Just out of interest I have been doing a little googling around this morning whilst topping up on caffeine levels
Sabre 'Reliability' - a couple of random extracts from the 'Jever Steam Laundry' website - ref target towing at Sylt....
https://www.jeversteamlaundry.org/4fm540jul52.htm
7.7.52
Flag after flag was cancelled - four of them - due to Tempest unserviceability. This is quite distressing, because we need 120 sorties to complete our task, and the weather is perfect.
8.7.52
A steady programme was flown until the towing aircraft broke down at 15.00 hours
9.7.52
This was the worst day. Six Tempests were cancelled, because it was found to be difficult or impossible to start them.
The Tempests were hangared at Sylt in peacetime conditions so not having serviceability problems caused by front line/outside parking etc.