Canberra Boys by Andrew Brookes

Author:Andrew Brookes [Brookes, Andrew]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, Military, Aviation, Europe, Great Britain, 20th Century, 21st Century
ISBN: 9781911621515
Google: TNIcEAAAQBAJ
Publisher: Casemate Publishers
Published: 2017-07-10T00:30:28+00:00

31 squadron aircrew in august 1964 with the boss, wg Cdr Peter scott, on the canopy and Graham Pitchfork by the engine nacelle. (Graham Pitchfork)

Competitions were a major annual feature for a PR squadron in Germany. The first was the RAF’s Sassoon Trophy competed for by the three Canberra squadrons (17, 80 and 31) and two Hunter fighter reconnaissance squadrons (2 and 4) based at Gütersloh. We practised assiduously for both when most of the squadron crews carried out weeks of training before five and a reserve crew were selected for the competition. In our first year, Terry Close and I were included in the team. As the junior boy under the spotlight I was, quite naturally, very nervous.

Crews took off at one-hour intervals throughout the day. Each aircraft in turn was positioned on the taxiway just outside the squadron planning room some fifty yards away. The crew prepared the aircraft in advance and reached it by jumping out of the crew room window.

The umpire issued the task of three targets with an entry and exit point. After a very close assessment of the geographic features around the target, the direction of approach was decided for the port oblique. The nav selected the initial point (IP) and drew the target run as the pilot prepared a route map. The entry and exit points had only to be recognisable on the photograph but the targets had to be perfect for the photographic interpreter (PI) to prepare his post-flight report. Thirty minutes was allowed from issue of the task to engines start.

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