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Aviation History
1913
1913 - 0605.PDF
JUNE 7, 1913. THE KING'S BIRTHDAY ON LAFFAN'S PLAIN. THERE have been many picturesque ceremonies round about Aldtrshot in the pist, but never before has there l>een one which appealed to the public as the parade of troops and aeroplanes in honour of His Majesty's Birthday did on Tuesday last, and which they showed in unmistakable manner by the cheers that resounded the lengih and breadth of the plain. Lallan's Plain is no small place, bu' it was hard put to it on Tuesday to accommodate the vast number of troops and visitors that assembled to honour their King on the parade ground, which was perhaps a mile and a half long by three-quarters of a mile wide. On this enclosure five brigades of troops took part in the parade under the command of Lieut.-Col. Sir Douglas Haig, in addition to a section of the Royal Flying Corps Military Wing, with a fleet of thirteen aeroplanes and two airships. It was a truly magnificent day ; real "King's weather "prevailed, the sun seeming to join with mankind in making its bravest show. The sight of so many troops during the march pist, all in parade dress with bands playing and colours flying, was a sight to be remembered. Add to this thirteen aeroplanes and two airships, all in the air together, and you have a picture worthy of the brush of a painter. Precisely at noon, the Union Jack was broken from the flagstaff on Bridge Hill. On this signal the First Heavy Brigade R.G.A. fired a Royal Salute of 21 guns, from a position south of the canal, and with three cheers for His Majesty, and the massed bands playing the National Anthem, every hat came oft, and every helmet and busby was hoisted bayonet-hign throughout the whole mass of troops. The effect of this simultaneous movement over the whole of the plain was very curious to the onlooker. It seemed as though the mass of humanity had started to grow two or three feet higher in as many seconds, as the thousands of helmets rose with one movement into the air. The troops then took up their formation for the march past, the aeroplanes coming first, and very fine they looked as they " taxied" along one behind the other at intervals of about 50 yards. On the completion of the march [ftlGHTl past at a walk, the Cavalry, Royal Horse Artillery, Koyal new Artillery, and 1st Field Troop Royal Engineers trotted past. Then the R.H.A. and Cavalry Brigade galloped past, and finally the Royal hiving Corps, represented by thirteen aeroplanes. and two airships—the "Gamma" and the "Beta"—flew past. The machines flew at an altitude of about 150 ft., and each (includ ing the airships) on passing the saluting paint, dipped almost to the ground, the graceful way in which the manoeuvre was carried out being very impressive. The airships in particular showed the ease with which they can be handled, descending as they did within a few feet of the earth, and then up again in a gentle sweeping movement. When the cavahy came past at the gallop the excitement wat intense. Everylwdy seemed bent on shouting themselves hoarse. It is surprising how the rapid movement of a liody of troops excites the sporting element in the nature of the English nation. Men threw their hats in the air, and gentle ladies clapped their hands and screamed with delight. Had it been the finish of some great race, the excitement could not have been more intense. Having finished the march past, the troops continued in the direction W Aldershot, and as far as the eye could reach was one mass of scarlet uniforms, intermingled with the glitter of bayonet and sword. The aircraft taking put in the proceedings were : The " Gamma " and " Beta • airships, four BE-type biplanes, six Maurice Farmans, two Henry Farmans, and the l.C.S. Bleriot, During the time the machines were engaged in flying past the saluting point, a rather curious and interesting thing nappened. An enormous flock of crows, many thousands strong, came flying along in the opposite direction, at exactly the same altitude as the machines, the pilots having to deviate right and left, over and under the birds to clear. One pilot on a Maurice Karman, evidently wishing to pal their composure to the test, flew straight at them, but when within a very few yards had to make a tremendously steep left hand turn and dive. Meanwhile the crows flew tin without the slightest concern.
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