North Luffenham, England

Itinerary – Visit of the CAS
23 April 1954 – National Archives of Canada

ITINERARY
VISIT OF THE CHIEF OF THE AIR STAFF
AIR MARSHAL CR SLEMON, CB, CBE, CD
23 APRIL 54

TIMEEVENTREMARKS
1000 Arrival by air of CAS and party. This party will include the CAS and W/C WL Gillespie, the executive assistant.The party will be met at the aircraft by the AOC 1 Air Div, the CO, the COpsO, CAdO, CTechO, Co-ordinator and WAdjt.

Three photographers will be in attendance to photograph the arrival of the CAS. In order to obtain a good photograph of the CAS and party an attempt is to be made to keep the number of personnel photographed to five.

The CAS and attending party will proceed from the aircraft to the saluting base. During this time a formation roll be performed by the squadron aerobatic team.

1005Formation Aerobatic Roll439 Squadron
1005 - 1015Inspection - Guard of Honour and Pipe BandThe Inspection Party is to include the following only: CAS, Guard Commander, AOC 1 Air Div and CO. This party will be preceded by the CAS's EA and the WAdjt.
1015 - 1025Briefing in Pilot's Briefing RoomBriefing to be undertaken by the COpsO.

Coffee and cookies will be arranged by the W Mess O and will be served to the party in the Briefing room by a waitress. Provision is to be made for 15 people

The WInt O will attend during the briefing

1025 - 1035Inspection of Intelligence RoomBriefing to be undertaken by F/L Davies, W Int O.
1035 - 1055Inspection of Sabre SimulatorF/O Wingate
1055 - 1105Inspection of 441 SqnS/L Cuthbertson
1105 - 1115Inspection of 439 SqnS/L Belleau
1115 - 1130Proceed to 410 Sqn and Inspection of 410 SquadronS/L Warren
1130 - 1135Party travel back to Maintenance HangarCars will stop by east entrance to #2 Hangar
1135 - 1200inspection of Maintenance HangarF/L Cooke and F/L Murchie. F/L Murchie to be in attendance in Wing Armament Systems Shop
1200 - 1205Party to be transported back to Officer's Mess. Sign Visitor's Book 
1205 - 1230Reception in Officers' MessAll Officers to assemble in Lounge. Officers will group themselves by Sqns and HQ. HQ sqn will be divided into technical personnel and administrative and other personnel.

Sqn and section comanders or their delegated representative will be introduced to the CAS by the CO. The sqn or section commander will then be responsible for introducing individual officers in their group to the CAS

1230 - 1330Luncheon in Officers' MessDelegated Officers only to attend luncheon. These officers will be delegated by the PMC through the sqn and section commanders.

Other VIPs attending for the luncheon will be the AOC-in-C Fighter Command, the AOC 12 Grp HQ and the Eastern Sector Commander

1330 - 1340Proceed to Control Tower 
1340 - 1355Mass take-off of aircraft for fly-past practice, and inspection of flying control facilitiesCOpsO. SFCO to be in attendance.

NOTE: In the event of inclement weather a mock exercise showing scramble procedures etc, will be held in the Operations Room. This operation will be organized by the CopsO.

1355 - 1400Proceed to Ops Room 
1400 - 1420 Mock exercise in Ops RoomOrganized by C Ops O.
1420 - 1430Proceed from Ops Room to Guard of Honour in front of Control Tower and thence to the aircraftParty to consist of CAS, CAS EA, CO, COpsO, CAdO, CTechO and WAdjt
1430Departure for Langar 

NOTES:

1 ME:

  1. Sufficient transportation is to be provided for the following personnel to be moved from point to point throughout the visit and inspection. The CAS, the AOC Air Div, the CO 1 F Wg, CAS EA, COpsO, CAdO, CTechO, visit co-ordinator, WAdjt.

  2. Vehicles are to be available to transport the party from the saluting base to the briefing room.

  3. Vehicles will proceed to east end, #1 Hangar, as soon as the CAS and party have entered #1 Hangar. Party will be transported then around 410 Sqn for inspection and thence back to the Maintenance Hangar #2.

  4. Vehicles will stop by east end #2 Hangar on return from 410 Sqn inspection. Vehicles will be available at west end #2 Hangar on completion of inspection to transport party to Officer's Mess.

  5. An extra vehicle will be required to transport the party from the Mess to the Control Tower after luncheon in view of the fact that the three senior RAF Officers will be in attendance at that time.

  6. A minimum of four cars will be required. Distribution of personnel in the cars will be as follows:

    Car One: CAS, AOC 1 Air Div, CO and WAdjt (driver).

    Car Two: AOC-in-C, AOC 12 Gp HQ, Eastern Sector Commander and driver.

    Car Three: CAdo, COpsO, Visit Co-ordinator and driver

    Car Four: CAS EA, C-in-C EA, CTechO and driver.

  7. One car will be available to W/C Edser to enable him to meet the senior RAF Officers who may be arriving by air.

  8. One station wagon to be available for F/L SA Marshall and members of the press.

2 C Ops O

  1. The COpsO to be responsible for ensuring the following:

    1. Formation roll on time

    2. Advising the CO and Co-ordinator of final take-off tiem for practice fly-past.

  2. Ensure that mock exercise is organized

  3. Ensure that all briefing charts are available in Briefing Room as required.

3 PMC

  1. The PMC will be responsible for ensuring that all luncheon arrangements are laid on satisfactorily.

  2. The PMC will ensure, with the concurrence of the CO, that invitations have been sent to the respective RAF commanders who will be invited to the luncheon.

  3. The PMC will ensure that the washroom facilities for the CAS and party in the Officers' Mess are clean and adequate.

  4. The luncheon party will consist of 18 delegated officers to fill the head table which will be place lengthwise on the east side of the dining room.

  5. The PMC will ensure that all officers except those delegated to attend the luncheon are advised that they must be finished eating at 1200 hours. These officers will then group themselves in the ante room as outline in main itinerary.

4 S Mess O

  1. Ensure that coffee and cookies are available in Briefing Room for visiting party. Refreshments to be served by waitress to approximately 15 people.

  2. Messing Officer will co-ordinate with PMC on luncheon arrangements, ie, menus, seating arrangements, etc.

  3. Messing Officer will co-ordinate with PMC to arrange an extra table to provide luncheon for members of press and public relations personnel, (approximately eight to 10 people).

5 Public Relations

  1. W/C Edser has been appointed by the CO to ensure that the visiting senior RAF commanders are met and taken care of until the arrival back at the Officers' Mess of the CAS, CO, and party.

  2. F/L Brunton to arrange all facilities for CJS PRO and press members.

  3. F/L Brunton to contact the local press and arrange for facilities to these personnel

6 Photography

  1. Three photographers will be in attendance to photograph the arrival of CAS. The first photograph to be taken at aircraft with subsequent photographs taken at saluting base.

  2. One RCAF photographer to accompany party throughout tour.

  3. One RCAF photographer to be in attendance at Officers' Mess during reception.

  4. Match box folders will be provided by Photo Section to all senior visitors in the quantity of 25 each - (CAS, C-in-C, AOC Air Div, AOC 12 Grp, Eastern Sector Commander and CO). These boxed matches to be delivered to CO before 1330 hours in the Officers' Mess.

7 Guard of Honour and Band

    Guard of Honour and band to be in position by 0950 to meet the CAS and party.

  1. Guard of Honour and band to be in position by 1415 for departure of CAS and party.

8 General

SWO to ensure saluting base and flags are in position well in advance of arrival.

Available information indicates that CAS will be accompanied only by his executive assistant, W/C Gillespie.

(DT Bain) S/L
Visit Co-ordinator