5 Jan 53
Two Bristols arrived from England with personnel returning from Christmas Leave.
3 Jan 53
The Beechcraft aircraft assigned to this Wing was at last made serviceable and the Station Commander checked out on it.
7 Mar 53
The CO departed by air via Unit Beechcraft from England with five passengers.
9 Mar 53
CO and party returned by Beechcraft off leave.
1 Apr 53
AVM HL Campbell, AOC, 1 Air Division HQ and A/C WR MacBrien landed this unit in AOC’s Dakota.
2 Apr 53
Special trips being laid on for the two Bristol Freighters at 30 AMB to transport personnel from this unit to Langar where they will disperse and journey to their various places of resort.
7 Apr 53
This unit received most disheartening news at 1730 hours when Flying Control was informed Air Division Beechcraft had forced landed with an engine failure in the Sarreguemines area. Immediately aircraft this unit, 3 (F) Wing, and USAF Search and Rescue Unit attached to 4 ATAF all went into action and without much difficulty, the Beechcraft was located. Information received revealed that AVM HL Campbell, AOC, A/C KLB Hodson, Chief of Staff, G/C RM Cox, Senior Staff Officer, W/C RA Ashman, Senior Personnel Staff Officer, as well as the two pilots were critically injured. This was confirmed later with the exception of W/C Ashman, who received only superficial injuries. All parties concerned are now on the serious injured list and confined to St. Elizabeth Hospital, Landstuhl. The exact extent of their injuries is not known.
8 Apr 53
Reports have officially been received from USAF Hospital in Landstuhl, where members of the crashed Beechcraft in which the AOC, 1 Air Division and his party are now hospitalized. Apparently all are suffering from broken backs and are on the serious injury list. G/C C Hull, CO, 3 (F) Wing, Acting AOC, 1 Air Division HQ.
9 Apr 53
Salvage crews from this unit proceeding to Sarreguemines area where the Beechcraft of 1 Air Division is resting. Formal Board of Inquiry has been convened and AIB representative from London, S/L A Elvis is expected to assist the Board. A/C WR MacBrien, has not been temporarily appointed AOC, 1 Air Division HQ in lieu of G/C C Hull.
13 Apr 53
1 Air Division Comm Flight, previously located at Orly Airport, Paris, arrived this unit for a period of two months pending their re-location at Frescaty Airport, USAF, Metz.
9 May 53
The 2 (F) Wing personnel proceeded by Bristol aircraft for 30 AMB Langar for pre-Coronation training and drill.
26 Jun 53
Bristol aircraft arrived from 30 AMB with a full load of freight and several passengers. Bristol later suffered a crash at Soellingen, no casualties just technical trouble.
31 Jul 53
Bristol aircraft reported in from 30 AMB with replacement personnel for this Wing and Air Division HQ.
10 Aug 53
CO and Wing Adjutant left by Expeditor for 1 (F) Wing for liaison purposes re Operation "Momentum".
13 Aug 53
With the squadrons deployed to 3 (F) Wing, the usual scene of flying activity has become a non entity with the exception of routine liaison visits by the Expeditor from Comm Flight.
6 Oct 53
CO went flying in Beechcraft 1527 but brakes were unserviceable.
21 Oct 53
Bristol aircraft from 30 AMB landed and accepted a number of personnel proceeding to Canada on repatriation.
8 Dec 53
G/C W Weiser flew in Expeditor 1532 to Trier, Germany, with classified documents for A/C WR MacBrien.
18 Dec 53
A Bristol Freighter arrived in from Langar. No space available for Service passengers as aircraft was loading a Sabre for return for overhaul.
4 Jan 54
Regular flight of Bristol aircraft came in from England loaded with personnel from New Years leave. It later departed for 3 Wing and return trip to 30 AMB.
7 Jan 54
Bristol aircraft of 137 (T) Flight out of 30 AMB, Langar, reported in and took on a large number of passengers.
6 Feb 54
Bristol of 137 (T) Flight at 30 AMB due in but so far has not reported.
1 Mar 54
G/C W Weiser and S/L JR Johnson departed by Beechcraft to Cambrai on a routine visit. They returned the same day.
3 Mar 54
Regular Beechcraft aircraft shuttle service established with the squadrons at Cambrai, who are on Operation "Magnaflux". CO paid a brief visit to Cambrai by air.
20 Dec 54
No flying except an Expeditor trip to North Luffenham by the CO.
22 Dec 54
The Bristol arrived in on a normal run after a two hour trip from Langar, with the assistance of a 70 MPH tail-wind.
3 Jan 55
The CO is on New Years Leave and flew an Expeditor to England for the day. The Bristol arrived in on a routine run.
31 Jan 55
North Star arrived and departed on schedule. Bristol arrived at 1700 hours with DOE Team on board, these were W/C Stewart, S/L Barry, W/C Ross, S/L Pennells and F/O Porter.
14 Feb 55
Bristol and North Star skeds arrived with Bristol departing as usual.
17 Feb 55
Poor weather still prevails in the area hampering jet flying. However, Bristols and North Stars are arriving regularly.
23 Feb 55
One North Star, AOC Dakota and Sabre aircraft ready for departure to Rabat. 16 Sabres, 1 North Star and AOC Dakota departed approximately 1000 hours for Rabat.
24 Feb 55
North Star arrived from North Luffenham and returned.
25 Feb 55
CO went flying in C-45.
1 Mar 55
Two Bristols arrived and one North Star which was accompanying Exercise "Random".
28 Mar 55
Bristol and North Star on sked. G/C Christmas on North Star. W/C Lindsay had slight difficulty with aircraft on landing, however, was able to get in okay.
3 Dec 55
Bristol aircraft from Langar departed for 1 (F) Wing shortly after 1100 hours and was reported missing at 1150 hours. No further word received by 1500 hours.
5 Dec 55
Final word on Bristol received during Saturday evening, 3 Dec, with 2 (F) Wing – four dead and one critical. However the toll rose to five during the early morning hours of Sunday as the critical died. Dead are F/O BE Patterson, F/O JP Hrenyk, F/O JG Campbell, Cpl. RC Offerdahl and Cpl Knight from 2 (F) Wing; F/O S Newman from CJS (L) and F/O Pigot of 1 (F) Wing. Funeral arrangements made for Wednesday morning, 7 Dec, in Station Drill Hall for five and in RC Chapel for F/O Newman.
6 Dec 55
Word received F/O Patterson’s parent flying from Canada to attend funeral, therefore it has been put back to 8 or 9 Dec depending on their wishes.
7 Dec 55
Funeral services held at 0915 and 0930 hours respectively. Chief of Staff attended as representative of AOC.
8 Dec 55
F/O Patterson buried this morning at Choloy. Funeral held up pending arrival of parent. CO away all day at funeral and Air Div.
7 Jan 56
Two 109 Comm Flight aircraft were unable to leave England due to fog and generally poor weather in the British Isles.
9 Jan 56
F/L’s Deeprose, T Creteau, J Jessop and A Martin from 4 OUT Trenton arrived to examine members of 109 Comm Flight on ATC standards and they are expected to be here approximately 10 days.
16 Jan 56
ATC Standards Team completed their check of 109 Comm Flight today, but their results are not yet known.
17 Jan 56
WO1 KN Stewart posted to 109 Comm Flight.
18 Jan 56
109 Comm Flight had another Dakota delivered this week. The crew was from 412 (T) Squadron, Uplands.
7 Feb 56
F/L Kilgor of 109 Comm Flight was cleared on posting to Air Division HQ.
13 Feb 56
109 Comm Flight departed for 4 (F) Wing and Rabat with equipment for 430 (F) Squadron which will be departing for Rabat on 28 Feb.
21 Feb 56
Dakota 911 made a successful single engine landing, the starboard engine was unserviceable.
27 Apr 56
The second annual Intersection Bowling Dance and Buffet was held in the Rec. Centre with music by the Divisionaires and Tap-dancing act for the enjoyment of all. The high average for the year went to F/L Burns of 109 Comm Flight.
31 Oct 56
G/C Newson left by Dakota for London to attend RMC reunion.
15 Mar 57
C-47 going to 3 Wing with members of Board of Inquiry for F/O Wilson’s accident.
7 Jun 57
Dakota flew to Kitzingen with repair crew and brought F/O Stout back.
14 Jun 57
The C-45 went to Rome on an instrument training trip.
18 Jul 57
A T-33 flew to Decimomannu with a generator with a generator for an unserviceable C-47 there.
22 Jul 57
3 (F) Wing had one of their Sabres land at Essey (3,600 feet) outside of Nancy, low on fuel. Our C-45 picked up the pilot and flew him back to 3 Wing.
5 Sep 57
Our C-45 with four pilots going to Renfrew to ferry back GAF Sabres went unserviceable and returned to the station. Trip cancelled until Monday.
13 Sep 57
F/O Whelan, piloting a C-47, went off the runway and into the mud while taking off. No damage.
14 Sep 57
109 Comm Flight and 137 Transport Flight ordered to amalgamate at 2 (F) Wing on 15 Sep for deployment and eventual redeployment to Nancy Essey, and S/L Olson of 137 Flight was appointed Unit OC of the transport flights. 137 Transport Flight arrived today, one day ahead of the deadline with three Bristols and one C-45.
15 Sep 57
Late in the afternoon (1520Z) all transport aircraft were brought to a two hour state of readiness. Then at 1845Z, three Bristols and seven Dakotas were ordered to be pre-positioned at 3 Wing by 2000Z to move 434 IDF Squadron from there to Damblain, France, on a deployment move the next morning. The aircraft all moved out although the deadline of 2000Z was not quite met due to the short notice given.
16 Sep 57
At 1824Z two Bristols and five Dakotas were ordered to 1 Wing on Exercise Weaponfire in conjunction with Counterpunch. They were to preposition at 1 Wing PM 16 Sep for take off the next morning to move 411 Squadron down to Sardinia and bring 422 Squadron back. The weather at Marville was two hundred overcast one and one half in light rain, light drizzle and fog so they decided to give it a try first thing in the morning, which they did.
17 Sep 57
At 1930Z the transport squadrons were ordered to deploy to Nancy Essey at first light tomorrow with all available crews and aircraft and to operate from there until further advised.
18 Sep 57
The transports all got away to their deployment base at Nancy Essey.
12 Nov 57
At approximately 1600 hours, Dakota 221 from CJS via Trier arrived with G/C Burgess, G/C Martin and others.
26 Nov 57
G/C Hodgson arrived in Dakota 441 from Fontainbleau, en-route to 4 (F) Wing.
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Updated: September 26, 2002