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Aviation History
1917
1917 - 0022.PDF
JAHUABY 4, J9I7. THE AERONAUTICAL SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN AND THE SOCIETY OF BRITISH AIRCRAFT CONSTRUCTORS. An important function of the Standing Committee will be to act as the channel of communication by which the govern- ing bodies^'of the societies are to be kept in touch. It will advise the governing bodies upon matters affectingftheir common interests, will consider questions of policy, and will recommend to the respective governing bodies whether joint action is or is not desirable on any matter coming within the scope of the Standing Committee. It is laid down that all questions relating to scientific and technological research arising from the mutual action of the two societies shall be dealt with by the Aeronautical Society, • and similarly all industrial questions shall be dealt with by the Society of British Aircraft Constructors. A very important provision deals with the setting up of Technical Committees for special purposes. These are to be established by the Aeronautical Society on the recommendation of the Standing Committee, and will in all cases be composed of an equal numl>er of representatives of each society. Like the Standing Committee, these special committees will have power to invite the assistance of representatives of other bodies, and Government Departments. It. will be seen that the foregoing arrangements provide for a Standing Committee to consider questions of policy generally, while the Technical Committees will investigate particular problems, concentrating upon them the special expert knowledge of all the interests concerned. IT is officially notified to us that an agreement likely to have far-reaching effects upon the development of aero- nautics has lately been entered into between the Aero- nautical Society trf Great Britain and the Society of British Aircraft Constructors as the result of conferences between the two btxlies. The main objects of the agreement are to provide for the co-operation and mutual support of the two bodies in their respective spheres, to develop and co-ordinate aeronautical research and generally to link up the scientific and industrial aspects of aeronautics. Under the agreement in question the Aeronautical Society of Great Britain is recognised as the paramount and repre- sentative body of the scientific and technological aspects of aeronautics, while the Society of British Aircraft Constructors is recognised as the paramount and representative body of the British aircraft industry. The Aircraft engine is covered by these provisions. The arrangements which have been made provide for the setting up of a Standing Committee consisting of equal numbers of the members of the Council of the Aeronautical Society and of the members of the Committee of Management of the Society of British Aircraft Constructors. This Stand- ing Committee will have power to invite representatives of Government Departments and other bodies to assist in ite deliberations. THE ROLL, REPORTED by the Admiralty:—„. Accidentally Injured. Flight Sub-Lieut G. C. V. Hewson, R.N. Flight-Lieut. J. E. Minifie. R.N. Prisoner of War. Lieut. F. H. Mitchell, K.N.V.K. Reported by the War Office :— Previously reported Missing, now reported Killed. 2nd Lieut. G. Hetlderwick, D.G., attd. R.F.C. • and Lieut. F. M. l^awlcdgc. R.E. and R.F.C. 2nd Lieut. T. G. G. Sturrock, R. Scots, attd. R.F.C. Capt. C. R. Tidswell, Dragoons and R.F.C. 2nd Lieut. J. C. Wilson, Black Watch and R.F.C. Previously reported Missing, now reported Died of Wounds as Prisoner of War in German hands. 2nd Lieut. H. Thompson, R.F.C. Accidentally Killed. ; and Lieut, H. D. Pasldey. R.F.C. OF HONOUR. , Wounded.Lieut. W. O. Boger, Can. Cav., attd. R.F.C. 2nd Lieut. W. K. M. Britton, R. Munster Fus., attd. R.F.C.2nd Lieut. G. C. Gardener, R.F.C., attd. Mach. Gun. Corps. 2nd Lieut. J. B. Jones, R.F.C.Lieut. W. B. Kellogg, R.F.C. Missing.Lieut. W. M. V. Cotton, R.F.C. 2nd Lieut. L. G. D'Arcy, Connaught Rangers, attd. R.F.C.Lieut. D. W. Davis, Can. Gen. List, attd. R.F.C. 2nd Lieut. N. Fiske, R.F.C. Lieut. J. A. Hollis, East Yorkshire Regt., attd. R.F.C.Capt. A. G. Knight, R.F.C. Lieut. R. Smith, East Surrey Regt., attd. R.F.C.Lieut. C. H. Windrum, Royal West Kent Regt., attd. R.F.C. * Previously reported Missing, now reported Prisoners of War in German bands.Lieut. A. Anderson, Connaught Rangers and R.F.C. 2nd Lieut. T. H. Clarke, Army Ordnance Dep., attd. R.F.C.2nd Lieut. L. C. L. Cook, A.S.C., attd. R.F.C. 2nd Lieut. H. A. Hallam, York and Lans., and R.F.C.Lieut. G. F. Knight, Devonshire and R.F.C. Capt. T. Mapplebeck, King's (Liverpool), attd. R.F.C. Sir Douglas Haig's Despatch. IN the despatch dated December 23rd, 1916, publishedas a supplement to the London Gazette on December 29th; describing the battle of the Somine, there are the followingreferences to the work of the R.F.C. Writing of the German trenches between the Somme andthe Ancre, Sir Douglas Haig says :— " The second system itself, in many places, could not l>eobserved from the ground in our possession, while, except from the air, nothing could be seen of his more distantdefences. . . . " On June 25th the Royal Flying Corps carried out a generalattack on the enemy's observation balloons, destroying nine of them, and depriving the enemy for the time being of thisform of observation. ... " On the same day (September 26th) Gueudecourt wascarried, after the protecting trench to the west had been captured in a somewhat interesting fashion. In the earlymorning a Tank started down the portion of the trench held by the enemy from the north-west, firing its machine gunsand followed by bombers. The enemy could not escape, as we held the trench at the southern end. At the same timean aeroplane flew down the length of the trench, also firing a machine yun at the enemy holding it. These then wavedwhite handkerchiefs in token of surrender, and when this was reported by the aeroplane the infantry accepted the surrenderof this garrison. By 8.30 a.m. the whole trench had been cleared, great numbers of the enemy had been killed, and eight officers and 362 other ranks made prisoners. Our totalcasualties amounted to five. " In this combination between infantry and artillery theRoyal Flying Corps played a highly important part. The admirable work of this Corps has been a very satisfactoryfeature of the battle. Under the conditiqps of modern war the duties of the Air Service are many a'nd varied. Theyinclude the regulation and control of artillery fire by indicating targets and observing and reporting the results'of rounds ;the taking of photographs of enemy trenches, strong points, battery positions, and of the effect of bombardments ; and theobservation of the movements of the enemy behind his lines. " The greatest skill and daring has been shown in the per-formance of all these duties, as well as in bombing expedi- tions. Our Air Service has also co-operated with our infantrvin their assaults, signalling the position of our attacking troops, and turning machine-guns on to the enemy infantry and evenon to his batteries in action. Not only has the work of the Royal Flying Corps to becarried out in all weathers and under constant fire from the ground, but fighting in the air has now become a normal pro-cedure, in order to maintain the mastery over the enemy's Air Service. In these rights the greatest skill and determina-tion have been shown, and great success has attended the efforts of the Royal Flying Corps. I desire to point out,however, that the maintenance of mastery in the air, which is essential, entails a constant and liberal supply of the mostup-to-date machines, without which even the most skilful pilots cannot succeed."
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