 63 sorties put up by 419
in these foul four days was abor-
tive. The ability of the squadron,
and others like it, to continue opera-
ting effectively in conditions that
might have meant "wash-out", not
to mention a breather for the ene-
my's air defences, foreshadowed Wing Cdr. D. C. Hagerman, C.O. from Aug.'44 to Jan.'45.
the finish of the Luftwaffe as a
force to be reckoned with and help-
ed no little to hasten the end of
On 26 January Doug Hagerman over the length and breadth of Ger-
the war in Europe. was posted and a new O.C. was many; from Heide, in Schleswig-
BATTLE OF THE BULGE
acquired in the person of Wing Holstein, to Nuremberg, in Bavaria,
Cdr. M. E. Ferguson, formerly a and from Goch, near the border of
In the last two weeks of 1944 the flight commander with 428 Sqn. Holland, to Dresden, near the
squadron was committed largely to A second gong for Hagerman was border of Czechoslovakia. A great
night attacks on marshalling-yards to be gazetted in March. majority were the "name" targets
in the Cologne area, thereby in- Industry, communications, oil of old, all possessed of flak defences
directly supporting the Allied throughout their last four months which, though not nearly as potent
of operations the Moosemen kept as before, could still hurt; and most
armies during the critical phase of
hammering almost exclusively at were accessible only by flight over
the Battle of the Bulge. By day it these. Their targets were spread hotly defended territory.
joined a raid on the heavily de-
fended Lohausen airfield at Dues-
seldorf, which was promptly ren- Wing Cdr. M. E. Ferguson, 419's last wartime C.O.
dered unserviceable. A first-class
concentration of high explosive
was poured on the runways, infield,
and administration buildings.
Among the installations hit during
419's bombing stint was a fuel am-
munition dump, which went up in
one classic eruption. One experi-
enced captain summarized results
in four words: "No aerodrome
there now". This was the first of
three consecutive operations just
before the year's end in which the
unit absorbed losses. After a casual-
ty-free November, the number of
"missing" once more mounted
sharply. Four of the five crew-
losses in December came in the '
last week of 1944.
Early in the New Year there
came a final change in command.
MAY 1959
turning from Hagen. The second-
tour gunner was one of four who
bailed out safely and landed in
friendly territory. Though mana-
ging to log another op or two, he
never got the chance to avenge
his fallen companions. He eventual-
ly wore the ribbon of the D.F.C.
MOSTLY DAYLIGHTS
16
6 Group's gaggle, ten minutes late adjacent locomotive depot. The man error or in-flight unservice-
over the target and hence without accuracy of their work was ob- abilities.
fighter cover, was bounced by vious in their remarkably clear The weight of bombs delivered
some 30 Me. 262s. In the only bombing pictures. by VR Wellingtons, Halifaxes, and
large-scale air battle into which it The squadron's last target was Lancasters was calculated at 13,416
was ever drawn in daylight the un- remote from the industrial regions long tons. Though the correspond-
protected Group came out second with which it had been so long ing figure for mines is unavailable,
best. Eight of its aircraft went concerned. The fortified island of the addition of the unknown quan-
down, two belonging to the Moose W angerooge was, for example, tity would certainly boost the
Squadron. Most of 419's dozen air- some 150 miles from the nearest grand total to well over 14,000.
craft that returned safely had shot point of the Ruhr. In this one raid Unquestionably the Moosemen's
at the IMesserschmitts (three hav- coastal gun batteries, which con- number one target was Essen,
ing been actually attacked), but stituted the primary objective, which they visited 23 times, or
nothing conclusive came of these were neatly eliminated. almost once in every three trips to
efforts. The double loss brought :3 "Happy Valley''. Their second-
the unit's total for March to seven, A statistical survey of 419's con- favourite target was another Val-
highest for any month since May tribution to the air war in Europe ley centre - Duisburg- bombed
1943. It was no mere coincidence reveals that it barely missed the 15 times ( only three less than by
that all seven aircraft were victims "400" mark in operations. Over a Command "in force"). On more
of fighters. span of roughly three and one than half their Ruhr visitations,
In strong contrast with the quarter years it mounted 342 therefore, they were after one or
above, the next daylight op pro- bombing attacks, 53 mining excur- the other. Other targets high on
duced little in the way of fighter sions, three leaflet raids, and one their priority list were Hamburg
opposition, this despite the fact "spoof". Its purely operational sor- and Cologne, each logged 13 times,
that the target, the Engelsdorf ties (i.e. excluding 38 logged in Berlin (10), Le Havre (9), Bre-
marshalling-yard at Leipzig, was sea searches) totalled 4325, of men (8), and Boulogne (7). Their
the most distant ever attacked by which 3863, or approximately 89 favourite gardening waters were
"night" bombers in daylight. Con- per cent, were considered success- those around the Frisian Islands
tributing to an exhibition of tidy ful. It should, however, be noted and Heligoland, in which they
precision-bombing, the Moosemen that 122 of the abortive sorties sowed a deadly crop on 19 and 7
helped to block all through lines were the direct result of recalls occasions, respectively.
and to create a shutdown in the and wash-outs rather than of hu- As might be expected in the
No. 419 Squadron aircrew and headquarters staff, prior to departure for Canada, May 1945.
case of a unit em ployed over a country details. Twenty-four hours new stamping ground was at North
period of 39 ½ months on one of later the squadron learned that it Bay, gateway to Ontario's north-
the most hazardous jobs in the would soon be ferrying its own air- land. The new 419 was originally
most active theatre of the air war, craft across the Atlantic to Can- slated for relocation at Comox,
419's casualty list was a long one. ada. Accordingly the maritime B.C, after a short period at North
Having formerly manned 129 air- aspect of training was given special Bay, but a change of plan resulted
craft lost on operations, 618 air- emphasis. in the continuance of its operations
crew were killed or presumed dead, On 22 May a party of main- at the Ontario base. Redesignated
197 became prisoners of war, one tenance and servicing personnel 419 AW ( F) Squadron, it was
died while a P.O.W,, 25 evaded were airlifted to Lagens, in the equipped with CF-100 jet fighters
capture and returned to England, Azores. Ten days later, ten crews and given the twofold responsibil-
two escaped their captors, 22 were made their last take-off from ity of carrying out all-weather
listed as safe, and four (all R.A.F.) Middleton as their Lancasters got interceptions and conducting its
were categorised under "fate airborne on the first lap of the own training in that field,
unknown". flight home via St. Mawgan and In August 1957 the "new Moose-
Moose Squadron gunners chalked the Azores. On 4 June another 10 men" flew their CF-100s to Ger-
up 14 official kills, one probable crews departed. All 20 made the many, joining Canada's Air Divi-
( a second was unofficial), and long hop without incident. sion in the N.A.T.O. team at Baden
three damaged ( another six were Shortly after their arrival at Soellingen. This is their home to-
never confirmed). In addition, it Debert, N.S., crews were sent on day, from which the cry "Beware
was possible that a further half- leave pending the decision as to the Moose!" is borne on the whine
dozen were destroyed, those hav- the squadron's future disposition. of Orendas instead of Merlins as
ing been claimed by gunners whose Approximately a month later an in yesteryear.
own aircraft were downed during order was issued declaring that the Vastly changed though it may
the combats in question. unit was to reassemble on 15 July be in function, equipment and per-
One of the R.C.A.F.'s most high- and begin training on 10 August sonnel, 419 has the same proud
ly decorated units, 419 numbered for duty in the Far East. It was to past to live up to, the same wealth
among its awards for valour a Vic- be a heavy-bomber squadron of of tradition to uphold. Intangibles
toria Cross, 4 D.S.O.s, 3 Bars to No. 661 Wing, "Tiger" Force, based like these give no little stimulus to
the D.F.C., 150 D.F.C.s, 35 D.F.M.s, at Yarmouth. fulfilment of the prime responsibil-
1 M.C. and a number of mentions- Training had scarcely begun ity borne by an all-weather inter-
in-despatches, foreign awards, and when events at Hiroshima and ceptor unit. Undoubtedly much of
other honours. Nagasaki precipitated the end in 419's motivation arises from a dis-
the Pacific. Ten days after the offi- tinctive trade-mark, one quite pos-
HOMEWARD BOUND cial surrender, an order appeared sibly unique among flying units the
Three days before V-E day stating that 419 Squadron was to world over the popular name of
there came the first inkling that disband. The disbandment was ef- its original-'come-legendary leader
something interesting was in store fective on 5 September. adopted as its own. Both in spirit
for 419 besides a victory celebra- and in name, therefore, the legend
tion. Added that day to the already In the spring of 1954 the Moose of The Moose lives on.
intensive aerial training programme re-appeared on the aerial scene,
were several maritime cross- and at a most likely location. Its THE END
THE ROUNDEL
Some Like It Hot
A new challenge for R.C.A.F. Vegreville, Alta,, was burning at mont, N amao's construction en-
fire fighters was successfully met the rate of two million cubic feet gineering officer, was in charge of
last March when a four-man crew of gas per day. Within three min- the operation. Warrant Officer 0.
Kleppe, station fire chief, headed
from Station Namao was sent out utes of their arrival the R.C.A.F. the fire fighters. It is believed this
to stop a natural gas well-head fire. crew extinguished the fire with is the first time R.C.A.F. men and
Company engineers estimated foamite and dry chemicals. equipment have been used to stop
that the fire, 20 miles northeast of Squadron Leader R. W. La- such a fire.
TOP GUN
An interest. in shooting, acquired Capital of Canada Open. Then,
while stationed at R.C.A.F. Station looking for new skeetshooting
Goose Bay, has resulted in an Air worlds to conquer, he sojourned to
Force officer becoming one of the the U.S.A. where he promptly won
three titles at the Empire State
top skeet shots in the world.
Open at Rochester. He was also
For the past 10 years Sqn. Ldr. re-selected as a member of the All-
r \ ti
B. C. Hartman, who is now sta-
tioned at A.F.H.Q., has had a win-
ning way with guns. In 1949 he
American Skeet team. At the end
of 1958 the National Skeetshoot-
ing Association, which compiles the
\AY 1959 19
BEK (MBM - BE
lM 3y4eHMe pyCCoro A3b1Ka B
J T HAS been said that "one lan- for interested persons. The course students' disposal. The students,
guage makes a wall, but it takes began on 1 October 1958 with 18 representing a cross-section of sta-
two to make a gate". If such is the students turning up for the open- tion personnel, both military and
case, then numerous gates are ing bell. Classes are held twice civilian, are learning written and
gradually being opened at R.C.A.F. weekly from 1900 to 2100 hours. spoken Russian through a func-
Station Centralia. Station Centralia is the ideal tional language laboratory.
Last fall several personnel of spot for such an undertaking be-
that station approached Flight cause the R.C.A.F.'s Language ELECTRONIC AIDS
Lieutenant D. A. Dolan, Director School is located there. With the
of Language Training at Centralia permission of the Commanding Electronic equipment such as
and formerly O.C. of the Tri- Officer, the school's elaborate facil- tape recorders, pronunciary record-
Service Russian Language School ities, which compare favourably ing and play-back card machines,
in Ottawa, requesting that he inau- with those of any educational insti- and intercommunication equip-
gurate a Russian language course tution in North America, are at the ment are used throughout the
Centralia's Russian language class (1. to r.): Flying Officer ]. M. Ananny, Sgt. ]. P. Pepin, Cpl. C. R. Tomlinson, Miss
D. Gordon, Flt. Lt. D. A. Dolan (course director), Miss I. D. Stewart, Cpl. J. Dragomir, Sgt. W. G. Gagne, Cpl. P. F. Kendrick.
h h
• I 1
,, . .
\\ "
II II 't 4
)o 7s
11 II :7 •J
Pp
e :
t:
.-r-
J" I }
y &,
dip }F 9'' f';:)
Ro e
' -
Y IMC
TpanuM, UHrapMo.
training. One of the most advanced pause, records his own response. Cpl. J. Dragomir at work.
aids is the language laboratory On playback he has an immediate
which makes possible individual comparison between the "perfect"
and simultaneous instruction to as and the "not-so-perfect". He can the imposing name of Ellamae
many as 12 students. In this room compare and evaluate as many Pronunciary Record and Playback.
there are separate cubicles each times as he wishes; or if he prefers A student can select any number
equipped with a microphone, ear- he can again listen to the "master", of cards, each with a different word
phones and a double channel tape making a new recording of his own or sentence printed on it, and feed
recorder with non-erasable master version while automatically eras- it into the machine. The audio por-
tape. Each booth is electrically ing his previous attempts. tion of this machine transmits, in
connected to the master control. Russian, the sentence printed on
This booth system of instruction HELPS WITH GRAMMAR the card, thus giving the student
aims at the improvement of a stu- practise in aural comprehension.
dent's ability to understand and In addition, this laboratory The student can also make his own
produce spoken Russian. method is as useful in teaching cards to compare his pronunciation
An outstanding feature of the grammar as it is in instilling proper with the correct pronunciation as
functional laboratory method of Russian pronunciation and intona- demonstrated by the machine.
instruction is that it makes use of tion. It copes with two major prob- The purpose of the course is to
the library method, often called lems of Russian grammar instruc- train the students to become as
the "individual study approach tion; the need for more exercise proficient as possible in under-
method". In this system every stu- material than is given in non-lab standing, reading, speaking and
dent booth contains facilities for classrooms, and the need for a writing Russian, in that order of
the student himself to operate and transition from the theoretical mas- priority. The degree of proficiency
control his own master, which in tery of a grammar point to an abil- acquired is dually dependent upon
this case is a master tape. Even ity to apply the point orally with the drive and ability of the indivi-
apart from normal class hours the ease. This system of instruction dual student and the method of
student may enter the booth room directly attacks the failing implied instruction. The total classroom
at any time in the evening for pri- by the frequently heard criticism instruction over a ten month pe-
vate study. Just as some students "he studied Russian for a year but riod is 160 hours. Students spend
will read a text once and others can hardly speak it". approximately the same amount of
will re-read it five times, so the Dr. G. Stavraky, M.D., a native time in private study. This is in
student can progress entirely at his Russian, and presently on staff at contrast to the Army Language
own rate of learning with as much the University of Western Ontario, School in Monterey, California,
repetition as he wishes, and with recorded all of these master tapes and similar institutes where stu-
nothing to stop him bu his ow from initial phonetics to excerpts dents spend 2400 hours in the
ambition and talent. The student from Russian geography, history classroom and approximately 1000
liste.s to a pre-recorded master, and literature. hours on homework during the 10
and simultaneously, during the Another electronic device has month course.
21
Content-wise, the course re- vocabulary to converse on non- versity that a pass mark on the
volves around two fundamentals: technical topics. The stress is deli- Centralia course will be accepted
1. an understanding of Russian berately placed on the interpreta- by the university in lieu of a matri-
grammar tion of spoken and written Russian culation subject, thus permitting
2. the active usage of a basic the sergeant to enter Queen's in
in contrast to conversation because
2500 word vocabulary. the fall.
there would be little opportunity Since Russian language courses
No larger vocabulary is at- for the students to keep their con-
tempted because students in a are becoming more popular at uni-
Russian course invariably notice versational ability in practise. Con- versities and colleges in Canada,
their capacity for constantly as- versely, unlimited opportunity Flt. Lt. Dolan hopes that next fall
similating new vocabulary, new exists for practise in reading the dependents' children of high school
phrases etc. is, sooner or later, sub- printed word and relistening to the age will also attend the language
ject to the law of diminishing re- course tapes which the graduates course. By so doing, the high school
turns. Limiting the vocabulary to retain. However, the laboratory students will begin early the cul-
2500 basic words, frequently re- system, by its very nature, will pro- tural experience of acquiring an-
peated, gives the student an attain- duce a graduate conversationally other language and will be able to
able objective; he doesn't feel that at ease within the limit of the 2500 continue this study when they go to
for every new word learned he has word basic Russian vocabulary. institutions of advanced learning.
forgotten several old ones. Although the course was ini- Every station in the Air Force
tiated solely for the purpose of has a wide selection of off-duty
PRACTICAL VALUE giving personnel the satisfaction activities to provide recreation and
and sense of accomplishment entertainment for its personnel,
At the end of the course the stu- which comes with the mastery of but only at R.C.A.F. Station Cen-
dents will have a sound knowledge another language, for at least one tralia can there be listed among
of Russian grammar, a reading and of the students the course will be these activities the fascinating
aural interpretation vocabulary of of practical value. Sgt. W. G. Gagne and challenging task of learning
2500 words and sufficient active has been informed by Queen's Uni- Russian.
Around the Ellamac pronunciary record and playback, I. to r.: Miss D. Gordon,
Sgt. W. J. Gagne, Cpl. J. Dragomir, F/O J.M. Ananny.
•
SCHOOL DAZE
•
One pound of learning requires ten
pounds of common sense to apply
it-Persian Proverb.
22 THE ROUNDEL
Equipped originally with Douglas
Bostons, the squadron converted to
['rs sear, as the R.C.A.. cete- and the Hon. J. Angus MacLean, R.C.A.F. fighter wing during the
brates its 35th birthday, it looks D.F.C., Minister of Fisheries. Second W arid War and now heads
back over a life of achievements. Five people whose association A.D.C.; and Air Vice Marshal C.
Beginning with a handful of men with aviation totals 200 years M. McEwen, C.B., M.C., D.F.C., a
and flimsy aircraft, it is now pre- were among those paying tribute fighter pilot in the First World
paring to take its first steps into to the Air Force at R.C.A.F. Sta- War and A.O.C. of No. 6 Bomber
the missile age. tion St. Hubert. These aviation Group in the Second World War.
At R.C.A.F. units across the notables were: Air Commodore J. Typical of the celebrations car-
country people who have contri- S. Scott, M.C., A.F.C., with the ori- ried out at various stations, was
buted greatly to Canadian avia- ginal regimental number, R.C.A.F. the ceremony held at R.C.A.F.
tion, from the historic flight of No. 1, who commanded the Cana- Station Foymount, where over 200
1909 through two world wars and dian Air Force 1921-22; Air Mar- guests from the surrounding com-
up to the present time, helped to shal C. R. Siemon, C.B., C.B.E., munity attended. Highlight of the
commemorate the occasion last former chief of the air staff and programme was the cutting of a
month. now deputy commander NORAD; birthday cake and a presentation
A special A.F.HQ. anniversary Hon. Air Cdre. J. A. D. McCurdy, to Sqn. Ldr. G. H. R. Phillips
dinner, hosted by Air Marshal M.B.E., first British subject to fly (ret.) by Wing Cdr. H. E. Smith,
Hugh Campbell, C.B.E. welcomed in the British Commonwealth; Air A.F.C., commanding officer. Sqn.
among the head table guests the Vice Marshal W. R. MacBrien Ldr. Phillips, whose flying record
Rt. Hon. Vincent Massey, C.H., O.B.E, who commanded the first is almost as old as the history of
24 THE ROUNDEL
flight in Canada, was presented
with a silver tray. His son, Ldr.
J. H. Phillips, D.F.c;;., came from
Trenton to help pay tribute to his
dad.
Warrant Officer P. C. Redgrave
gave an address tracing the history
of the R.C.A.F. from its inception
in 1924 with references to Cana-
dian fliers of the First World War. 1
:.
Lethbridge mayor Cliff Black fires first rock to open R.C.A.F. Association
:
iixt
Sith Annual Bonspiel. His sweepers are Group
U.S.A.F. Minneapolis,
Capt. C. G. Ruttan, R.C.A.F. Station Cold Lake, and Col. A. Schwab,
THE ROUNDEL
had been met. The project, there-
fore can only be termed a complete
success.
As in most success stories, team-
work and co-operation were the
essential elements. In the beginning
the Association's administrative
sub - committee, composed of
A/V/M F. W. Wait, George Ault
and Jack Gray, investigated the
terms under which such a book
could be written and published.
In liaison with A/V/M J. G.
Kerr, G/C W. L. Gillespie, G/C Charter members of No. 441 (Barrie) Wing pose with president H. E. Partridge
(front centre) after a meeting in February at which the wing charter was presented
G. F. Jacobsen and W /C F. by A/C J. B. Harvey. Organized last year the new wing now has 75 members. On
W. Hitchins of the R.C.A.F. Mr. Partridge's right is Group Capt. F. R. West, R.C.A.F. Station Camp Borden C.O.
they successfully completed an
agreement with Messrs. Clarke
Irwin and Company, Ltd., and the members and the public in their tended to make the success of the
author, Mr. Leslie Roberts. The communities. The R.C.A.F. placed project a more satisfying one.
assistance and co-operation given a special order with the Associ- The first reaction to "There
Mr. Roberts is acknowledged in his ation for copies for station libra- Shall Be Wings" has been most
preface to the book and the list is a ries and for sale through R.C.A.F. encouraging. The consensus is that
good indication of the great num- canteens. The National Office re- Mr. Roberts has presented a Su-
bers of persons it was necessary to ceived these orders and arranged perbly written account of the first
contact and talk to in the prepara- distribution. 35 years of the R.C.A.F. The
tion of a history of this kind. To pretend that all went smooth- R.C.A.F. Association is grateful to
Equally important to the success ly from start to finish would be him, to Clarke, Irwin and Com-
of the whole project was the co- indeed an untruth but the de- pany Limited and to the R.C.A.F.
operation of the Association Wings lays, misunderstandings and errors for joining with the Association in
across Canada in ordering quanti- which did occur were met in most making this Anniversary Year pro-
ties of the book to sell to their instances gracefully and have ject such a rewarding success.
= ¥ 'I
s' s < J
'
' I
~~ ,I
I -
+
Stepping out in spring's finest fashions, these ladies held the spotlight at the Second
Annual Fashion Show and Tea held by the Ladies Auxiliary of No. 433 (Renfrew)
Wing. Proceeds of the successful event were given to the Wing's Air Cadet Fund.
28 THE ROUNDEL
a rope. She lost her grip and fell
into the fast flowing river. Cadet
Larkins plunged into the river and
was successful in pulling Miss
Bassani to the bank where she was
assisted to safety. However, Cadet
Larkins had so expended himself
that he could no longer fight the
swift-flowing current and he was
drowned.
Earlier recognition of Cadet
Larkins' brave act was the award
of the Royal Humane Society's
medal for bravery.
THE POUND!EL
30
a rope. She lost her grip and fell
into the fast flowing river. Cadet
Larkins plunged into the river and
was successful in pulling Miss
Bassani to the bank where she was
assisted to safety. However, Cadet
Larkins had so expended himself
that he could no longer fight the
swift-flowing current and he was
drowned.
Earlier recognition of Cadet
Larkins' brave act was the award
of the Royal Humane Society's
medal for bravery.
THE POUND!EL
30
The Royal Canadian Air Force Benevolent Fund was established in order to assist serving
and former members of the R.C.A.F. and their dependents in time of financial distress.
SERVING PERSONNEL can obtain full information from their units' Orderly Rooms.
FORMER MEMBERS can obtain it from:
I
I
Answers to "What's the Score?"
1: ( a) 2: (c) 3: (a) 4: (d)
5: (c) 6: (b) 7: (d) 8: (c)
9: (c) 10: (a) 11: (b) 12: ( d)
13: (a) 14: (a) 15: (c) 16: ( d)
17: (b) 18: (c) 19: (c) 20: (b)
The pipe band from R.C.A.F!s No. 1 Fighter Wing on parade at N.A.T.O.
anniversary celebrations in Frankfurt, Germany.
I '
32 TH