History 1950 - 56 (4)

but short of bringing back the entire bulkhead it was a hopeless task. Thus although 208 could boast Daring of her fighting strength she could not display her own Crest. Though considerable efforts have been made in recent years to recover the Crest nothing has been seen of it and the wardroom of HMS Daring has since been refitted twice. Perhaps it will turn up again one day but in the meantime an unsigned” one must suffice.

On a more austere note by the end of the year the Squadron had had cause to use the Martin Baker ejection seat on three occasions. In each case the pilot had been saved and the value of this piece of equipment was beginning to be appreciated.

The Squadron commenced 1954 with routine training varied only by tactical reconnaissance sorties flown over Egyptian Forces three times a week. In February the yearly ‘link with civilisation” at Nicosia was enjoyed while the pilots endeavoured to improve their weaponry results. The routine training of the ensuing months was broken in June by an Exercise Quick Return, a return flight of 4 Mk 9’s, plus a Valetta for the ground- crew, to Swartkop, Union of South Africa. The aircraft left on 21st June and arrived at their destination on 25th, via Wadi Haifa, Khartoum, Juba, Entebbe, Tabora, N’Dola and Salisbury.

History - 1950 - 1956 (4)

…...continued

During the month of October a series of events took place the results of which are still not resolved. It started on the 6th when Flying Officers Green and Greensmith went aboard HMS Daring at Port Said with a party of twenty-five airmen and NCOs on a liaison visit. The visit should have lasted 48 hours but ended up by taking four days. The Squadron members returned with a Naval officer and party of sailors. On or about this time the Squadron Crest was noticed to be missing from the bar and two days later the Daring’s Crest mysteriously appeared in its place. On 14th October Flying Officers Burton and Small and Pilot Officer Savory left for a further visit to HMS Daring, this time strictly a 12 hour one, and judging by the reception Naval-RAF relationships were greatly improved. The mystery of the Squadron Crest was solved when it was discovered very firmly bolted to the wardroom wall. Efforts were made to rescue it