An Cosantóir

70 many functions and operations including fighter leader courses, instructor's courses, ground attack exercises in co-operation with army units, fighter interceptions with Ansons, Avro 19's and Miles Mas- ters from Baldonnel, and the usual ceremonial fly pasts. During the period 1949 to 1954 the squadron undertook a complete photographic survey of the coast. A rather unique part of the undertaking was the use of RAF Ballykelly and RNAS Eglinton in order to cover the area of Donegal. One Derry resident recalls how impressed his father was (a civilian employee at Eglinton) to watch three Irish Seafires execute a close formation take off maintaining im- peccable station. The flight leader on this occasion? None other than D.K Johnson. This writer has been told many heads turned to watch. The squadron during its Seafire period (and unlike the Hurricanes which killed no one) suffered two fatalities. On 22 May 1953 Seafire no. 148 flown by Lt. Coghlan crashed into the sea off Balbriggan on approach to Gormanston at the end of a forma- tion flight. It followed an earlier fatality on 28 May 1951 involving Seafire no. 154 Capt. Billy Ryan, who crashed during a finger four formation exercise. Dur- ing a climb the pilots lost sight of one and other and in accordance with standard operational procedure each in turn broke away. It was during the descent that disaster struck when he broke cloud too late to avoid hitting the mountains above Kilbride. The other three pilots namely Capt. O'Connor, Lt. Glenn and Lt. Farrelly successfully emerged from the thick cloud and returned to Gormanston. Capt. Ryan was a most popular and competent officer and a great loss to the squadron. The Seafires soldiered on until 1955 and were at times supplemented by the two-seater Spitfire train - ers, which were, incidentally, faster than the Seaf- ires! With new runways completed at Baldonnel, the Air Corps received its first jet aircraft the Vampire T55 Trainer and signalled the move from Gorman- ston to Baldonnel in 1956. The Vampire served the squadron well and suffered nothing more serious than wheels up landings by two Vampires on the runways. There was little damage other than pride. The Vampires first and only aircraft with ejector seats had cause to use it once only, when on 5 May 1961 Lt. Mc Partland ejected over Cavan, after loss of stability when flying with Comdt. JB O'Connor. Following the ejection Comdt. O'Connor regained control and brought his Vampire back to Baldonnel. Lt. Mc Partland landed successfully and the canopy and seat were recovered from the Mullagh area of Co. Cavan. Six Fouga CM170 Super Magisters were purchased to replace the ageing Vampires and with it came a new designation for the squadron, as a result of the reorganisation of the Air Corps, the unit became Light Strike Squadron. The squadron was to adopt a much higher public profile as a result of appearanc - es at numerous airshows, with its aerobatic team, the Silver Swallows. The various pilots with the team over the years proved that their expertise is second to none and are always the highlight of the shows. The Magisters or the Fougas as they are popular- ly known, unlike their predecessors, afforded the public the opportunity to see the Air Corps in action during displays by the superb teams which com- prise, at different times, the Swallows. Like other units, it offered the general public the opportunity to appreciate all the more the fine qualities of the small but efficient Air Corps. The Vampires continued the tradition of carrying the unit badge on the nose of the aircraft, and at least one Vampire was always to be found with the badge. This writer can only recall seeing it on two of the Magisters some years ago, how about it lads? Groundcrew attend to their Seafire in Gormanston, Summer 1948 No 1 Fighter Squadron by Comdt Horgan at Baldonnel BEAGACH FIACHMAR – NO 1 FIGHTER SQUADRON

• Cover