Metz, France

Unknown track originated in ADIZ heading west. SB-S live scrambled on track number YJ09. Track believed to have crossed border.. SB-S intercepted YJ09 but was unable to get skin numbers; only able to identify as RCAF Sabre aircraft. YJ09 later identified as SG21 on special mission.

Very little doing. All Wings preparing for exercise "Full Play". This exercise was an air only offensive – defensive between 2 ATAF and 4 ATAF. 61 Squadron participated in controlling all 1 Air Division aircraft and as well had a self-controlled ground defence alert. One T-33 did an emergency belly landing at Stuttgart monitored only by YJ.

"General Alert" called by Salesman on exercise "Full Play". Report letter 61/S55.01.45 17 Jun. Considerable communication jamming this date on exercise.

Exercise continues – communications jamming intermittently throughout the day. Two or three minor emergencies. All aircraft landed safely.

At approximately 1514Z all lines to 1 Wing went out as part of exercise. Lines stayed out for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, during which time a T-33 was airborne to relay messages. At 1759Z exercise "Full Play" was completed. YJ went on reduced manning for weekend.

Normal activities resumed. Very little flying.

T80 unserviceable for approximately 2 hours due to a burned out coil in turning mechanism. Very little flying.

Normal weekend GCI/GCAs at 4 Wing washed out as their GCA in on annual maintenance.

Radar section took over all but 3 consoles for 7 hours today and 8 ½ hours 10 Jun for installation of new inter-console marking.

Regular Tuesday Scrimmage exercise with FAF cancelled. Live scramble of CH-A on track Y-36 in ADIZ. Ident VC386 RCAF from 2 (F) Wing with radio trouble. YJ requested to aid in search for overdue Swedish Airlines DC-6. Aircraft later found to have crashed 20 miles south of Stuttgart. All passengers safe.

Early scramble of alert aircraft from 4 Wing handed off to Barber control for practice intercepts. New 3 Wing telescramble circuit installed and checked. First Stage-Coach-Switch exercise airborne. This exercise for Harlequin training of AW fighters. Generally 2 or 3 fighters against 2 or 3 targets.

Change to auxiliary power for short run and checks. Very little flying.

F/O Ward AS/FtrC reported to squadron from RCAF Station Moisie, Quebec.

One live scramble on unknown track YJ01. ST-N identified track YJ-01 as 1 USAF B-66.

Only alert aircraft flying during day. Nil night flying.

Three Belgian Air Force controllers reported on TD at 61 Squadron to receive LCC intercept training and practice.

Little activity except during evening shift.

2 Wing alert aircraft on hot scramble only. Runways under repair. Two USAF aircraft in emergency monitored only by YJ. Very little day flying – extensive evening flying.

Live scramble on YD-T on YJ track 9 unknown. Track 9 identified as USAF T-33 #TR898. Second live scramble track 140. Track faded prior to intercept. Fairly heavy night flying schedule.

Poor weather – little flying.

Weather improved but still little flying as most squadrons are in danger of exceeding requirements in monthly flying. F/Ls Collier, Flannigan, and F/Os Finley, Hostyn, Maritz and Marlin reported for training as controllers.

Live scramble of YD-T on aircraft flying back and forth over 4 Wing. Aircraft turned out to be a T-33 which later landed at 4 Wing. Two emergencies, one F-86 25268 intercepted by RB-T later landed at Spangdahlen. Second aircraft lost. Given steers and landed OK at Sembach. Extensive night flying.

Little activity except during evening shift. First of Belgian CF-100, MkV controller by YJ. Later information advised YJ not to control any more Belgians until approved by Air Division.

Surveillance provided for Jump Moat 4. Transatlantic CF-100 flight. Jump Moat landed at 3 Wing. A total of 14 aircraft in all.

Quiet day. Surveillance given to 6 USAF F-100s going to Wheelus AFB, North Africa.

Small fire in Ops Room caused by transformer leaking oil. Very little damage. Lights off for 15 minutes while transformer repaired. 1 (F) Wing aircraft deployed to Pferdsfled during runway repairs.

Some trouble with T80 drive motor and lacometer. YJ off the air. Scrambled aircraft being successfully handed off to American units.

Techs advise height finder #3 unserviceable, expected to be off 2 or 3 days. Parts for frame needed. Light flying activity.

Considerable flying with successful hand-offs to RAF units to the north.

Normal activity, no unusual occurrences. F/O Finley reported in fro SHAPE. A recently commissioned Fighter Controller.

Live scramble YD-T on YJ track 18. Identified as USAF C-130. T80 unserviceable for approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, also four consoles went out after bulk power supply failure.

Live scramble on YJ track 16 by HM-P identified as USAF C-130. Night flying programme quite heavy with hand-offs made to both RAF and USAF units.

T80 unserviceable. Techs advise that a new Tacho generator needed and T80 should be placed on standby until the equipment is flown in from England.

Regular monthly exercise Argus started on schedule. Results on Argus not as good as usual because of T80 unserviceability. First night Argus exercise carried out.

T80 unserviceable for 8 minutes again with drive motor trouble. Continued good results with GCI/GCA letdowns into American bases.

A section of four Sabres were diverted in the air on an unknown track that came out of Switzerland. Track faded prior to intercept but it appeared to land at Rhein Main and was later identified on the ground.

SG-A diverted from practice mission on YJ26, a track that was in the ADIZ. Intercept successful and track identified as a USAF C-123. Dora having communication trouble and called on YJ to give increased surveillance in their area. T80 special maintenance for 20 minutes, everything seems in order.

Squawk 4 near Etain air base. Contacted on 121.5 and found to be SD36 low on fuel. He was given vectors and landed at 2 (F) Wing. T80 off for 20 minutes special maintenance.

Quite extensive flying continued. F/O Lewellyn-Thomas transferred to Station Edgar.

Accepted hand-off of American F-100 section to intercept unknown. Intercept successful. Target identified as 1 USAF F-100. T80 unserviceable for one hour, Resolver Power Unit trouble early in evening then later for 1 hour 30 minutes trouble with magnetron.

Two hours 30 minutes special maintenance on T80. Normal flying day. F/O JV Ralph, Squadron Adjutant, SOS on transfer to AFHQ.

Very lively day as far as alert aircraft were concerned. Five sections were scrambled and handed to Dora control for border surveillance inside ADIZ. Lives discontinued at 1415Z.

Little activity.

Little activity.

Heavy flying resumed. CH-B diverted to intercept YJ9. Identified as 1 USAF T-33. Logroll asking for warning tell on TU-104 overflight, USAF now required to intercept all TU-104 aircraft. T80 off for 10 minutes – fuse blown in Resolver Power Unit.

Madcap 33 called in on channel 7 squawking 4, has had a flame out north of 2 (F) Wing. Re-lighted successful, and landed at 2 Wing.

Heavy jet stream running west to east over area, all controllers warned to watch out in case of border violations. Mechanical jamming picked up east of us, a USAF practice mission.

Jet stream warning still out – winds up to 170 knots. Squawk 4, ten miles east of Sembach. SG-C3 compressor stall landed safely at base. Heavy flying.

SB-R1 compressor stall given close surveillance and steers toward 4 Wing nearest base. Re-lighted affected at 4,000 feet and returned to 3 Wing.

Squawk 4 south of Dijon. Aircraft USAF F-100 short of fuel. Was advised of nearest airports but elected to go to Chaumont. A GCI/GCA was arranged at Chaumont but GCA was unable to pick up aircraft on their radar. YJ continued to assist him until he broke cloud ¼ mile west of runway in Chaumont. Aircraft flamed out on final but made it in safely. YJ credited with probable save.

Weather poor, little flying. YJ passing 2 hourly weather reported to Wings, also supplying weather information especially positions of thunderstorms by telephone. F/O GR Shaw, Telecom Officer, reported to Unit from 1 R&CS Clinton. F/O Robertson, Adjutant, reported in, also, from AFHQ.

As per entry of 28 Jul 58

Live scramble YD-G on unknown track 05. Identified as French F-84F which was lost. Small fire in Ops Room – no damage.

T80 unserviceable for 3 hours triggering trouble. YD-T scrambled live on unknown track 20. Identified as 2 USAF F-100s.

YJ on fixed coil annual maintenance, little flying except hand-offs to USAF and RAF units.

YJ on fixed coil annual maintenance, little flying except hand-offs to USAF and RAF units.

YJ on fixed coil annual maintenance, little flying except hand-offs to USAF and RAF units.

YJ on fixed coil annual maintenance, little flying except hand-offs to USAF and RAF units.

YJ on fixed coil annual maintenance, little flying except hand-offs to USAF and RAF units.

Maintenance completed. Still little flying activity.

Monthly Argus Exercise. Exercise Argus Day discontinued at 110Z because of weather, however night Argus still on. Only four sections of CF-100s on night Argus as 1 (F) Wing aircraft cancelled.

Fairly heavy flying day. RAF Squadron deployed at 1 (F) Wing, requested control but after much radio trouble decided to do mutuals. One squawk 4 intercepted and let in to 1 Wing with no radios.

Little flying during the day but this picked up considerably for evening shift. SBR live scrambled for emergency but was too late so another aircraft in area got there first. SBR then diverted to track coming out of ADIZ, but this track was also intercepted before they got to it and identified as a Scandinavian Airliner.

Techs request that Scan Plan be done on MPS-11 for remainder of week.

Four hours fixed coil maintenance and clean-up. Live scramble YD-T and HM-Q on unknown track 44. Intercepted and identified as USAF B-66.

No flying most of day because of weather. YD-T scrambled live to intercept USAF aircraft short of fuel. No intercept made, aircraft landed safely at Chaumont.

YD-U live scramble on track coming out of ADIZ. Track identified as USAF RF-84Fs. TU-104 overflights continue Prague to Brussels special World Fair route. USAF T-33 requested close surveillance as his navigation lights not working and was later given a GCI/GCA into Chaumont.

Signal strength low on T80. Poor pickups. T80 remaining on air until parts arrive from Nancy to repair MPS-11. Parts arrived and T80 was taken by Techs and adjusted in approximately 10 minutes.

Little flying.

Off the air for about 30 minutes during day because of power changeovers.

Weekly maintenance on fixed coil. Some successful hand-offs made to RAF and USAF units. Quiet day.

3 Wing aircraft in emergency with engine trouble. Controlled by YJ for short while then handed to Sembach control and landed safely at Zweibrucken.

One live scramble handed off to Logroll. Later flying cancelled because of weather.

Quiet day.

Surveillance for Sabre aircraft returning from gunnery meet.

Little flying. Surveillance for navigation trips only.

Mid-air collision over 2 (F) Wing. Most flying cancelled and all available transport aircraft being flown to 2 Wing to assist in evacuation of personnel injured when one of the CF-100s in mid-air collision crashed into hospital. Extra security guards posted on power plant, transmitter site and receiver site – possibility of trouble during time leading up to forthcoming French Elections.

T80 off for 2 hours emergency maintenance.

Quiet except for night navigation trips. Getting near end of month and squadrons have required flying in. F/L EA Thompson reported in from ADCHQ and left almost immediately on TD to Locking, England for T80 course.

Normal day.

Spangdahlem and Etain airfields closed for runway repairs. CK-K in some emergency. Ordered to squawk 4 and use distress frequency. Given close surveillance and assisted in to 1 Wing. Landed safely. Heavy night flying with successful hand-offs to RAF units.

Normal day.

Twenty minutes special maintenance on T80. Trouble with timebase generator.

Increasing number of non-alert IDF aircraft being scrambled to work 2 against 2 practice intercepts.

Off the air 4 hours for weekly fixed coil maintenance. Little flying.

Little activity.

Little activity.

Little activity.

Weather below limits for practice scrambles for a complete day.

Nil flying.

Search for suspected aircraft crash in FD2520 area. Later located by Frenchman. Aircraft was from Chaumont. Live scramble of ST-O on unknown track. Track faded prior to intercept believed to be 2 USAF B-57s.

YD-T live scramble on SOS. Later reverted to practice scramble, SOS was faulty IFF. Increased security, Duty Controller now has to wear sidearms while on duty during night shifts.

Monthly Argus day. Extensive cross and warning telling with Rampart on Argus tracks proved highly successful. Another YJ first during this exercise. YJ 24 (F/O Janes) controlling a section of Jacket aircraft successfully completed intercepts on FAF Vautour bombers. First aircraft of this type to be intercepted by this unit.

Quiet day.

Quiet day.

T80 off the air because of leak in waveguide. MPS-11 serviceable on IFF only.

Quiet day.

YD-T 3 having hydraulic trouble diverted to Marville. 514 Squadron, F-86 – call sign Panorama left Ramstein for 3 Wing. 440 Squadron then deployed from 3 Wing to Ramstein to replace them. Catfish 1 flew across the Iron Curtain on Navigation trip.

T80 on maintenance for 3 days. One SOS. Panorama Uniform 3, no radios, landed at 3 Wing.

Tone heard on 243.0 mcs. YJ answered, aircraft identified itself as Skiddo Pink. His #2 man had bailed out before aircraft crashed. Pilot picked up. 61 Squadron today had an inspection visit from A/V/M Wray, AOC 1 Air Division, his first since taking command.

Unit became Status 3 when all height finders went unserviceable.

Panorama section (F-86D) flew two sections using the Tripoli pattern for practice purposes as they are going there air firing shortly.

Live scramble SBR on Track 44 originating in the Buffer Zone. SBR unable to see target as it was fling in cloud.

T80 off the air to change trigger unit.

All night flying cancelled due to weather.

Flypast of RCAF aircraft – rehearsal over Metz Fair Grounds. Horseshoe Mike 2 (Pilot and Navigator) bailed out. Both OK.

Two tracks in ADIZ going NE, turned towards SW. Logroll identified them as Angelo Alpha 1 & 2. F/L Spiller returning from Canada after completing Junior Officer’s Administration Course.

Normal day activities.

Power plants were changed over, and thus affected the height finder and the IFF, both off approximately 20 minutes.

Power failure for approximately 1 minute, height finder again affected. F/O Carroll in Canada on Junior Officers Administration course starting today.

Another guard, this time at the power plant, accidentally discharged rifle. Fly past over Metz successful.

Quiet day.

Argus night exercise completed.

Two sections of Belgian CF-100s controlled by YJ. Two live scrambles, one handed-off to Logroll, no joy.

SBR scrambled live on SOS. T-33 under Italian radar control.

Very quiet day.

Section of CF-100s handed over to Logroll. HSG3 lost radios and squawked 4, landing at Marville safely. 2 Belgian CF-100s requested GCI/GCA practice returned to base without doing same because of the length of time to wait for direct hand-off line to be opened between YJ and Beauchain.

Chopstick Bravo section under Chowline control was 3 miles from East Germany in the ADIZ.

Two sections of Sabres handed off.

Search and Rescue helicopter scrambled for SOS, turned out to be aircraft with faulty parrot that landed at SO. Chaff dropped in HD0060 – HD4040.

Hornet Juliet 2 crashed off end of runway at ZW. Pilot taken to hospital with back injury. French aircraft crashed near Thionville, pilot bailed out OK. G/C Fawcett of AMC, visiting squadron for telecommunication inspection.

Normal days activities.

Successful hand-offs to RAF GCIs.

T80 off the air, returned later but not fully serviceable.

T80 again unserviceable because of oil trouble.

RBAF had two sections of CF-100 for YJ controls.

Exercise Sunbeam started, raids on England.

Exercise Sunbeam continues – Type 80 off 15 minutes for special maintenance.

Three aircraft aborted on early sunbeam exercise. Several aborts during the daytime on same exercise.

Exercise Sunbeam finished.

Stopgap Charlie diverted to Squawk 4. Two F-84, one having trouble, the other was leading him down. Hopscotch 103 – T-33 out of Marville lost his radio receivers – landed OK. An aircraft out of 4 Wing had faulty parrot which kept squawking 4. TU-104 plotted from LE4815 to Paris.

Visit by Mr. George Drew, Major General Kitching and party. TU-104 again plotted on flight in our area. HSQ diverted after Track 48, identifying as 2 F-100s.

Squawk 4 in DC5540 heading west. It was Springtime 223 under Chaumont control who had asked him to Squawk 4.

Practice scramble for CR Golf Hotel for Mr. Drew.

First of the Jump Moat aircraft (CF-100s) made contact at 1228Z on channel 11. Type 80 off the air for 2 hours, off the air again in the evening – the trouble being in the oil flow.

Not much flying.

Normal activities. F/O Janes departed on TD to Ramstein for 2 weeks cross training with USAF.

Aircraft from Air Division took part in operation Sentry Post against Luxembourg Ground Observer Corps. F/L Thorpe departed for Wheelus AFB North Africa for multiple control course with USAF.

CO recommended that 2 Fighter Marshalls be used owing to the heavy commitment of cross countries. Cartridge 40 Squawk 4 over Marville and flew triangular pattern. No radar sites picked up the SOS nor the triangular pattern. Heavy traffic in the Marville – Etain area. Cartridge 40 had Marville in sight at all times and landed safely.

YJ Status 3 for maintenance. Type 80 will not be back on the air until further notice. The oil heaters unable to cope with the outside temperatures. Night flying cancelled from all 4 Wings because of bad weather.

All Wings night flying cancelled because of weather.

French Air Force did a Squawk 4 in GC4545 for practice.

After several stoppages of the Type 80, it was taken off the air for maintenance.

YK Status 2 when unable to transmit on any VHF or UHF channels.

MPS-11 keeps tripping off. Techs trying to get the T80 going so they can work on the MPS-11. 1120 MPS-11 totally unserviceable. Became serviceable at 1431. Type 80 became serviceable at 1215Z. CO advised that T80 to be used only if there is night flying and the MPS-11 becomes unserviceable. F/L Tjeltveit departed on TD to Achern for cross training for 10 days with FAF.

ECM jamming 1- degrees wide 360 degrees from YJ with communications jamming on Channel 9 and 11 VHF. Three Valiants were having a jamming exercise with Uedem.

Normal day.

Operation Argus took place. The night Argus Exercise was 3 hours ahead of schedule.

Type 80 to be used only when flying from the Wings is in progress. The T80 was also off the air from 1310Z to 1930Z for emergency maintenance.

Very little air activity.

Quiet day.

Squawk 4 intercepted by JL-M and escorted to Toul. Aircraft turned out to be French F-100 instead of USAF as suspected and he landed at Nancy. Night flying again cancelled because of weather.

Weather marginal – very little flying.

Antenna replaced on height finder number 1. Another YJ first today YJ 3 (F/L Jewitt) controlled RB-T section to a successful intercept on a RAF Victor bomber. Weekly fixed coil maintenance time now changed from 0730Z on Wednesdays to 2300Z same day.

This unit on alert on operation Soft Spot V. This is a simulated Radiation exercise to test Squadron plan for atomic attack. Exercise lasted approximately 2 hours. Little flying – weather poor.

Weather poor – Nil flying.

Weather poor- Nil flying.

Weather lifted somewhat and normal flying resumed.

Soft Spot exercise on at 1 (F) Wing. Weather poor at 1 (F) Wing. Many aircraft being diverted. Two of these aircraft became lost, ran out of fuel and bailed out. Pilots safe. Another aircraft of F-100 in emergency intercepted by SD-N and led into Toul AFB. They were being controlled by West German Air Force controllers who have not had much experience as yet.

SB-B diverted to live scramble on Track 25 but track was identified prior to intercept. Considerable night flying and some hand-offs to RAF and USAF units.

YJ now accepting control of 8 to 10 sections of Belgian CF-100 aircraft per week. These aircraft are Canadian built Mark V CF-100s and very nice to work with. SG36 SOS near 3 Wing with radio trouble. USAF offered F-100s to intercept but this proved unnecessary. Aircraft landed safely. YJ asked to cover area 080 degrees to 120 degrees from US – USAF unit off the air.

Little flying – weather poor. F/L DE Popham died today in Landstuhl hospital as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident on 15 November.

HM-Q scrambled live and handed off to Dora – but track faded prior to intercept. All aircraft on easterly navigation trips under our surveillance now have to squawk flash at turning points – Air Division instruction. Operations Room filled with smoke on evening shift – traced to heating system. No damage.

YD-T scrambled on track 36 MM – unknown. Track 36 MM identified as USAF F-100s.

Normal day.

T80 has rumble in turntable and placed on emergency standby till further notice.

Little flying. Weather poor.

Poor weather. Nil flying.

Duke of Edinburgh overflew area and landed at 4 (F) Wing. Aircraft followed by radar across area.

T80 now serviceable again. Turntable trouble repaired. Little flying.

Continued light flying.

Picked up unusual IFF display showing 11 bars. Track intercepted as a possibility of double emergency but turned out to be a USAF-130 with faulty IFF.