LIFE ABOARD H.M.S. MANXMAN - 1956-7
By ex-Able Seaman Michael J. Salts
NATO Exercise - 'Medflex Dragon'
Medflex Dragon was the name given to our biggest exercise. This was carried out in mid-April 1956. A total of sixty four ships took part and quite a number of aircraft. The ships were from USA, France, Portugal, Italy, Greece and, of course, Britain. Had I spent more time on the upper deck and/or bridge I might be able to give more detail of the numerous activities involved. Suffice to say lots of steaming, signalling, gunnery, etc., engaged our full attention and we had to spend much time at ‘action stations’ or ‘defence stations’. At the end of the exercise all of the participating ships steamed along the coast of Malta in two columns, line astern, while HMS Surprise, with the Supreme Allied Commander (General Gruenther), Admiral Sir Guy Grantham and the Commander in Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet aboard, sailed between the two columns escorted by a flotilla of Coastal Command Patrol Boats. At the same time a squadron of allied aircraft flew over in salute. It was very impressive sight and the Maltese newspapers published a number of articles and pictures.
More details of Aircraft involvement: (pdf download)
http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1956/1956%20-%200516.html