For anyone who ever went to "Deci", a site well worth the time to go through completely. View at"

http://www.decimomannuairbase.com/stori ... glese.html

F/O BATCOCK, Clive Charles (135671) - Air Force Cross - No.422 Squadron, No.4 (F) Wing - Canada Gazette dated 29 October 1960 and AFRO 222/60.

On March 2, 1960, while taking part in a practice air fighting mission in a Sabre aircraft, Flying Officer Batcock's aircraft suffered an engine failure. At that time, he was positioned about 50 miles from base at 42,000 feet with sky completely undercast beneath him. The cloud extended from an uneven base from 1,000 to 5.000 feet and was unbroken to 30,000 feet. Beneath the cloud, visibility was limited by rain and fog. Under these conditions, Flying Officer Batcock, with serious risk to his life, completed a superb forced landing at his home base. Throughout the descent, he remained calm and collected and followed all recognized procedures to cope with the emergency situation with precision and accuracy. Flying Officer Batcock could have, without condemnation, abandoned the aircraft. However, a free-falling aircraft would have been a definite menace to his home base and other populated areas in the vicinity. Flying Officer Batcock's skill, courage and sense of responsibility saved a costly aircraft and the lives of others who might have been endangered by a falling aircraft. His devotion to duty, skill and courage have served as an inspiration and splendid example to fellow aircrew. He is highly recommended as being most worthy of the Air Force Cross

Source:
http://airforce.ca/uploads/airforce/200 ... ardec.html

F/O Pete Howe, pictured third row from the top, 4th in from the left.
F/O P.G. (Pete) Howe, 24, a Sabre pilot from 422(F) Squadron, RCAF 4(F) Wing Baden-Soellingen Germany, Home: Hamilton Ontario, was a member of the 4th ATAF eight-man ski team at Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Skiing 12 yrs. Southern Ontario Championship. 4th ATAF winning team 59.
http://www.rafjever.org/stationpic1034.htm

Colonel (retired) Peter Graham Howe Memorial Flight
http://www.rcaf-arc.forces.gc.ca/8w-8e/ ... sp?id=8920

from Jack M

F/O “CB” Lang, 3rd row, 2nd from right
In 1962, “CB” Lang was chosen to be part of the famed Golden Hawks precision flying team and selected to fly in the difficult slot position. He remained with the Golden Hawks until the team was disbanded in 1964.

In 1966, a decision was made to create a new display team to celebrate Canada's 100th birthday. Lang was named team leader and the Golden Centennaires flew 98 shows in Canada, seven in the United States and two in the Bahamas. Lang retired as a colonel in 1980 and passed away on April 22, 1984.

Creston Valley Advance, January 24, 2011.

http://www.crestonvalleyadvance.ca/news ... obile=true

from Jack Milner

LAC Bob Hawes, 6th row centre.

Bob was with 422 Squadron from October 1958 until the spring of 1962 as an AE Tech. The official 1967 programs for the Centennial Red Knight team showed Bob Hawes and Greg Moore as the Crew Chiefs. The Crew Chiefs for 1969 were both returning veterans. Larry Hunt continued on from his 1968 duties, while Bob Hawes returned to the team after a one-year absence.

http://www.canadianwings.com/Archives/a ... -Knight-24

Bob passed away in the early 90’s

F/L Ron Russell
Top Row 2nd from left

Ron was the son of a member of the RAF and he was born in Alexandria, Egypt on June 2, 1930 while his father was on a foreign posting. At the age of 18 he enlisted with the RAF and served from 1948 to 1950.In 1951 the young pilot became a member of the RCAF and his first tour was as an Instructor on Harvards fom 1953 to 1956.

In 1957 he transitioned to F-86s and was posted to 422 Fighter Squadron at 4 Wing based at Baden Sollingen. His next posting took him to Air Division HQ in Metz, France where he remained until 1961. From Metz he went to Cold Lake, Alberta and by 1965 had become the Chief Flying Instructor. In 1965 Ron headed back to Germany as Deputy Squadron Commander of 427 Squadron on CF-104s. He continued on 104s flying in Zweibrucken and Decimmannu, Sardina. Ron was Chief Operations Officer of the Tri_National(Canada, Germany,Italy) Air Weapons Unit for which he was honoured by being made an honourary pilot in the Italian Air Force.

Obituary for Colonel Ron Russell at:

http://www.427squadron.com/remember.html

LAC Ray Morrison, 7th Row from the top, 5th from left;
e-mail excerpts

I was with 422 from 1958 to 1961 as a Telecom (Com Air) Tech. Boss was:

Sgt. Vern Nelson (4th row from the top, 7th from the left)
and
Cpls Gord Foster 7th row from the top, 7th from the right)
and
Bill Polley (8th row from the top, 3rd from the left).

I have pix of the squadron in Sardinia and Bertrix. Name and rank at the time was LAC Ray Morrison. Retired and living the good life in Comox.

S/L R. G. Murray, AFC, CD,

Top row, left of centre

S/L R. G. Murray was 422 Squadron OC from July ’59 to Aug '60.

ZINKAN, Flying Officer Peter G. Zinkan

2nd row immediately right of centre

Born in Toronto; age 23; enlisted in RCAF, September 1956; trained as jet pilot. Posted in July 1958 to No.422 Squadron, No.4 Wing. Selected in May 1960 for Flying Control duties and sent to No.61 Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron.

Press Release issued in October 1960.

On 2 March 1960, at 4 Fighter Wing, Germany, Flying Officer Zinkan displayed outstanding professional skill which contributed to the safe landing of another aircraft and thereby prevented what could have been a major and possibly fatal accident.

A 4 Fighter Wing Sabre aircraft experienced total engine failure approximately 50 miles from base at an altitude of 42,000 feet. The weather at the time was unfavourable. Cloud extended from a ragged ceiling of 1,000 to 5,000 feet in a continuous layer to 30,000 feet. Beneath the cloud, rain and haze restricted the visibility. On being advised of the engine failure, Flying Officer Zinkan joined the disabled aircraft and flew in a chase position. Throughout the descent which followed, Flying Officer Zinkan provided sound advice to the pilot of the disabled aircraft, monitoring his heading attitude and speed, handled most of the numerous radio transmissions and continuously checked the aircraft for evidence of fire. Flying Officer Zinkan's presence provided moral support as well as assistance to his comrade in effecting a successful forced landing on Soellingen airfield.

http://airforce.ca/uploads/airforce/2009/07/postward

DND Photo, October 1961, Sardinia Trophy Shoot, 422 Squadron high score: 25.26%. View photo at:

http://members.shaw.ca/displayhome/potpo

Not everyone who participated at the shoot is in the photo, thus a lot of faces missing from the accompanying list of names. Note that the ground crew are wearing winter dress, not summers and not in fatigues. The aircrew are in flying gear. That means that this photo was taken just before most of the ground troops boarded the Bristol freighters to return to Baden. The missing ground personnel were busy preparing the sabres for the flight home.

There are spelling errors with some of the names and the individual ranks have been marked in by pen. Reason: The list was typed on a portable typewriter in the early ‘60s when I knew and remembered most of the names. Omissions and errors meant starting over again and the list is now history with some mysterious names I don’t recall 50 some years later.

Jack M

The complete URL for previous post.

http://members.shaw.ca/displayhome/potpourri.htm

Copy and Paste work well when you do it right.

F/O Paul Hayes, 3rd row from the top, 2nd from the left

Paul Hayes is a retired Canadian Air Force Brigadier General with over 7,500 hours in his logbook. He wrote the book “Achtung Saberjetz - Flying the Canadair Sabre with the Luftwaffe by Paul Hayes”. He mentions his 1961 posting from 422 squadron and describes his subsequent experiences in this phase of his career. More details with links at:

http://members.shaw.ca/displayhome/potpourri.htm#hayes

Fatalities
F/O E. GAGOSZ: 3rd row from the top, 1st on left
Sunday, 20 March 1960, automobile accident, Rastatt - Baden area.

F/O J.F. BAXTER: 2nd row from the top, 2nd from left.
17 August 1960, night flight, a/c dove in ground.

http://members.shaw.ca/displayhome/potp ... fatalities

RCAF Choloy War Cemetery, Meurthe-et-Moselle, France. August 24, 1960.

F/O Baxter's parents were there from Canada for the funeral and his mother broke down when the firing party fired the first volley.

"The first volley has a bit of a story as well. Sgt. Fred Brasnett had rehearsed and executed the commands with the firing party many times prior to the sad day. He always maintained the same cadence with his sequence of commands and the firing party was conditioned to this. However, on that day for some reason, Fred paused before giving the command “Fire!” The firing party paused too, but only momentarily, awaiting; everyone fired the first volley in unison without the command. Immediately more attentive, both the firing party and Fred were flawless for the second and third volley. Outside of the firing party, I don't know if anyone attending noticed the absence of the “Fire!” command for the first volley. I for one was relieved that I was not alone when the triggers were all pulled as one."
Jack Milner

On 1 February 1955, F/O Ray Carruthers safely ejected from 23193 off Valencia en route Baden Baden - Rabat.

The Canadair Sabre, 1986, Larry Milberry, page 157

Ray Carruthers of 422 was flying 23193 heading for Rabat and cruising at 39,000 when his engine packed up. There was an explosion, then another on the way down at 12,000. At 6,000 feet it was time to get out. He was adrift for 11 1/4 hours before being picked up by the steamer Sahara. The sea had just about claimed him by that time. In later years he flew CF-104s, F-105s and on the F-111.

http://members.shaw.ca/displayhome/potp ... carruthers