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Aviation History
1914
1914 - 0698.PDF
l/JUsO JULY 3, 1914. ROYAL FLYING CORPS (MILITARY WING) AT NETHERAVON. THE CONCENTRATION CAMP. (Concludedfrom page (>TJ.) Observation of Gunfire and Armament of Aircraft.—The work carried out in this direction has been of an extremely diverse character—balloons, kites and aeroplanes being employed in the exercises—but, as might be expected, the results of the observations made are of a confidential nature and hence we are not at liberty to disclose any matter relating to them in an article such as this. Extremely useful knowledge has, however, been gained during the experiments in the observation of gunfire as to the relative and potential value of the three forms of aircraft, as in the observation of gunfire all were employed, aeroplanes flying over the danger zone and the observers signalling the results of their observations to the firing point. Aeroplanes armed with machine guns, rifles, bombs, &c., have also carried out operations against targets upon the ground, and kites flown in the air, and since the elevations at which the experi ments were carried out were such as to render the aeroplanes practically immune from gunfire from the ground, the conditions were as near as possible similar to those which will actually exist in war time. 1 Transport.—The secret of success in the employment of air craft for military operations lies in the completeness of its organisa tion, and that i« not complete unless the transport is mobile and adequate for the maintenance of the machines in an efficient condition. In war time, each squadron will be provided with a car for the commander, 6 light tenders of the Crossley type for the conveyance °f tigg<™> men and boxes, 6 heavy tenders for the transport of large spare parts, camp equipment, &c, 3 reserve equipment lorries for other spare parts, 3 shed lorries, 3 flight repair lorries fitted with handpower tools, electric lighting plant, small raw material, &c, I heavy repair lorry fitted with machine tools of various descriptions, 1 lorry carrying spare parts and stores for mechanical transport, 1 baggage lony, 1 lorry for petrol and lubricants, 6 motor cycles and 6 trailers. In peace time, the squadrons are accompanied by the tenders, repair lorries, motor cycles and trailers. All squadrons at present in camp are now at full strength excepting No. 6 and No. 2—the latter having left some of its transport at Montrose— the equipment necessary being completed by the loan of spare vehicles from squadrons now forming. In war time the squadron transport would be completed by vehicles provided under the subsidy scheme. It will be observed that most of the lorries and tenders are in groups of three or multiples of three—due to the fact that the transport is thus entirely separate for each of the three flights. Considerable attention has been directed to the exercise of the transport section of the squadrons. Convoy runs have been made by flights and by squadrons during the night as well as during the day. This is most important work as in transport it is essential for the various vehicles forming the convoy to keep in close formation, the distance apart being kept as small as possible so as to minimise the risk of capture in the event of an attack from a hostile force. It will be readily seen that the difficulty in limiting the distance between respective vehicles will increase with the speed and number of gradients negotiated, and be greater at night than during the day, so that since all these vehicles are motor driven and much of the work will from necessity be done at night, it is highly essential that exercises after dark should be frequently made. At one of these night runs at which we were permitted to be present by permission of Col. Sykes, the convoy started at 9 p.m. and arrived back in camp shortly before midnight, making a long detour through the surrounding country, the roads of which are seldom straight for any great distance and which are freely inter spersed with hills of varying gradient. The run was very successful,, the vehicles being in fairly close formation—from 30 to 50 yards apart—throughout the exercise, which, having regard to the type CONCENTRATION CAMP AT^NETHERAVON.-A photograph taken from an "aeroplane while the sports ot me Military Wing of the Royal Flying Corps were in progress on June 20th. 698
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