History 1950 - 56 (3)

traditional in its setting.

Though such ceremony could not accompany the celebrations in the Canal Zone a large display, both static and flying, was staged at Deversoir. The Squadron’s aerobatic team, consisting of Flight Lieutenant Hallatt and Flying Officers Corner, Greensmith and Waterton, gave a display a novel feature of which was a loop with coloured smoke streaming from underwing containers. In light hearted vein a rather phoney air race, in which throttle opening was restricted, was staged before the assembled throng. Pilot Officer Kemp cheating his hardest came a very close second to a deep breathing, lumbering NF11!! Then after rapid refuelling of all aircraft the entire Squadron took off for a full scale flypast.

August saw the resumption of the daily reconnaissance task over the Nile Delta and Port Said area which made a change from the many months of activity as a high level day fighter Squadron. Liaison with other Squadrons in the area was always productive and as a result of bomber affiliation exercises in October a small private exchange was carried out with a member of 214 Squadron. The 214 pilot flew in the Meteor 7 while a 208 pilot flew in a Lincoln. Both pilots however expressed the desire to remain in their respective Squadrons; indeed the 214 pilot was most adamant on this point!

History - 1950 - 1956 (3)

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Once again the Squadron was called upon to assist in policing duties when, in April, a detachment of four aircraft were flown to Sharjah in the Persian Gulf. Their job was to provide intensive tactical reconnaissance along the Trucial Oman Coast with deep penetration south of Buraimi Oasis in support of ground forces to deny Saudi Arabian infiltration of troops and supplies to the Emir at Buraimi. Apart from occasional detachments for APC or duties such as the above the Squadron continued in its peacetime training role and was able to devote a certain amount of time to formation flying. The first week in June was entirely devoted to rehearsals and flying displays at stations throughout the Canal Zone in celebration of the Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second on 2nd June. In a London bedecked with flags and buntings, gay, lively and thronged with peoples of all nationalities there was enacted a scene, historic in its acts of pageantry and splendour,