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Aviation History
1914
1914 - 1069.PDF
Flight, October 30, 1914. ^\(f First Aero Weekly in the World. Founder and Editor : STANLEY SPOONER. A Journal devoted to the Interests, Practice, and Progress of Aerial Locomotion and Transport. OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE ROYAL AERO CLUB OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. No. 305. (No. 44, Vol. VI.)] OCTOBER 30, 1914. ERegistered »t the G.P.O.T u a Newspaper. J fWeokly, Price 84. L Poat iTraa, Sid. Flight. Editorial Office: 44, ST. MARTIN'S LANE, LONDON, W.C. Telegrams: Truditnr, Westrand, London. Telephone: Gerrard 1838. Annual Subscription Rates, Post Free. United Kingdom ... 151. od. Abroad 70s. od. CONTENTS. Editorial Comment: The Work of the Royal Naval Air Service " When the Lights are Low " " Anti-Bomb " Insurance " Mentioned in Despatches " Aircraft Work at the Front The Paul Schmitt Biplane (with scale drawings) Royal Aero Club. Official Notices Germany's Airships... From the British Flying Grounds The Beatty Engines The British Air Services The Okill Pressure Indicator Aircraft and the War Models. Edited by V. E. Johnson, M.A. Model Clubs Diary and Reports PAGR ... 1069 ... 1069 ... X070 ... X070 M. X07I ... lO^ ... 1074 ... IO75 ... 1077 ... 1079 ... I080 ... 108l ... IO82 ... 1084 ... 1086 The Work of the Royal Naval Air Service. LlAL, COMMENT. In commenting in our last issue on the eulogium of the Royal Flying Corps in the official despatches of Field-Marshal Sir John French, we pointed out that while there was no official news with regard to the operations of the Royal Naval Air Service, this branch of the country's protection was none the less doing valuable work. Official proof of this is now afforded in the Memorandum issued by the Director of the Air Department, Admiralty, which, although dated October nth, was not available to the Press until towards the end of last week. Although the Memorandum is confined to a brief, one might say almost bald, record of the operations of the Service from September ist to October 8th, it is evident, reading between the lines, that a vast amount of useful work was done during that period both by the aeroplane and armoured motor support of the Naval Wing. Thus, it transpires, for the first time, we believe, that in addition to the long and successful flights to Diisseldorf and Cologne, which have raised considerable, not to say hysterical alarm amongst the Germans, and the previously recorded feat of Commander Samson, they have also been engaged in numerous reconnaissances, and in a number of skirmishes, notably at Cassel, Savy, Aniche, and Orchies. The operations were conducted from Dunkirk and Calais, Commander C. R. Samson, R.N., being in command at the first-named port, and, apparently, Squadron-Commander Spenser Grey at the latter. Doubtless, both these officers, together with Lieut. Collet and Flight-Lieut. Marix, will feel that they were only doing their duty, but it is pleasing to note that their names appear with other flying officers among the list nominated to receive the appointment of Companion of the Distinguished Service Order and for the award of the Distinguished Service Cross in recognition of the services they have rendered. The combined efforts of the Naval and Military Air Services in the work of preventing the enemy's advance in the North of France, are daily so apparent that we look forward with certainty to the issue of further official recognition in the near future. In the meantime, the best wishes of FLIGHT for continued success and safety go out to all who are maintaining the British reputation in the field of aviation, in both branches of the Services. Although we are now, generally speaking, ,."w.he1n. becoming accustomed to the darkened the Lights T , * •.._i-.ii are Low." J-°ridon streets at night time, questions in many directions are beginning to be raised as to the utility of the plan. " Dagonet," in his notes in the Referee, was one of the first to sound the doubtful note, and in his usually interesting style again last week remarked, " Lights up, let 'em all come," " 'em " being, of course, in this case, the Zeppelins, of which we have heard so much but seen so little. In Dagonet's opinion : " The darkening of I -ondon has flooded the hearts of the German spies in our midst with joy. For the extinguishing of lights in a coast town there is good and sufficient reason. Ships steer towards lights. They do not look down upon them from above. If Zeppelins were to come over a brightly-lighted London, they would not in the blaze of light be able from a good height to see any thing but the great glare. It would be one enormous mass of illumination. But with London darkened to the point of blackness, one single ray of light would be dis tinctly visible against the surrounding darkness. This is why the spies rejoice By darkening London, we are really playing into the hands of the enemy." In other quarters the view is being expressed that even if the lowering of the lights reduces the risk of damage associated with the possible visit of hostile B
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