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Aviation History
1916
1916 - 0701.PDF
AUGUST 17, 1916. of the men who, immediately on hearing of the accidents-to these two officers, went up to take their places. (q.) No. 205.—Not in Hansard. Statement by Mr. Pemberton Billing.—Desmond Arthur was killed on some type of B.E. machine which had been repaired by the Royal Aircraft Factory. The repaired part broke at 4,000 ft. up and the pilot was pitched out. Suggestion.—Faulty design or bad repair. ' Facts.—The date was May 28th, 1913. The place, Mont rose. There was a suggestion made at the time that there had been a patch on the,outside of the right wing of the plane, and that someone had broken the tip of the wing, then repaired it, and put a patch ovtr the repaired part, the suggestion being that this was done by someone with a view to hiding some damage which he had done to the machine. The matter was closely inquired into at the time by a Com mittee of which Mr. H. T. Baker, M.P., was Chairman. The Committee have had the notes of the whole of the evidence given to that Committee before them. There were some 23 witnesses. The suggestion depends on the unsupported evidence of one man out of these 23 witnesses. No useful purpose would be served in re-opening the matter, especially as some of the witnesses called have since been killed. A perusal of the transcript of the notes of evidence leads to the conclusion that the suggestion of the patch is quite unfounded. To sum up, flying even at home is at present attended with considerable danger. It is imperative that every-precaution S m AVIATION IN Air Board Policy. MR. BROOKES, on August 9th, asked the Prime Minister whether before the holidays he will be in a position to make any statement on the policy of the Air Board ? Major Baird (representing the Air Board) : My noble friend proposes, during the recess, to make a report to the War Committee. Until that report is in the hands of the Prime Minister, he will not be in a position to make any statement on the subject. Anti-Aircraft Defences. MR. BROOKES asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is now satisfied that he has at his disposal all necessary means for dealing with the Zeppelin attacks; and, if not, whether he is taking adequate measures to obtain them ? Major Baird : I regret that I cannot add anything to the written answer which I gave on 31st July to my hon. friend, wherein I stated that the development of air defences of the country has made great progress, and is proceeding as rapidly as the manufacturing output and the needs of our forces abroad permit. Mr. Billing : Will the hon. gentlemafTsay whether that still holds good after last night's raid; whether women and children were killed last night; and whether that is likely to recur under the existing organisation of the defences ? Major Baird : It still holds good, and all the more ! The hon. member must know that these unfortunate things cannot be avoided in time of war. We are greatly improving the defences, and I think the Germans are more aware of it than anybody else. Mr. T. Ferens asked on August 10th if it is a fact that in one important city on the East Coast in which lives were lost early on the previous morning through an air raid that there was only one gun and one poor searchlight used ; and will he take means to ensure that adequate defences against air raids are provided and brought into action when necessity arises ? Major Baird (representing the Air Board) : The Zeppelin which crossed a portion of the town referred to was fired at during the whole of the time that it was within effective range of the anti-aircraft defences. It passed high over the town and at great speed. The searchlight used was of a recent and powerful type. The anti-aircraft defences of the locality have been strengthened during the last month, and further improvements are being made in accordance with the general scheme of anti-aircraft defence, which is being carried out as rapidly as circumstances permit. Sir J. Walton : Is the hon. and gallant gentleman aware that the searchlight failed at another point on the coast ? Major Baird : I shall be very glad to have any matter (/PS) should be taken to reduce that danger to a minimum. No one could complain if Mr. Pemberton Billing had asked that these cases should be inquired into to ascertain whether the deaths of the men might have been prevented, but to base upon these accidents charges of criminal negligence or murder is an abuse of language and entirely unjustifiable. The Committee think it right to say that Mr. Pemberton Billing made other criticisms and suggestions of a totally different character. Some of these deserve and will receive careful consideration. There is one general observation the Committee desire to add to this interim report. There has been an enormous expansion of the Flying Service since the war, and all the critics of the Service without exception have borne testimony to the great progress made in its efficiency—a progress which, although most noticeable since the beginning of this year, is in the opinion of the Committee the result of many months of strenuous work. To this efficiency the recent reports from the front bear eloquent witness. The members of the Committee are : The Honf Mr. Justice Bailhache (Chairman); General Sir H, L. Smith-Dorrien, G.C.B., G.C.M.G., D.S.O.; The Hon. Sir Charles Parsons, K.C.B., F.R.S. ; Messrs. J. H. Balfour Browne, K.C. i J. G. Butcher, K.C., M.P.; Edward Shortt, K.C.. M.P. ; Charles Bright, F.R.S,E., with Mr. D. Cotes-Preedy, M.A., LL,M., as Secretary. a m PARLIAMENT. connected with searchlights investigated if the hon. Baronet will be kind enough to give me details. Mr. Pringle : In view of the number of raids which have taken place in this town, could the Department not have done better in the matter of the provision of guns by this time ? Major Baird : I do not think so. Removal of Anti-Aircraft Guns, &c. SIR A. GELDER, on August 14th, asked the Secretary for War why the protection by anti-aircraft guns had been taken away from a certain city on the East Coast after having been used so effectively to repel attacks by Zeppelins for several months past; whether the removal of such guns had resulted in a serious loss of life and property on August 9th ; and whether the military authorities were taking proper steps to immediately replace the guns removed by others of at least equal capacity and number, together with suitable searchlights, for the due protection of the city so that at least it might be guarded as fully as in the past. Major Baird : The suggestions contained in this question are based on an entire misapprehension of the facts in regard to the defence of the particular town which I presume my hon. friend has in mind. It would not be in the public interest to make any detailed statement on the matter. No guns have been removed except on replacement by guns of greater efficiency. The searchlights available in this town are of the approved pattern, and are effective under normal conditions. But their efficiency is inevitably diminished should there happen to be fog and mist. Sir A. Gelder : Is the hon. and gallant geflWeman aware that the statement made on Thursday last in reply to an hon. member and the statement made to-day are quite contrary to the testimony of thousands of people who witnessed the raid ? Major Baird : I am aware that there have been statements made of that kind, but I have given the hon. gentleman the facts, and he cannot get over the facts. The facts are as stated. Mr. Churchill: Is the Air Board responsible for these arrangements ? Major Baird : No. Mr. R. Harcourt: May I ask whether questions on this subject are now addressed to the Air Board, and not to the War Office ? Major Baird : I am asked to answer these questions by my right hon. friend the Secretary of State for War. Mr. Billing : Does the hon. and gallant gentleman definitely state that no guns whatsoever were removed from this par ticular town between the last raid and the one previous to it ? Major Baird : No, Sir, I said nothing of the kind. I said what is the truth, that when guns have been removed they have been replaced by better ones. 699
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