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Aviation History
1916
1916 - 1140.PDF
[/QGHI DECEMBER 21, 1916. ourselves, have constantly urged upon the-Govern ment that it is a matter of the gravest national import that the service should be put upon a proper footing and its affairs removed from the sphere of inter-departmental jealousies. The new Government is much to be congratulated upon the work already accomplished and on the promise of the future. our hardly won supremacy of the air. Its first announcement on the subject, slight as it may be in fact, is a sufficient indication that for the first time since the beginning of the war the Air Service is regarded with the seriousness it deserves. From every point of view this is a matter for satisfaction to every one, and in particular to those who, like m m FINAL REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE ADMINISTRATION AND COMMAND OF THE R.F.C, was entirely divorced from the Royal Flying Corps, much of the Trade jealousy of the R.A.F. would, we hope, disappear. We would have aeroplanes and engines, whether of private or of R.A.F. design, tested by the Royal Flying Corps at, say, the Central Flying School quite independently of the Equip ment Department in any of its branches. It would prpbably be necessary for this purpose to add to the staff at Upavon mechanical engineers of high standing. Q III.—We recommend that, during the war, and until our ideal of interchangeable observers and pilots is reached, observers should receive promotion without having to become pilots, and that a corps of observers be formed with a regular establishment graded for promotion among themselves. IV.—There are one or two minor recommendations which obviously arise out of our Report, such as the tightening of discipline in the upkeep of school machines. These we do not think it necessary to repeat. We have finished the duty we were asked to perform. The task of fault-finding, always unpleasant, became more and more distastefrl to us as we proceeded with our inquiries. When we look back to the Royal Flying Corps at the outbreak of war setting out with its 100 or so pilots, its 66 aero planes for the Front, and with its 20 serviceable ones at home for training, when we remember that none of its engines were of British design, and that it was dependent upon the goodwill of our Allies, the French, for much of its material, and when we see it now increased out of all recognition in numbers and efficiency of its aeroplanes, with their vastly improved engines, its ability to rely upon British manufac turers to supply its needs, its training schools, its aerodromes, its equipment, its pilots and observers, its army of mechanics, it seems as though the Royal Flying Corps is a new creation. Our admiration is increased when we remember that all the work necessary to bring it into its present state of effi ciency has been done while bearing the heavy burdens of rendering such services as the Army required of it in the Field and on the fronts. A microscopic examination has disclosed some mistakes, as we think. How could it be otherwise ? General Hender son has told us that the responsibility is his for such short comings as there are. We ascribe them to the difficult posi tion in which he was placed. The gratitude and thanks which are his due for a great work devotedly undertaken and well done he will, we know, be glad to share with the officers and men who have served under him, whether as Commander of the Royal Flying Corps or as Director-General of Military Aeronautics. THIS report, signed by the Chairman, Mr. Justice Bailhache and the other members of the Committee, was issued on Wednesday, and consists of 25 foolscap pages of printed matter. After dealing in detail with the charges, &c, their recommendations and final remarks are as follows :— I.—Our first recommendation, and that to which we attach greatest importance, is that the equipment of the Royal Flying Corps should be entirely separated from the executive command. General Henderson's position as Commander of the Royal Flying Corps, responsible for it as a fighting arm and at the same time responsible as Director-General of Military Aeronautics for its equipment, is an impossible position for any man to fill now that the Royal Flying Corps has grown to its present dimensions, and especially in view of its probable further growth. There seems no reason why this change should not be made at once. There are officers on the Directorate of Military Aeronautics who have now sufficient experience to take over equipment and deal with it independently. Whether there should some day be a united air service combining the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service we are not in a position to say. However that may be, we see no reason against having one Equipment Depart ment charged with the equipment of both the Army and Navy Flying Services. There would no doubt be inter- Service jealousy to contend with, but that should not be. allowed to stop a much needed reform. There could hardly be a stronger illustration of the need for a united equipment service than the fact that, at the beginning of the war, the manufacturing resources open to the two Services were divided between them without any possible knowledge of how the division would work out in practice, a division which has in fact given rise to many difficulties. We have seen how separate Equipment Departments for each Service led to friction in France, and how the friction ceased when one officer was sent there for both Services. A joint Equipment Department would, in our view, tend to abolish competition and friction between the Services and make for increased efficiency. II.—We think the continued existence of the R.A.F. is essential. It should not, in our opinion, become a manufac turing establishment, but should confine its activities, as at present, to the five subject stated in our Report, namely :— (i) Trial and experiment. 2) Research. (3) Preparation of drawings. (4) Repairs. (5) Manufacture of spares. The R.A.F. would need to be controlled by the Equipment Department of Military Aeronautics, but if this department <8> • An Air Ministry at Last. IN the House of Commons on Tuesday, the Home Secretary. Sir George Cave, moved to insert in the New Ministries and Secretaries Bill a clause setting up an Air Board, to consist of a President and other members, for the purpose of organising and maintaining the supply of aircraft in the national interest in connection with the present war. The President will be deemed to be a Minister and the Air Board a Ministry. The clause was inserted in the Bill, as also was the following clause:—The Air Board shall, in relation to aircraft, have such powers and duties of any Government Department or authority, whether conferred by statute or otherwise, as His Majesty may, by Order in Council, transfer to the Board, or authorise the Board to exercise or perform concurrently with or in consultation with the Government Department or authority concerned. D.S.O. for Zepp. Strafer. His MAJESTY THE KING has been graciously pleased <$> <$> to appoint Temporary Second Lieut. Ian Vernon Pyott, R.F.C., a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, in recognition of conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in connection with the destruction of an enemy airship. Another Military Medal for R.F.C. % IN the list of men upon whom His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to award the Military Medal for bravery in the field, announced in the London Gazette on December 14th, the following appeared :— G. 26969 2nd Class Air-Mech. T. ROBINSON, R.F.C., late R. Innis. Fus. 1 Recruits Wanted for the Ant i- Air craft Corps. AN opportunity occurs for men over military age who wish to do their bit at home, as there are vacancies for such men to relieve men fit for general service who are now going abroad. The headquarters are at 4, Whitehall Gardens, from where full particulars can be obtained. , III2
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