Narrative Report
1 December 1955 to 31 May 1956
1 Dec 55
Runway icing at 3 and 4 Wings slowed operations at outset.
2 Dec 55
French aircraft out of St. Dizier reported parachute 3 to 4 miles east of Nancy field. JY controlled SA-16 on rescue aircraft which eventually aborted the mission because of weather in the search area. Heavy fog at night stopped all transportation; night reliefs delayed.
3 Dec 55
IFF on Type 80 unserviceable.
4 Dec 55
Weather too poor for operations all day. Trade Advancement given to FtrCops.
5 Dec 55
S/L E McArthur transferred to ADCHQ, St. Hubert, tour expired.
7 Dec 55
Log receiver installed on Type 80. Checked out as satisfactory. All receiver feed in lines from site to Ops Room reduced output to 6 MA to cut out cross feed which has been affecting air/ground communications. Lt. Col. Kelly and Lt. Col. Faunier of Aircent and Lt. Col. Laurent of 451 GCTA visited the unit.
8 Dec 55
Argus cancelled; weather over Europe too poor. Bomex commenced 1607Z ceased 2002Z.
10 Dec 55
Yardarm Zulu Alfa reported interference on 153.00 mcs.
11 Dec 55
USAF C-119 declared Pan Pan on 121.5 and was assisted to Spangdahlem by YJ. Weather continues poor; low ceilings and visibilities in snow showers.
13 Dec 55
Weather good. Exercise Track Toil. Handcuff 83 low on fuel eventually bailed out in position GD3328 at 0953.5Z. Pilot safe.
14 Dec 55
Increasing confidence of American sites in JY evidenced by increasing amount of business being handed off from Logroll for practice intercepts; a short but successful mission.
15 Dec 55
Emergency squawk in Chaumont area investigated by Strongbox Zulu Bravo on scramble live. Identified as F-84s out of Chaumont not in emergency.
16 Dec 55
Exercise Track Toil: Successful thanks to Ops Officer 1 (F) Wing who provided sections to replace those scheduled from 2 and 4 Wings in addition to his own commitment. USAF jet 35052 located and recovered to Landstuhl by YJ at the request of 12 AF ACC.
17 Dec 55
Weather again good. Zulu activity only.
19 Dec 55
Exercise Sword Slash.
21 Dec 55
Icing on runways; very little activity all day. All exercises cancelled. New power house still incomplete added to security rounds for evening and night shift checks.
22 Dec 55
Little activity. Weather deteriorating badly.
23 Dec 55
No activity because of weather.
24 Dec 55
Very little activity; weather too poor. Type 80 unserviceable at 1709Z.
25 Dec 55
Type 80 serviceable for 3 hours before further break down. Wave guide section needs repair which is possible in UK only. Will be unserviceable for two or three days.
26 Dec 55
Weather poor; little activity.
29 Dec 55
Weather which has continued poor since 26 Dec caused Handcuff 53 crash on landing at Gros Tenquin. Cross wind at 2 Wing and weather generally at 3 Wing caused both to divert to 4 Wing. Spare for Type 80 arrived at Gros Tenquin from Langar and was installed at 1959Z. Type 80 serviceable.
30 Dec 55
Wind storms over eastern France and South Germany. Very high winds experienced at the site but the T80 continued to rotate satisfactorily. Ops Room Surveillance and Control set-up changed. Scopes 4 and 5 are now for surveillance and scope 3 which used to be surveillance has become a control scope.
1 Jan 56
Wind storms continue but Type 80 still operating satisfactorily.
2 Jan 56
Small unservicabilities with Type 80 caused by power failure.
4 Jan 56
Weapon fire flight from Gros Tenquin to Rabat. Madcap 1, J, K, L airborne at 0750Z. 7623 F/O EH Miller (PersAdmin) arrived to take over duties as Adjutant.
5 Jan 56
Exercise Argus postponed until 12 Jan because of weather. Exercise Bomex cancelled. 49720 F/O GW Tahir-Ali (TechTel) arrived as numerical replacement for S/L E McArthur and will assume duties as Rad 1.
6 Jan 56
W/C Hillgartner and party of four Met Officers visited the site.
8 Jan 56
Captains Johns and Westfall, USAF, visited the site to discuss let-down procedures for Chaumont Air Base.
9 Jan 56
Additional UHF frequencies installed. Channel Four, 225.4 mcs; Channel Five, 269.8 mcs; Channel Six, 282.8 mcs. The weather continues poor and operations are limited.
10 Jan 56
Snow hampered operations. French Air Services strike ceased. In view of the intended release of many meteorological balloons, nicknames "Volleyball" from sites at Oberpfaffenhafen and Giebelstadt in West Germany by American agencies and because of the unknown responses which these balloons might evoke, Air Division called for an increase of the Alert defence force. Back-up Zulu sections at each of the Wings not holding down the normal Zulu commitment will come to readiness states at normal Zulu times. Two back-up sections will be at each of the applicable Wings. The first Volleyball was released from Giebelstadt at 2350Z.
11 Jan 56
The Type 80, which is missing its motor generator, was taken off the air during wind storms and replaced by MPS-11. VHF checks with neighboring USAF CRCs indicate that handovers of our Zulu aircraft will not be practicable until USAF VHF is peaked up. The first reaction to "Volleyball" was reported by a USAF CRP which carried track 508C, identified Hostile, headed toward a balloon at 1933Z
12 Jan 56
Exercise Argus. No. 1 MPS-14 taken off the air for special maintenance. "Volleyball" releases continue.
13 Jan 56
Limited "Volleyball" releases during the day. Captain Johns, USAF, who has been liaison officer with this unit concerning interim approach system for Chaumont Air Base, tried out the first approaches today under Yellowjack control. All runs were successful. Major Boyd of SHAPE and a party of four visited the site for familiarization.
16 Jan 56
Type 80 off the air for six monthly maintenance. MPS-11 back-up in use. After a lull in operation because of strong upper winds, "Volleyball" releases began with nine releases during the night.
17 Jan 56
Exercise Tuesday Scrimmage took place. This is an exercise in handover and cross-servicing between the RCAF and FAF. M Cogne and M Vincelet of SHAPE technical staff visited the site.
18 Jan 56
Type 80 back in use. Canberra overflight intercepted as one RAF B-29 with armament and discharging window. 2 ATAF to whom this was referred, were satisfied that this was one of their aircraft in spite of lack of flight plan.
19 Jan 56
Six "Volleyball" releases during the day. Good activity with USAF fighters on handover exercises. Handover of our Zulus to USAF CRCs again abortive owing to poor VHF at American sites.
20 Jan 56
Seven "Volleyballs" during the night, 11 releases during the day.
21 Jan 56
Weather deteriorating; little activity.
22 Jan 56
High winds experienced but did not affect rotation of Type 80. No activity all day.
23 Jan 56
Eleven "Volleyballs" but otherwise little business. Mr. Reid (Aircent) and Dr. Legett (Air Div.) visited the unit to witness a radar performance check.
24 Jan 56
Exercise Tuesday Scrimmage. No "Volleyballs". Ops Room closed 1700Z for 6 monthly maintenance.
25 Jan 56
No activity. Requirement for back-up Zulus dropped. Reaction to balloons has been negligible. Ops Room operational at 0600Z.
26 Jan 56
Squawk emergency by Jacket 43 when his wing, Jacket 44 flamed out was not seen by YJ. Jacket 44 relit successfully and landed at Sollingen. Ten "Volleyball" releases. Track 438 picked up by YJ at 245 NM range; heading east, Angels 50, speed 40 knots. Identified as a balloon and was seen later by USAF CRCs.
27 Jan 56
Sudden deterioration in weather resulted in the recall of most Wing aircraft. Handcuff Bravo 2 bailed out successfully. "Volleyball" back-up Zulus reinstated.
28 Jan 56
Ten "Volleyball" releases but no flying.
29 Jan 56
Six "Volleyball" releases but no flying.
30 Jan 56
11 "Volleyball" releases. Little activity as weather continues poor.
31 Jan 56
Weather continuing poor. Exercise Sword Slash cancelled. 17 "Volleyball" releases. Oil in bearing of MPS-11 froze rendering back-up radar unserviceable.
1 Feb 56
Beginning of a very cold spell. All receivers went off the air in the early afternoon when the fuel gelled in the feed lines of the generator diesel. Towing of the diesel to Air Division ME Section for thawing provided temporary relief but freezing occurred twice again during the night. Active controller strength was increased by two with the recall of 205636 F/O FDS Dicson and 16721 F/O EB Cooke of SASO Staff from liaison duties at 1er CATAC and 12 AF respectively for duty at Yellowjack.
2 Feb 56
Diesels again freezing resulting in unserviceabilities in landlines and height finders. Exercise Argus and Exercise Bomex cancelled. Weapon Fire flight from Marville to Rabat by 18 aircraft was afforded surveillance by Yellowjack and was without incident.
3 Feb 56
Cold continues. Little activity at the Wings. YJ managed to obtain some business from 12 AF. Cartridge Kilo who called for navigational assistance was located over Switzerland and recovered to base. Ten "Volleyball" releases.
4 Feb 56
French radar at Servance commenced calibration. YJ acting as liaison between French and American sites. Good flying weather, clear and cold, and lots of activity.
5 Feb 56
Weather poor again; very little activity.
6 Feb 56
Calibration of Servance again. Surveillance of ten USAF F-86D’s from Marseilles to Landstuhl. Recall of all aircraft during afternoon owing to freezing rain.
7 Feb 56
12 Air Force Zulus inoperative; their ACC requested our Zulus to operate as far east as possible for hand off if necessary. Water supply frozen; began hauling water from Air Division by motor vehicle.
8 Feb 56
Calibration at Servance continued. Recall of all aircraft again necessary during afternoon.
9 Feb 56
Severe cold continues. Operations and administrative huts so cold that Herman Nelson heaters were brought in to supply additional heat. Snow storms during the day.
10 Feb 56
Strongbox Zulu Bravo on liver scramble for track 607 lost #4 aircraft as a result of a flame out. Pilot bailed out successfully. Track 607 identified prior to intercept.
17 Feb 56
Europe’s coldest winter weather in 60 years continues; diesels are still stopping at intervals as supply lines freeze. F/L Greenhalgh and five other CE officers on inspection tour of site.
20 Feb 56
Cold spell continues. "Volleyball" releases suspended for political reasons. YJ practice alert called at 2045Z.
21 Feb 56
Weather poor but a little warmer. Exercise Tuesday Scrimmage cancelled. One calibration run for Servance. Lt. Donahue and Mr. Applebury of 4 ATAF visited the unit for a conference with Rad O.
25 Feb 56
Cold weather back again. T80 broke down for 3.50 hours. Strongbox Zulu Alfa reported interference on 153.0 mcs.
27 Feb 56
Early Bird flight by USAF B-29 Ferret aircraft to check location of interfering station on 153.0 mcs. No joy.
28 Feb 56
All 3 Wing aircraft including Zulus stood down for remainder of day as water in fuel suspected.
29 Feb 56
3 (F) Wing confirmed water in their fuel but filled their Zulu commitment. Stage One of Air Division Pre-Alert Plan implemented in preparation for Exercise "Bear Claw", a SHAPE sponsored Command Post Exercise. The initial effects at this unit were insignificant since preliminary increases of preparedness are not feasible at a unit which is already at an advanced state of readiness. It was not until the exercise was formally declared in progress on 6 Mar 56 that the full effects were felt.
1 Mar 56
Weapon Fire flight from Gros Tenquin to Rabat began at 0900Z. Three sections of 430 Squadron were given surveillance on a flight which was without incident. Ops Crew 2 visiting 602 AC&W Squadron, USAF. Exercise Bear Claw: Stage Two of Pre-Alert plan implemented. Exercise Bomex took place on a very limited scale owing to the cancellation of most forces because of bad weather.
2 Mar 56
Live scramble for Track 460 broken off to investigate an emergency squawk. Mission unsuccessful owing to target landing at Luxembourg prior to intercept. Squawk was accidental. Aerobatic team disaster: All four of the team were lost as a result of a collision during an aerobatic maneuver. Exercise Bear Claw: Stage Three Phase One of Pre-Alert plan.
4 Mar 56
MPS-11 unserviceable. High winds threatened Type 80 and cancelled all flying. Four French F-84s penetrated the ADIZ as a result of a navigational error in high winds.
5 Mar 56
Off the air for 13 minutes when MPS-11 broke down while the Type 80 was stopped for change of IFF antenna. Early Bird flight was without result. Exercise Bear Claw: All units readying for peak preparedness as the reinforced Alert, Stage Three, Phase Two was implemented. G/C Cowan, OC of the Bristol Flight, Langar, were conducted on a familiarization tour by the Commanding Officer.
6 Mar 56
Good weather gave plenty of activity with our own and USAF fighters. Exercise Tuesday Scrimmage. New video map overlay giving range and azimuth markers and the locations of major towns and jet airfields was installed and checked as satisfactory. Exercise Bear Claw began at 0025Z and kept going at a rapid pace all day. The CO and COpsO are doing 12 hour shifts as Duty Controller.
7 Mar 56
Exercise Bear Claw: Very active day again with the site attacked at 0957Z and put out of action until 1045Z.
8 Mar 56
Live scramble for Strongbox Zulu Bravo on Track 88 in MF5030 heading SSE at an estimated altitude of 45,000 feet plus. Identified by intercept as one USAF B-57 serial number 464. Exercise Bear Claw: Very active day again with more ground attacks and isolated A-bomb attacks. MPS-11 and one MPS-14 deployed to Fort de Guise.
9 Mar 56
One calibration run for French radar at Servance. Yellowjack recovered one lost USAF aircraft. Exercise Bear Claw: Paratroops drops during early morning. Kaiserslautern complex A-Bombed. Exercise ceased at 1300Z.
11 Mar 56
Type 80 off for seven day maintenance.
12 Mar 56
Selective telling commenced within 12 AF with the objective of reducing the amount of forward told traffic. Yellowjack will adhere to its own SOP in this matter and will not be affected.
13 Mar 56
Exercise Tuesday Scrimmage cancelled because of poor weather. Yellowjack tracked the flight of 11 F-100 aircraft from Keflavik to Bitburg in its final stages and logged a ground speed of 580K. Party of six officers, three from Air Division and three from FAF units, given the familiarization tour.
14 Mar 56
More snow.
15 Mar 56
Track 562 identified by intercept, Yardarm Zulu Delta on a live scramble, as one USAF F-86D, serial number 18493.
16 Mar 56
4 (F) Wing Zulus put out of action for 45 minutes by a landing mishap which wrote off three aircraft but injured nobody.
17 Mar 56
Type 80 back in service at 1152Z.
19 Mar 56
Compete calibration with French radar at Servance commenced. Members of SHAPE technical staff including M. Vincelet, are visiting this unit to witness the trials.
20 Mar 56
Tuesday Scrimmage. 1 Wing could not take part owing to oil in their hydraulics. Zulus were substituted. Checkerboard X-ray 2 had trouble with oil in his hydraulics but landed safely. 451 GCTA moving overnight from Metz to Achern in Germany. #2 MPS-14 unserviceable and unrepairable as there are no spares.
21 Mar 56
451 GCTA move completed: all lines checked satisfactorily. Exercise Tangle Time. One calibration run.
22 Mar 56
Calibration run with Canberra. Fighters under YJ control in the Berlin Corridor Section of the ADIZ are causing confusion with 615 AC&W and are the subject of several telephone calls between controllers. YJ arranged a "Welcome to Europe" party for 20 F-100 aircraft from Keflavik to Bitburg but this was called off at the request of 12 AF ACC.
23 Mar 56
20 USAF F-100 aircraft scheduled for yesterday arrived and were welcomed by four sections of Sabres. Calibration ceased.
26 Mar 56
Exercise Red Fox by 12 AF – High level penetration flight carried by YJ until the T 80 went off. Exercise Tangle Time.
27 Mar 56
Weapon Fire flight by 439 Squadron from Marville to Rabat. Red Fox mission again carried by YJ. Exercise Tuesday Scrimmage cancelled. Exercise Trolley Trot. Scopes 3, 4, 5 and 6 modified to give complete coverage with scope centered. (i.e. the old diameter setting which gave 180 radial range now gives 240 NM radius).
30 Mar 56
Magnetrons for MPS-14s being picked up at Nancy.
31 Mar 56
Weapon Fire flight by 439 Squadron from Marville to Rabat. Commenced at 1155Z and completed without incident.
1 Apr 56
Weather very poor. All Zulus one hour release. The Controllers Cross Training Program with 12 AF commenced. F/O’s Meloche, Vine and Laird of this unit have been replaced for the month by Lts. Ryan, Schoppenhorst and Swanson of 603, 615 and 616 AC&W Squadrons, USAF.
2 Apr 56
Red Fox Mission at 1008Z carried almost continuously by YJ and hit with Yardarm Zulu Delta on a scramble practice.
3 Apr 56
Exercise Tuesday Scrimmage cancelled by weather at Cambrai. First rehearsals for NATO commemoration fly pasts at 4 ATAF and SHAPE. YJ role monitoring, time hack and joining up of participants. Red Fox mission held in good coverage by YJ and Tally Ho’d three times. Madcap 99 Tally Ho on Track 533 SOS in HD3000 – USAF practice emergency. Last height finder unserviceable for 4.07 hours.
4 Apr 56
SHAPE and 4 ATAF fly pasts cancelled because of low clouds.
6 Apr 56
#2 HRI now serviceable. Early Bird mission for Yardarm Zulu Charlie no joy. T 80 authorized to run 6 RPM during Zulu hours and at 4 RPM otherwise. Russian language interference reported by Yardarm Zulu Delta on 153.0 mcs. Three officers from Early Bird outfit visited the unit.
7 Apr 56
Hand off of No Trump Zulu Echo and Hotel from 12 AF to YJ aborted owing to unserviceable UHF at YJ.
9 Apr 56
Lone Ranger overflight identified by intercept. Supplementary calibration run by Canberra. 2 Wing night flying. Major Terrail and Aide visited the unit.
10 Apr 56
Red Fox mission. One calibration run. Crew 6 on liaison visit to FAF 451 GCTA at Achern.
11 Apr 56
Interference on 153.0 mcs reported by 4 Wing Ops. T 80 goes off for 43 minutes with transmitter trouble.
12 Apr 56
Emergency by Handcuff Alfa worked with tower at Gros Tenquin. Loss of elevator control. Bail out followed with pilot safe. Emergency by Hi Flite Three 6 F-100s low on fuel – recovered safely. 8 Officers from 1 Air Division on familiarization visit with COpsO.
13 Apr 56
Scramble practice of Strongbox Zulu Bravo at 1205Z. One aircraft exploded on takeoff and another which did low level turns to investigate stalled and crashed killing the pilot. Pilot of first aircraft seriously hurt. Mr. Picket, Mr. Bullock and Mr. Houch from SHAPE and 2 ATAF arrived and will remain at unit during calibration.
14 Apr 56
Calibration.
17 Apr 56
Exercise Tuesday Scrimmage. #2 Height Finder unserviceable. Calibration.
18 Apr 56
Calibration. Interference on 153.0 mcs. Early Bird flight with Strongbox Zulu Alfa had no joy. YJ recovered one USAF T-33 lost in the Dijon area. 16968 F/L TE Wallis AS/FtrC arrived first of five controllers added to unit establishment. Revision to establishment currently approved being made.
21 Apr 56
Random flight from Kinloss to Gros Tenquin. Scramble live for Strongbox Zulu Alfa on Track 542 identified by intercept as one F-86 out of Zweibrucken.
22 Apr 56
Fade altitude tests over Air Division bases conducted by Student Zulu Echo. Sollingen 7,500 feet. Zweibrucken 2,500 feet. Gros Tenquin 2,500 feet.
23 Apr 56
Experimental telling set up with 616 AC&W Squadron USAF. Plotters at their end will have microphones removed in an attempt to remove plotter teller arguments on procedures and conversations which reduce efficiency. S/L Souchen (ADHQ SOInt) and a party of five Intelligence Officers visited the unit.
24 Apr 56
Exercise Tuesday Scrimmage. Early Bird flights with Strongbox Zulu Alfa and Delta were without result.
26 Apr 56
444 Squadron Weapon Fire flight to Rabat from Sollingen commenced at 0811Z. All landed safely at 1325Z. Checkerboard X-ray Tally Ho on SOS track in GF1525. Ident one F-84 squawked in error.
27 Apr 56
Early morning hand off of Zulu Charlie and Golf to 603 AC&W Squadron USAF necessitated by the operations room at YJ filling with smoke. Trouble traced to a teletype machine motor burning out. Flight of three TU-104 from London to Moscow direct. Hornet 23 Mayday. Lost and low on fuel and no radio compass. Put into Sembach.
28 Apr 56
Tuesday Scrimmage cancelled. Weather in exercise area is poor.
29 Apr 56
Arrival of four controllers as per establishment increase. 24671 F/O H Czyz; 16880 F/O JR Gendron; 202358 F/O JE Spiller; 60281 F/O D Symington.
30 Apr 56
Poor weather continues.
1 May 56
Exercise Sword Slash cancelled because of weather.
3 May 56
Exercise Argus commences at 1000Z ended 1530Z. Security measures stepped up as a result of threats of sabotage by Arab elements.
4 May 56
Exercise Sword Slash four sorties. Small troubles with T80 necessitated preventative maintenance.
5 May 56
Exercise Rejuvenate. Sweeps by Air Division fighters against south western UK. YJ to provide surveillance and navigational assistance.
6 May 56
Exercise Rejuvenate ended.
7 May 56
444 Squadron Weapon Fire flight to Rabat from Sollingen. Night patrols of main site and ancillary site stepped up to a continuous round.
8 May 56
Exercise Sword Slash four sorties. Night flying by Marville and Zweibrucken. Intensive guard duty during the night. No incidents.
9 May 56
Live Scramble for Strongbox Zulu Foxtrot and Student Zulu Bravo. Track 532 identified by intercept as 4 F-86F.
10 May 56
Exercise Sword Slash three sorties. YJ working with RAF Hunters based at Etain. Callsign Goodsign.
11 May 56
Exercise Sword Slash cancelled because of weather at Marville. Yardarm Zulu Delta diverted to emergency squawk which proved to be another USAF test emergency.
12 May 56
Policy of allowing control assistants to fill the Fighter Marshal position amended and made subject to the CA being checked out personally by the COpsO.
14 May 56
General Bailly (FAF) escorted by AVM Godwin and A/C McBrien.
15 May 56
Exercise Tuesday Scrimmage. Exercise Sabot Slog a three day escape and evasion exercise commenced. The COpsO and F/O’s de Bagheera, Fry, Laird, Nixon and Zoltvany represented 61 AC&W Squadron.
16 May 56
IFF trials conducted as an equipment efficiency check. T 80 off the air because of an oil leak in the turning gear. Off for seven hours. Captain Aydemir and one Turkish Air Force officer visited the unit.
18 May 56
Strongbox Zulu Bravo Scramble live for track 410 in the ADIZ – identified as one BEA Viking.
21 May 56
Restricted Zulu activity – Marville has fuel troubles. 615 AC&W Squadron USAF re-deploying all traffic passed through 603rd AC&W Squadron. YJ practice alert at 2100Z.
22 May 56
Exercise Tuesday Scrimmage. Russian IL-14 Berlin to Zurich and back not seen by YJ.
24 May 56
All landlines out from 0215 to 0335Z. Exercise Track Toil cancelled owing to weather.
25 May 56
Russian TU-104 from Moscow to Zurich. Carried by YJ.
27 May 56
Weather continuing poor. Little activity.
28 May 56
Horseman Zulu Golf diverted to emergency squawk in FF2028. Identified as one C-119 and escorted to Bitburg. Faulty parrot. Horseman Zulu Hotel diverted to track 609 at request of 12 AF. Identified as two USAF F-86F. Good activity with USAF hand off aircraft. T 80 off for 40 minutes.
29 May 56
Exercise Track Toil. YK recovery of Viaduct Rooseveldt with compass and radio unserviceable into Chambley. Much activity behind the Iron Curtain. RCAF Zulus on standing CAP near the ADIZ. Afternoon thunderstorms caused many diversions.
30 May 56
Standing CAP in ADIZ area continued as much activity on the other side of the line. Horseman Zulu Hotel Tally Ho in ME1850. Two Falcons. Very high winds in evening did not affect T80 sail.
31 May 56
Continuous CAP in ADIZ area again. Exercise Track Toil three sorties. 19 F-100s Keflavik to Bitburg.
Signed By:
M Strange, W/C
Commanding Officer
61 AC&W Squadron
