History od 441 Fighter Squadron for the month of December 1956
It seems almost the normal thing now for the month to end with Zulu and begin like wise as it did this month. The Zulu week starting the first of the month was a poor one in regards to hours due to bad weather. However, our first scramble after 4 days of no flying turned into a live. The complete section made a successful interception on the bogie which turned out to be a Scandianavain Airlines aircraft. We had one other scramble that day and that was all for the complete Zulu period.
Flying activities during the Zulu period ending the month were kept down to 8 because the time stretched over the New Year and most of the time scrambles were restricted to hot and live.
On the 12th of the month F/Os Crouch and Moreash had a rather unfortunate taxiing accident at 2 Wing after having been diverted there.
The remainder of the month was used in the normal way regarding flying. In short, high level battle trips. We also got a couple of nights in doing night Nav. trips.
During the last part of the month a posting came for F/O Cockburn to go on the Empire Test Pilots course in England. It's a great thing for Bob and although the whole Sqn and Wing will miss him terrificly we all wish him the very best of good luck. Right now Bob is in Canada on leave and we'll be looking forward to his return before going on course.
The Sqn said goodbye to our old Sqn Commander, S/L Fisher, and hello to the new, S/L Hill, the first of the month. With the boss comes a big reputation and from the pilots point of view we can see that he's going to live up to every part of that reputation. Welcome aboard Sir, we're all going to enjoy working under your command.
The Sqn also sends out a big Checkerboard welcome to his lovely wife and three children.
Monthly Sorties: 281 Monthly Flying: 355:50
History of 441 Fighter Squadron for the month of January 1957
The first month of the new year was a fairly busy one for the Squadron. On top of just following the rather gayous New Years festivities, we welcomed back our old comrade, Bob Cockburn. The flying end of the month was mainly filled with the usual high level battle work, but we also had two good exercises, one in the form of a five hour alert, the other an escort of two CF-100s through French Mysteres on a bombing run to Dijon.
The exercise with the French came out quite well. The purpose of the deal was for two sections of four Sabres to escort two CF-100s to Dijon and give them protection against the French attackers. Our bombers were successful in their bombing run after the Sabres engaged and scattered the Mysteres. All aircraft landed at Dijon and the pilots had a meal in the French Officers' Mess.
On the 5 hour alert all personnel were called into work at about 1800 hours and the job was to get 50 percent of the aircraft into the air in a minimum amount of time. The mighty Checkerboard Squadron accomplished this task easily within it's stride even though we had been stood down that day. Not only that we had the first aircraft airborne. (Another first for 441).
Monthly Sorties: 515 Monthly Flying: 672:00
History of 441 Fighter Squadron for the month of February 1957
This month showed very little excitement or anything out of the ordinary flying wise. During the middle of the month we had our old COpsO, W/C Knowles, up from Air Division to fly a couple of trips with the squadron. We also got a couple of sorties in night flying and a few trips on Argus.
The Squadron had the sad duty of saying goodbye to 3 of its old members, F/Os Cockburn, Drake and Fikowski. A great party was held in their honour and in traditional fashion everyone got corned. A good time was had by all.
Since the arrival of our new boss the Squadron has been undergoing a series of changes structurally. It seems that the boss gets what he goes after when it comes to his boys and his Squadron. Nice going, Sir! Now that our showers have been finished the workers are dilligently running hither and yon on other destructional and constructural jobs.
We welcome to the Squadron this month F/O Buster Kincaid from BC. Buster is an ex-paratrooper but finally saw the errors of his way and quit the Army for the Air Force.
We also have Jerry Sutton from Winnipeg who went through FTS 3 years ago. However, after FTS he got out and just came back a while ago after going through AFS.
Last but by no means least is F/O Ron Hayman from North Bay. Ron is a refugee from the reserve forces and finally realized that he wanted to do some real flying so he's now with the Regulars.
Monthly Sorties: 516 Monthly Flying: 681:15
History of 441 Fighter Squadron for the month of March 1957
Operations
It was good to see Don Syms friendly face back on the Sqn again after his long stay in Canada on the PAI course. Welcome back Don and we'll be looking for bigger and better scores from you on our next gunnery exercise.
Another sad so-long goes out to F/L Murr. Miller who has now replaced F/L Claude Lafrance at Wing Ops. However, the Sqn loss will be the Wing's gain. Cheers Murr and we hope to see you fly a few of our checkerboard tails once in awhile.
During the month we had a section off to the city of pleasure for a week-end Cope. Of course. Nice time boys? Well I should say there were also a couple of trips to England but of course they were kept clean.
In the air we carried on with phase training for F/Os Sutton, Hayman and Kincaid who are doing very well. On one of our Zulu missions YJ sent us after a bogie at 64,000 feet, needless to say we didn't catch him.
The Sqn also lost F/O Tim Boyd who has gone down to T-33 Flight but only temporarily. We'll be looking forward to your return Tim.
Courses - Nil
Accidents - Nil
Air Strength - 23
Pilot Strength - 26
Flying Time - 655:35
History of 441 Fighter Squadron for the month of April 1957
Operations
The first of this month started with three sections of four doing a flypast at Trier along with a number of CF-100s and American F-100s. The 1 Wing section was led by W/C Laidler with the two second sections led by F/Ls Crane and Spurr. The flypast went according to schedule and was quite successful.
Our only new member this month was F/O Bud MacLeod from Nova Scotia. Welcome to the Sqn Bud even if you are married.
During the early part of the month we did our normal high level battle trips with the odd cine exercise on the flag thrown in. A section of two comprised of F/L Miller and S/L Hill did a trip to Langar on Sqn business.
On the 5th Apr S/L Archer and F/O Moreash did a trip to Weathersfield in England, On arrival they were met by an American pilot who had a cold beer in each hand. The Yanks there were extremely friendly and the two 441 boys eventually wound up playing a soccer game with the southern cousins against the local Englishmen. A good time was had by all.
What were you doing down at Brienne Le Chateau Casey? Got a girlfriend there, or maybe you don't like us anymore or is it possible that you were just plain lost?
On the 16th we had a section of four do a scramble and quick turn around for a group of visiting dignitaries. All went well.
During our Zulu period G/C Williams came out several times to fly with the Sqn. At the time we were fairly short of pilots so it was a fair help to us. Thanks Sir.
The later part of the month we managed to get a good number of Cine trips in on the flag in preparation for the exercise at Sardinia in September.
Courses - nil
Accidents - nil
Air Strength - 23
Pilot Strength - 27
Flying Time - 600:00
History of 441 Fighter Squadron for the month of May 1957
Operations
Andy Lambert and Barry Morris worked through the month on their Phase training trips and have now got them just about finished.
F/O Bob Cockburn paid us a visit from the Test Pilots course at Farnborough and flew one trip. It was nice seeing Bob back even if for only a short time.
The normal high level battle trips were done during the time we were not on Zulu. The last week of the month we had a number of RAF pilots here from Ahlhorn while our "A" Flight went to their base.
The following is an account of "A" Flights stay at Ahlhorn:
27 May 57
441 SQn sent two sections of four a/c from "A" Flight to Ahlhorn. T/O time 1230 arrival Ahlhorn 1310 local. A Dakota and a Bristol departed earlier with 35 Airmen and NCO's, two additional pilots, and the EO. Accommodation had been pre-arranged and the exchange went off smoothly. No further flying was done that day at Ahlhorn. Pilots from 441 then mixed well with pilots of 96 Sqn at the bar from 1800 hrs till closing.
Daily Flying total : 5:20 hrs Sorties: 8
28 May 57
Sector Recce trips were carried out by all pilots of 441 in sections of two a/c. Briefings on air to ground work were given by F/O Carter of 96 Sqn and at least one trip Air-Ground Cine was carried out by each 441 pilot.
Daily Flying total : 17:00 hrs Sorties: 21
Ahlhorn total : 22:20 hrs Sorties: 29
The CO of Ahlhorn courteously invited all officers of 441 to a cocktail party at his home at 1800 hrs. The party was an outstanding success and all pilots lost Sabre pins to their hosts.
29 May 57
High level intercepts were carried out against Hunter IV's under the control of Licking GCI in conjunction with Domino Fixes. First intercepts were not too successful and the CRDE letdown on return to base was found to be fuel consuming. Domino Fixer was excellent. 441 pilots were warned abut sonic booms - too late. Flying ceased at noon.
Daily Flying total : 9:55 hrs Sorties:13
Ahlhorn total : 32:15 hrs Sorties: 42
A formal cocktail party was held in the mess to welcome 441 Sqn to Ahlhorn. Once again a tremendous success.
30 May 57
Air to ground "live" exercises were carried out all day. For many pilots this was their first opportunity to fire the guns for over a year. Scores were generally higher on the second and third trips but none were exceptional although weather conditions were good. One pilot blew a tire on landing.
Daily Flying total : 17:40 hrs Sorties: 25
Ahlhorn total : 49:55 hrs Sorties: 67
441 Pilots were given a night off by their Ahlhorn hosts, for a much needed rest.
31 May 57
F/L O'Mara woke with a sprained knee and had to be hospitalized and flown home. News was received of the death of F/O Levere and F/L Spurr and F/L Lambros flew to 3 (F) Wing to attend the funeral service.
High level intercepts were carried out once again under Licking control, against RAF Canberras and Hunters. A great improvement was noted in the GCI contol and CRDF was used by 441 pilots only for a cloud break on the runway heading. This method was found very satisfactory. Our only complaint on the day was the fact that pilots were held in cockpits at readiness for too long and were generally scrambled almost too late.
Eight a/c from "B" Flight 441 Sqn arrived at Ahlhorn at 1130 hrs to take over from "A" Flight after the weekend. In the evening pilots and servicing personnel were loaded into a bus for a weekend in Hamburg. Naturally all RCAF personnel conducted themselves in the manner expected. Good Show!
Daily Flying total : 18:30 hrs Sorties: 24
Ahlhorn total : 68:25 hrs Sorties: 917
From the point of view of "A" Flight the exchange was a terrific success. We should do things like this more often.
Courses:
During the month F/Ls Lepard and Campbell spent 1 day at Weisbaden Air Force Base taking the decompression course.
F/O Hayman spent 12 days at 3 (F) Wing undergoing training with regards to pressure breathing. He was using the new equipment we expect to be getting in the near future.
Accidents:
On the second day of the month the whole Sqn was very sad when one of our oldest Sqn pilots, Harve Davidson, was killed after an unsuccessful bailout. A great many of the Sqn members were on hand to see the incident take place and I'm sure it, as well as Harve will be remembered by all for quite some time to come.
Air Strength: 23 F-86 aircraft
Pilot Strength: 26 pilots
Flying Time: 647:05 hrs.
Admin General:
During the early part of the month we obtained two more Sqn members F/O Andy Lambert from St. Anne de Bellevu, Quebec. Andy is French speaking so we now have someone to keep John Rheaume happy. Welcome Andy, and all the best. The other member is F/L Barry Morris from Vancouver. Barry is another one of these damn family men - oh well, welcome to the Sqn anyways Barry.