December 1956
OPERATIONS
This month's operations were very restricted becuase of bad flying conditions. The first sortie was completed on the 6th. The Squadron visited Hahn Air Force Base on the 4th, as F/L Lorne Jarvis was exchanged with 1st Lt Milt Lemieux, and proceeded to have a get-to-know-your-enemy party. The Grey Cup game was shown in the Ops Room on the 6th, much to the benefit of the Westerners. The Simulator Mark VI finally is operational and F/L Don Lewis was the first pilot to fly same. On the 11th because flying was washed out in the morning, our pilots room was redecorated with a new rug and all of our existing chairs and sofas were re-arranged to form a hollow square. F/O's Redmond and Titterton force landed at Hahn, Germany, on the 11th after returning from Copenhagen as F/O Titterton had generator failure. Zulu exercise took up most of the months flying that was left - 12 Dec to 19 Dec. A parade was held on the 20th for the inspection of all officer's 5's uniforms. Our annual squadron party with the wives included was held on the 21st. From the 22nd until the 25th the squadron was on zulu back-up. The rest of the month was a stand-down.
F/L Al Milne on TD to Yellowjack GCI - 10 Dec.
ADMINISTRATION
Promotions:
F/O Misselbrook - PC
F/O Jones - Extension
F/O Landreville - Extension
January 1957
OPERATIONS
The weather for the first seven days was very poor and on the 3rd F/O's Misselbrook and Luettger were diverted to 4 Wing and didn't return until the 4th. Zulu flying started on the 9th and lasted until the 16th. Zulu flying hampered because the USAFE had two prangs in the afternoon. F/O Luettger contacted the measles while skiing with F/O Misselbrook. On the 15th our squadron basketball team won the 1st game in the best 2 out of 3 series against 445 Sqn by the score of 47 - 42. On the 18th, four squadron pilots; S/L Bullock, F/L Jarvis, F/O Smith and F/O Hollinghead flew to Copenhagen for the weekend. The squadron flew 350 hours during the week of the promotion exams. On the 24th our basketball team lost the 2nd game to 445 by the score of 46 - 36 in overtime. The squadron was put on 5 hour alert on the 25th and in two hours we had 15 F-86s airborne. On the 29th our basketball team won the wing trophy after defeating 445 Sqn 39 - 36. F/O Jones was the first 439 Squadron pilot to be checked out in the CF-100 on the 23rd.
5 Jan - F/O Misselbrook on TD on ski course.
31 Jan - F/O Tidball on TD to Weisbaden for Oxygen Course.
ADMINISTRATION
19870 S/L DJ Bullock relinguished command of 439 (F) Sqn effective 30 Jan 57.
2407 S/L AW Fisher assumed command of 439 (F) Sqn effective 31 Jan 57.
February 1957
OPERATIONS
The Squadron started the month with a normal flying day. On the 4th day F/O Luettger experienced turbine failure on o/shoot from PFL. He made a successful bail out at about 700' without an automatic seat. From the 6 - 13 the Sqn was on Zulu. On the 14th the Sqn flew on exercise Rhine River against CF-100s. On the weekend of 15th a section of 4 flew to Langar. Normal Sqn flying for the rest of the month with a round robin exercise on the 26th. Night flying on 28th.
F/O Luettger bailed out of F-86 (23581) at 700'. After a flame out on the overshoot from a PFL.
ADMINISTRATION
Nil
March 1957
OPERATIONS
The Sqn started flying this month doing Air to Air on the flag. On the 5th Sqn flew to Cambair on Tuesday Scrimmage. Zulu from the 6th to the 13th. F/O Rice finally finished his phase training. On 18th F/O Misselbrook flew his last trip with the Sqn and it was his 1000th Sabre hr in 5148. On 29th Mar a section of three a/c flew to Langar for the weekend. On 23rd the Sqn was honoured by the visit of the 496th Fighter Interceptor Sqn from Hahn.
F/L Jarvie to JOAC at London Ont, F/O Redmond still at PAI, F/L Milne went to Paris for NATO Troop Information Course.
ADMINISTRATION
F/O Jones spent two weeks leave in England visiting his folks. F/O Tatton was on leave in the Austrian Alps. F/O's Misselbrook and Titterton sailed for Canada on the 23rd. F/O and Mrs. Landreville spent 2 weeks touring Spain.
April 1957
OPERATIONS
The first two days of month were normal flying. On the afternoon of 2nd April F/O Tidball tried a dumbell but crashed on the taxi-strip. From 3 - 10 Sqn on Zulu. F/O Tremblay started phase training on the 5th. On Saturday 13th Fly Past for S/L Kennedy's wedding. Night flying for Sqn on the 15th and 16th. On the 16th F/O Tremblay finished phase training. Sqn on Zulu back up for Easter Holidays. Normal flying for the rest of the month. On 29th cine on flag at 20,000'.
F/L Milne on TD to Paris for NATO Troop in Formation Course. F/O Isaacs, F/O Holt, F/O Tremblay - Decompression Course at Weisbaden.
F/O Tidball took off on a local aeros, he tried practice dumbell on take off and crash landed on taxi-strip, pilots received slight injuries but a/c burned completely. F/L Tremblay over "G" a/c 23594 "D" Category damage - horizontal stabilizer on port side had to be replaced.
ADMINISTRATION
On the 1st F/O Tremblay joined the Sqn and F/L Milne went on TD to Paris. F/O EL Johnson joined Sqn on the 8th. F/O Jones left Sqn for T-33 Flight. F/O Frioult back on Sqn after his tour on T-33 Flight. F/L Gourlay back from leave. F/O Titterton on leave. F/O Isaacs, F/O Holt, F/O Tremblay on TD to Weisbaden.
May 1957
OPERATIONS
Sqn started month of May on Zulu. Fly past for A/M Slemon cancelled because of Wx at 4 Wing. Wx very cold for this time of the year. Snow showers on the 5th, 6th, and 7th. On the 9th Sqn on Exercise Argus. From the 10th - 29th the Sqn practiced Cine on Flag at 20,000', most of the time because Sqn to go to Sardinia in June. On the night of 16th 12w a/c from Sqn and two a/c from 445 Sqn went to Hahn and returned next day. On 23rd F/L Norn and F/O McCann went on exercise Round Robin to Jever, Sqn on Zulu on the 29th at noon.
ADMINISTRATION
F/O Titteton back from leave. F/O England back on Sqn strength. Two new pilots arrived in the Sqn: F/L Craig and F/O Joy. S/L Fisher went to Sardinia on TD on the 21st to check on progress at the Gunnery Base before the Sqn goes down. He came back on the 24th.