Exercise TOP WEIGHT 1959 Appreciation.jpg [1/2]

Hi Alf

Here's an extract from the Royal Canadian Air Force's No. 439 'Sabre-Toothed
Tiger' (F) Squadron. They flew the Canadair Sabre Mk. 6 and were assigned
to the R.C.A.F.'s Air Division and based at No. 1 (F) Wing Marville, France.
At the time, the unit was commanded by Squadron Leader R. Y. Cannon.

Cheers...Chris


Apr 13 - 19 All personnel on the Wing were called in on Sunday evening in
readiness for exercise Top Weight. Top Weight was a full scale NATO exercise
with many different air forces and aircraft types taking part. Flying
started on Monday noon and continued from dawn to dusk on Thursday. Maximum
effort was achieved, with one hundred percent aircraft serviceable
throughout. Each pilot flew four sorties per day and on Tuesday and
Wednesday the Squadron flew 138:10 and 143:15 hrs respectively. This was
just about a record for a Day Fighter Squadron. Kills were claimed on many
aircraft types, with the bulk of sorties being flown on Fighter sweeps and
Airdrome Defence. When the exercise was over on Thursday the pilots got
pre-Decci shots and proceeded to the mess for a small party. The Squadron
stood down Thursday afternoon for the weekend with a total of **:50 hrs and
330 sorties.