Grostenquin France

1951-1952 - 421 Squadron - Larry Milberry

At No. 421 Squadron, F/L Fred Evans made the squadron's first Sabre flight in 19126 on January 29, 1952, the diarist noting, "The rest of the pilots continued studies into the intracacies of the Sabre. February 4, 11 pilots, fresh from the OTU, arrived at 421. Their first day at the squadron was spent being introduced to the other members, being issued with new flying equipment, and eagerly scrambling over the Sabres in the hangar.

Soon each had his chance to "go swept back", as the phrase of the times went. Inevitably, the new Sabres were to acquire their first "wounds". February 14, 1952, the 421 diarist notes, for example, ".. due to extenuating circumstances, Fulford missed the runway and damaged the nose wheel of his aircraft." February 26, F/L Buzik returned to base low on fuel. Traffic ahead forced him to go around, and in the process his tanks ran dry. He crash-landed short of the runway. The diarist later noted, "The Sabre was badly damaged, but, fortunately, Bizik climbed out unhurt. He was later awarded a reprimand and a $50 fine".

Some useful practice at intercepts was obtained two days later when a B-50 arrived from Tucson. Along with five Sabres from 413, those of 421 flew missions against the SAC bomber, 421 logging 28.

The diary entry for March 3 shows further progress in getting the squadron into the swing of things Sabre-wise, as well as some gossip: "F/L Thorneycroft and F/O Skaalem finished their transition period on the Sabre, whilst Tobin, Young and Ackert came back from leave all keen to get swept-back. The next day's Sabre flying was curtailed due to inclement weather. The following day, the 5th was also a stinker, so the groundcrew spent all the time servicing their aircraft, whilst the pilots went and upheld the sporting tradition of 421, by shellacking AC&WU in a volleyball game".

On March 14 Captain Jorgensen (USAF) led a three-plane Sabre formation to Uplands, where the new 421 colour scheme was shown off. The squadron continued adding new personnel, with wartime veterans de Nancrede, Doyle, Thompson and Turnbull arriving. Ackert flew the Sabre for the first time March 17, "although a high nose attitude in his landing scrapped the tail aspirator section". By early April, 421 had its two flights organized: A Flight with F/L Evans as commander, F/L Thorneycroft deputy, and F/Os Fulford,Hallowell, Harris, Moore, Northrop,Thompson, Turnbull, Wagner, Young: and B Flight, with Captain Jorgensen commander, F/L Tetlock deputy, and F/Os Ackert, Buzik, de Nancrede, Doyle, Heard, Hogan, Pringle, Tobin, Weeks.

Sabre conversion was still not complete, and Sabres were still scarce. Much flying was still being done in the Yellow Peril (Harvard) at 421. April 4 USAF Sabres from Presque Isle arrived for a visit and the full Red Indian "treatment". According to the records of the day, "Despite bad weather, and equally bad heads, our friends from the south took to the air next morning on their return to Presque Isle".

The poor state of affairs as to aircraft availability in these early months can be appreciated by the diary entry for April 17: "Only 7 aircraft left on the books of which only 2 are serviceable". However, by the 23rd, things were looking up: "the squadron put up a personal record by logging 24 hours in the F-86. But this record was broken the next day when 38 jet hours were flown. As most of the ships now had drop tanks, it enabled the pilots to stay up much longer and carry out better exercises".

Attention was by this time being placed on weaponry, and 421 sent F/O Skallen to Nellis AFB on a weapons instructors course, while the pilots began flying famil missions to the air-to-ground gunnery range at Winchester, south of Ottawa.

In preparation for 421's Leapfrog, several squadron pilots ventured to BW-1 in Greenland aboard a 426 North Star to inspect the facilities there, but a big 421 "thrash" held May 23 seems to have been of at least as much interest: "The big event on the 23rd was the squadron party for both the ground crew and pilots held at 3486 Iberville Street in Montreal. With the help of a seven-piece orchestra, loads of free booze and eats, the party was a roaring success. What went over big was the invitation to and acceptance of the WDs from the station to attend the brawl.Despite far too many gate crashers, including civilians and members from RCAF Lachine, there were no scraps, although everyone was feeling pretty high. All the credit for the success of the brawl went to F/O Buzik, a past master at organizing parties".

Early June at 421 began with a gruelling escape-and-evasion exercise near Chicoutimi in the Saguenay. Such exercises were run occasionally, and on them pilots were set loose in "enemy" territory as if they had parachuted in during the war. They were expected to use all their wiles to achieve objectives without being apprehended by local authorities. Usually they had few resources at their disposal and were operating strictly on their wits. Of this exercise the squadron diary notes: "Despite strenuous terrain and inclement weather the affair was considered a success, even though 50 percent of the pilots were captured. This was not considered ignominious because many lessons were learned about interrogation of prisoners, and pilots found they let slip too much evidence and information by many previously unthought-of manners and habits, as well as loose tongues".

On June 3-4, 421's pilots were at the Institute of Aviation Medicine in Toronto, having flown up in a Dakota. At St. Hubert the Dak crew was astonished when a 421 prankster boarded wearing his parachute. On the return flight, the same "hot shot" drove his point home by presenting the Dak captain with an aviation insurance policy! At the IAM, the Sabre pilots were put to the test in a centrifuge with and without G-suits, to determine their tolerance. During the proceedings F/O Ralph Heard logged 9g (sans g-suit), thought to be a Canadian record at the time.

On June 24, 1952, F/O George Northrup ran short of fuel in 19292. He made a forced landing near Chateau-gay, New York, where he was "royally treated by the peasants and brought back to the base in the comfort of the CO's car".