Metz, France

1 AIR DIVISION HQ
HISTORICAL RECORD
1 June 1953 to 30 November 1953

JUNE 1953

Personnel

The Air Division strength in June was:

Visits

The following visited Air Division:

A/V/M Wait (AMP)
A/C Corbett (DMS)
Brig. Hay (JAG)

Air Division did not participate in any major exercises during June. Four Sabres took part in an air display at Hannover on the 2^nd. Bad weather and slippery runways reduced the flying program greatly. Weapons training for 2 (F) Wing commenced 18 June at Seigensberg.

4 T-33s and 2 Expeditors arrived at 3 Wing for the instrument flight.

Kits are being put in Sabres to facilitate servicing at any base. Pilots are being trained in supervising line servicing by tradesmen who are unfamiliar with the Sabre.

Work started on the first five buildings and services of Air Division HQ.

The 1000 foot firing-in ranges at 2 and 3 Wings were opened. The 25 yard at 3 Wing was opened and is used for ground defence training.

There were five flying accidents during the month, two of which were fatal.

JULY 1953

Personnel

The Air division strength in July was:

G/C LH Randall was transferred in as SPSO.

The following visited Air Division:

A/C Ripley (AOC/ATC)
General Navreau (Military Governor of Metz)
General Strother (OG 4 ATAF)
General Jouhakid (1 CATAC)

Exercise Coronet was held 23-31 July with Air Division HQ and No 2 and 3 Wings being employed.

An air display at Le Bourget on 4 and 5 July involved a flypast of 24 Sabres and a static display of one.

Air ground firing at Seigensberg was carried out be 3 (F) Wing.

General Norstad was saluted by a flypast at Fontainbleau on the 16^th.

3 (F) Wing took part in a flypast at Soesterbourg on the 18^th July. This was in celebration of the RNAF anniversary.

5 additional T-33s were received, making a total of 9.

Three Sabres were damaged in accidents during the month, a further accident involved the loss of a drop tank in flight.

AUGUST 1953

Personnel

The Air Division strength in August was:

S/L JF Brennagh reported in as DJAG.
W/C FH Bowler reported in as SO Maint.
W/C AH Hill reported in as SO Tel.
G/C Cox was SOS to NATO Defence College, Paris.

With the authorization of dependents transportation to Europe at Government expense, many officers and airmen indicated their desire to extend their tour in Europe.

The following visited Air Division:

G/C Timmerman (AFHQ)
G/C Cameron (AFHQ/Tel)
Col. Bannard (Treasury)
A/V/M Plant (AAFCE)
A/C Costello (AMCJS)
Gen. Ford (Verdun)
A/C Annis

2 (F) Wing deployed to Zweibrucken on the 6^th to enable runway repairs to be made at Grostenquin.

Operation "Momentum", a test of RAF defensive Forces, employed 2 and 3 (F) Wings. 416 Squadron was deployed to North Luffenham for the operation. The remaining squadrons were used as raiding forces.

Exercise "Crossfire", air to ground firing at Baumholder range, Germany, commenced the 24^th. Aircraft participating were serviced at Zweibrucken. The Instrument Rating Flight at 3 (F) Wing started its first course of eight students. The course entails 20 hours flying on T-33 aircraft. Successful students are awarded green instrument cards. Future courses are planned to have 12 students.

1 Air Division took over administrative control of RCAF personnel in NATO elements in Europe.

Three T-33s were damaged in accidents during the month and there were eight Sabre accidents.

SEPTEMBER 1953

Personnel

The Air Division strength in September was:

F/L DO Pettit assumed Admin Unit Commandant duties vice S/L JR Bell.

The following visited Air Division:

A/M Curtis
A/C Kennedy (AFHQ)
A/C Truscott (AFHQ)
A/C Dickens (AAFCE)
G/C Swetman (AAFCE)
G/C Dunlop (Air Attaché Sweden)

62 Sabres flew the Atlantic and completed "Leapfrog IV" on their arrival at Soellingen.

One squadron was deployed to Norway and one to Denmark for exercise "Heads Up", an Air Defence exercise.

Exercise "Crossfire" consisting of range firing at Baumholder, Germany was completed.

30 AMB Langar, came under the Command of Air Division.

Soellingen was handed over by the French High Commissioner to Germany to Mr. T.C. Davis, who accepted on behalf of Canada. Mr. Davis then handed the Base over to Gen. Lauris Norstad, Deputy Supreme Commander for Air at SHAPE who accepted on behalf of SACEUR.

Air Force Day was made the occasion of the first official reception at Air Division HQ of dignitaries of the local area. The French Air Force and civil community, and the USAF were represented at the reception.

One T-33 was damaged as the result of a fire in the engine compartment during run up and 6 Sabres were involved in accidents.

OCTOBER 1953

Personnel

The Air Division strength in October was:

W/C Atherton was transferred in as SO Ground Defence.

The following visited Air Division:

G/C Edwards (DAI AFHQ)
A/V/M Brooks (AMC)
A/C Chariest (RTO, Ottawa)
G/C Lieff (AMC)
Col. Darley (Metz)
A/C MacBrien (4 ATAF)

AAFCE sponsored exercise "Rotation" which entails the interchange of squadrons between 2 and 4 ATAFs. One squadron of 3 (F) Wing was exchanged with an RAF Sabre Squadron for a period of 10 days. 18 Sabres were deployed from 4 (F) Wing to 1 (F) Wing for three weeks whilst runways repairs were affected at Soellingen.

Organization – 1 (F) Wing came under Command of Air Division.

Runway repairs were completed at 2 (F) Wing and at 4 (F) Wing.

There were eight (7 Sabre – 1 Bristol) flying accidents during the month.

It was decided to use Langar as the trans Atlantic terminal for North Stars of ATC.

A contract was signed for the construction of 1014 living units and 39 school rooms for RCAF dependents in France.

NOVEMBER 1953

Personnel

The Air Division strength in November was:

Visits

The following visited Air Division:

A/C Clements (AFHQ)
G/C Morton (AAFCE)

Exercise "Snowball" commenced on the 9^th. This exercise is a continuing interception exercise, which involves the use of the USAF TACC at Kaiserslautern and the French TACC at Metz. Each Wing participates by providing four target aircraft and four interceptor aircraft.

November was a month of fog, which prevented the Wings from attaining their target of flying hours.

There were eleven flying accidents during the month. (1 T-33, 10 Sabres)