FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1915
1915 - 0658.PDF
I/DHHI may prove a valuable step in the development of the type that is some day going to beat the Germans. XXX A propos multiple engines, the form of transmission gear employed in the Beningfield aeroplane is the pro duct of his co-worker, Mr. Henry Walker, M.E., F.C.S., who has his location High Holborn way. This gear oonsists essentially of short chain drives from each engine to its propeller, incorporating free wheel clutches, and an endless chain connecting the two propeller-shafts, so that if one engine is disabled, the other will continue to drive the two propellers. Although it was designed specially for the Beningfield machine, Mr. Walker con siders it thoroughly suitable for other types of aeroplanes or dirigibles, and will be only too pleased to go into details with anybody directly interested. XXX -A visTil. t0 Hendon recently revealed the fact that Hight Lieut. N. Pemberton Billing, in spite of his great amount of good work in the R.N.A.S., has tound time, with his usual phenomenal energy and SEPTEMBER 3, 1915. apparently unlimited capacity for work, to produce a new and somewhat startling aeroplane. The time is hardly opportune to go into details of the new plane, but as it has already made good in its initial performances, it looks as if P. B. should get good reward for his originality, especially as he deserves well of his country in more ways than for the designing of a warplane. XXX The time was when flying was supposed to be an accomplishment attainable only by men in the prime of youth, and it has been frequently maintained that a man was far too old to fly when he was 40. We have already had splendid examples to the contrary, if we only name by way of example Major-General Henderson, who long since took honours in air work, and the late Col. S. F. Cody, whilst recently another proof of the fallacy of the old doctrine has been added by Brigadier-General Hall, C.B., who, although being well over 60 years of age, has just obtained his brevet at the L. and P. School at Hendon. And a very good "ticket," too, I am told. "^OLUS." ® ® ® ® — -^ \i^ \jy AIRCRAFT AND THE WAR. A CENTRAL NEWS message from Athens on the 24th ult. stated:— " A number of Russian aeroplanes flew over the Asiatic suburbs of Constantinople yesterday, and dropped a number of bombs. Thirty Turks, eight Greeks, and three Armenians were killed or wounded. The population of the Turkish capital is in a state of panic." In a Reuter message from Petrograd on Saturday regarding the German attack on Ossowiec/., it was stated :— " In the latter stages of the siege the use of aeroplanes was dis continued, the Germans having received too many reminders of the accuracy of Russian gunneiy." The special correspondent of the Daily Chronicle in Paris, writing on 29th August, said :— " Details of the raid of 60 Allied warplanes on the Forest of Houthulst have reached me. Amongst the three great air raids undertaken by the Allies at the end of this month the most inter esting is without doubt the one which was so successfully accom plished by the 60 Allied warplanes on August 25, when the British, French, and Belgian machines dropped a shower of explosives on the Germans in the Forest of Houthulst in Belgium. The result obtained from the military standpoint was excellent. " The fact that not a civilian was in the whole forest was a strong point in favour of the bombardment, and on August 25, towards 10 p.m., the Allied aviators started on the great adventure. " It was an admirable moonlight night, and signs of anxiety were noticed in the German lines when the war planes were seen approaching their front on Houthulst. Immediately the electricity was extinguished, and the Germans began to make use of their anti-aircraft guns, of which they have numerous batteries all along the line, but they had counted without the blinding brightness of the moon, which rendered the shafts of light from their searchlights absolutely useless in the silver grey light in which the Allied aero planes were almost invisibl:. The enormous number of shells fired by the Germans were ineffectual. There was no casualty to lament. " About four tons of incendiary bombs and explosives were thrown during the entire course of the raid on the enemy barracks and depots. A large number of the warplanes made as many as three successful journeys to get fresh supplies of bombs. The thunder of the enemy's guns vied with the bursting of the explosives, so that pandemonium seemed let loose. The bombs employed were on an average 4.7 and 6-inch. ** The Allies have now incendiary bombs of extraordinary power, and from which a flame goes, on the moment of explosion, nearly 50 metres high, and which illuminates the surrounding country like a gigantic Bengal light. By the light of the fires which had broken out, and which showed up the surroundings, the Allies were able to perceive compact bodies of soldiers retreating into further parts of the wood into safety. " Although so far the extent of the damage is not accurately known, yet nevertheless it is certain that several munition depots exploded, and that a panic ensued. " All who are interested in the gallant little Belgian Army will learn with interest that some of the avaitors who took part in the raid belong to the Belgian Aviation Corps, which is now admirably organised. " This raid by 60 warplanes is but one of the most important of many large raids which are being accomplished daily on this part of the Flanders front. Thus, on the evening of the 24th, 15 aeroplanes bombarded other German military depots, also situated in the neighbourhood of the same forest. " Our aeroplanes have definitely secured the mastery of the air, and harass the enemy ceaselessly." Mr. G. Valentine Williams, writing to the Daily Mail from the British Headquarters on Sunday, said :— " German airmen scattered red and yellow leaflets with details of the fall of Kovno behind our lines in the Hill 60 region yesterday. The red leaflets were printed in English, the yellow in French." A Central News correspondent in Northern France, writing on Sunday, said :— " Friday's bombardment of the military works at Ostend, Middlekerke, and Bruges by Anglo-Belgian avaitors caused immense damage and killed a large number of German soldiers." The following message was sent by Reuter's corre spondent at Petrograd on Monday :— " To the north of Vlodava (thirty miles south of Brest Litovsk) a Russian aeroplane was attacked by three German Albatroses, one of which was brought down by the machine-gun fire, while the other two fled." The following details regarding last week's air raid on Ghent appeared in Monday's Telegraaf:— " On Thursday night several aeroplanes appeared above the aerodrome of Saint Denis, near Ghent. At Ghent wild gunfiring and the explosion of bombs was audible. Shortly afterwards the glare of fire was visible from the town, apparently coming from burning aeroplane sheds." The Morning Post correspondent at Amsterdam, writing on 30th August, said :— "Early on Saturday morning an Allied aviator dropped sever a bombs on Ghent, a large shed being completely destroyed." According to the Central News correspondent in Paris :— " On Friday morning last four French aeroplanes flew over Mulheim, dropping bombs on the railway station and the electric transforming stations between the station and the town. The air men also flew over Fribourg, and threw bombs in the vicinity of Sarrebourg." 658
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
