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IN FOREIGN SKIES VA-12 Refuelers Assist French Pioneers of A4D night air refueling now participating with a sister squadron in the evaluation of a modified night refueling drogue, Attack Squadron Twelve was called upon to assist the French Navy with an in-flight refueling project. Refinement of the refueling equipment for the French supersonic Etendard IV led the French Navy to request assistance from the United States Navy. VA-12 aboard USS Franklin D. Roosevelt was selected to provide the aerial refuelers. A two-plane, six-man detachment led by VA-12 skipper, Cdr. Richard J.DePrez arrived at the French Flight Test Center at Istres Air Field near Marseille, France. Solutions to equipment problems and the exchange of refueling techniques highlighted the week of experimentation with Cdr.DePrez and Lt. Paul F. McCarthy flying A4D in-flight refueling equipped aircraft and top French test pilots flying the sleek carrier based fighter-bomber, Etendard IV. Eleven separate flights were flown in the course of the week long project and the French Etendard and the U.S. Navy Skyhawk became well known refueling buddies over southern France. Assisting in the equipment evaluation and aircraft and refueling store maintenance was Mr. John C. Rosen, Douglas Aircraft Corporation representative with Attack Squadron 12. VP-56 Host to Norwegians Patrol Squadron 56 at NAS NORFOLK has been host to six men of the Norwegian Air Force. The Norwegians were assigned to VP-56 to observe anti-submarine warfare tactics and learn the use ASW equipment. This training was essential because the Norwegian Air Force will receive several Grumman UF-2 Albatross aircraft to modernize their ASW team. The first will be delivered in August this year. Until this time, the Norwegians have been flying the PBY-5A Catalina with limited WW II ASW equipment. The new UF's will come equipped with the latest in ASW search and tracking gear and will add greatly to the ability of the NATO countries to protect themselves from any submarine threat. During the flights in VP-56 planes, the Norwegians observed the use of the most modern and complicated ASW equipment and participated in the tactical problems, showing great proficiency with the technical gear. RN's Guided Missile Destroyer Britain's second guided missile destroyer Hampshire, launched in March, is expected to join her sister ship H.M.S. Devonshire next year. Hampshire has a standard displacement of over 5000 tons, an over-all length of 520 feet and a beam of 54 feet. She will carry one Seaslug guided weapons system, four radar-controlled 4.5 inch guns in twin mounting situated forward, and two Seacat close-range guided weapons systems fitted abaft the after funnel. For anti-submarine work, the ship will be fitted with the latest underwater detection equipment and a Westland Wessex helicopter carrying dipping asdic and homing torpedoes has been assigned. [[top right photo caption]] ROYAL VISITOR, RAdm. M.C. Galuarnadis Diskul (L), Commandant of the Royal Thailand Marine Corps, is met by MGen. Avery R. Kier, CG Marine Aircraft Wing, upon his arrival at Marine Corps AF Iwakuni, Japan. [[/top right photo caption]] [[bottom left photo caption]] WHEN RADM R.L TOWNSEND, Commander of the Seventh Fleet Ready Hunter-Killer Group, Capt. P.W. Jackson, skipper of the Task Group flagship Kearsarge, and Cdr. M.W. Wall, Commander of Destroyer Escort Squadron Three, entertained 200 Japanese dignitaries, civic leaders, businessmen and their ladies, and tours of the ship were made. [[/bottom left photo caption]] [[bottom right photo caption]] THE FIRST FOUR of six Grumman Albatross being built for the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force have been delivered under terms of a Military Assistance Program contract. Japan plans to use the rugged amphibians for air-sea rescue purposes. The aircraft shown is taking off from the mouth of Huntington Bay, near Long Island Sound. [[/bottom right photo caption]] [[left]] JULY 1961 [[right]] 37
