K Parry Could you please give some hints as to the accuracy of the statement re Olds being an Exchange CO.
Robin Olds time on 1(F) Sqn was long before mine. All I can do is quote from Mike Shaw's book:
"The squadron's first USAF exchange officer arrived at Tangmere in October 1948. This was Major Robin Olds..... he was posted in as a Flight Commander....It was no surprise that when Sqn Ldr Burne was posted in March (meaning 1949), the Air Ministry approved the appointment of Major Olds as CO of 1 Sqn for the rest of his tour in England. This was the first time that an officer of a foreign Air Force had commanded an RAF squadron in peacetime."
In the Appendix listing COs of No 1 (F) Sqn, Major Olds is shown as in command from 4 Feb 1949 (yes, Feb, despite the above mention of March) until his successor was in post on 1 Oct 1949.