By June 1957 the gunnery range in Sardina was completed, and on the 26th of that month 439 had the distinction of being the first RCAF fighter squadron to go to No. 1 Air Weapons Unit Decimonnu for air-to-air firing practice. A minimum average score of 20% was imperative for each pilot according to Air Division rules in order to be considered combat ready as a day-fighter pilot. There were some misgivings among the Squadron pilots as to whether this was possible or not , but everyone managed to "hack the programme", and it was a jolly group of Tigers that returned from their first camp to welcome their newly arrived O.C. S/L Cannon.

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No. 1 Fighter Wing - Marville, France