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Aviation History
1917
1917 - 0301.PDF
MARCH 29, 1917. AVIATION IN PARLIAMENT. Th« Types of Bomb-Dropping Machines. MR. PEMBERTON BILLING, in the House of Commons, on March 20th, askedthe Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is prepared to consider the standardisation of some type of bomb-dropping machine that they may beproduced in a sufficient quantity to undertake a sustained offensive behind the enemy's lines ? The Parliamentary Secretary to the Air Board (Major Baird): The possibilityof such a standardisation as the hon. Member suggests is being kept in mind. But the production of various types of aeroplanes must be governed by therequirements of the naval and military Services. Mr, Billing asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether the machinesknown as BE 2 C, BE z E, and BE 2 D are now being used for offensive work or for bomb-dropping behind the German lines ; and, if so, what is the averagespeed and climb of these machines ? Major Baird : The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative ;the second part, therefore, does not arise. Mr. Billing : Am I to understand that these machines are not being employedover the lines ? Major Baird : That was not the question the hon. Member put down. Mr. Pringle: " For offensive work," yes. Mr. Billing: Are these machines going over the lines for offensive work ?It is a perfectly straightforward question. Major Baird : It would not be in the public interest to state what kind ofmachines are used. Mr. Billing: Does the hon. and gallant Gentleman appreciate that it wouldbe in the interests of the pilots ? Major Baird : I certainly appreciate that, but the hon. Member must recollectthat any answer given here is at once sent over to Germany, and it does not suit us, in the interests of the pilots or of anybody eke, that the Germansshould have this information. Control of the Royal Aircraft Factory. MR. BILLING asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether Lieut.-Col. O'Gorman is still in control of the Royal Aircraft Factory; and, if not, for what reasons was he removed from his post ? Major Baird: Lieut.-Col. O'Gorman ceased to be superintendent of theRoyal Aircraft Factory upon his appointment as consulting engineer to the Director-General of Military Aeronautics. Mr. Billing : May I ask whether the hon. and gallant Gentleman is awarethat it is the custom of the Director-General of Military Aeronautics constantly to send Lieut.-Col. O'Gorman to the factory and use his influence ? Major Baird: That is altogether contrary to the facts. The Director-General of Military Aeronautics makes the best possible use of Col. O'Gorman. An Observer's Death. MR. BILLING asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether hisattention has been drawn to the particulars in connection with the death of C. J. Jarvis, an aeronautical observer in the Royal Flying Corps; and willhe say what type of machine he was in at the time, and to what cause is his death attributable? «<#* Mr. Macpherson: This officer was in a BE 2 D at the time of his death.I have no details of the casualty, which took place as long ago as October 36th, 1916. * Orders for Sopwith Triplane Scouts. MR. BILLING asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether theorder for the Sopwith triplane scout has been altered or cancelled ; and, if it has been cancelled, will he say when this machine was offered to the autho-rities i when the order was placed; what number were ordered, and what deliveries have taken place, and if this order has been cancelled for what reason ? Major Baird : Parts 2, 3, and 5 of this question are repetition of a questionaddressed to me by the hon. Member on the 12th inst. I regret that I can add nothing to the reply which I then gave him. It would be contrary to thepublic interest to furnish the remainder of the information asked for. Mr. Billing: May I ask whether it is not in the public interest or in theinterests of this House that contracts of this description, which are unfortunate, should be discussed or debated ? Major Baird: No. The interests of the House and of the public, I take it,are the same as the interests of the nation, and at this particular moment it is very undesirable that we should give to Germany information which wouldenable them to know how long it takes us to produce new machines. Mr. Billing: Is the hon. Member not aware that this machine was offeredby this firm twelve months ago this month, and that it took eight months for tie authorities to make up their minds what they were going to do about it ? Major Baird : On a point of Order, Mr. Speaker. I have just invited theattention of the hon. Gentleman to the point that it is not desirable to give information to Germany as to the time which it takes us to get machines out,and he has just stated precisely the thing that I have said, it is not in the public interest to state. Mr. Billing : I should like to point out, Mr. Speaker, that the informationI asked for was not how long it took for us to turn it out, but how long it took our authorities to make up their minds ? Mr. Speaker: That is one disadvantage of asking questions without puttingthem down on the Paper. The Construction of Service Machines. MR. BILLING asked the Prime Minister whether he will take steps to providefor the appointment of one technical head for both the naval and the military branches of aeroplane construction ; and whether he will see that powers aregiven him to control the design and requirements of machines for both of these Services ? The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr. Bonar Law): I see no reason for dis-turbing the present arrangement, which was only recently arrived at after the fullest consideration, whereby the control of the design of aeroplanes and sea-planes to be ordered for both Services is vested in the Air Board, on which both Services and the Ministry of Munitions are represented. Mr. Billing ; Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this administrationhas been responsible for some 500 or 600 machines—at present brand new machines—being deposited in all the available places around ? Is he awarethat I spent the morning going round to these depots and inspecting them ? Mr. Bonar Law: I am certainly not aware of the last part of the questionand I have no reason to believe the accuracy of the first. Another Inquiry Suggested. MR. BILLING asked the Prime Minister, whether, in view of the presentstate of our Air Services, he is prepared to consider the appointment of a Committee of Members of this House privately to inquire into and report uponthe general administration of our Air Services ? Mr. Bonar Law: I am not prepared to accept the suggestion contained inthe question. Mr. Billing: Is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to take some steps toinquire into the present administration and the present condition of affairs in the Department ? Mr. Bonar Law: The subject has been most minutely investigated by the Cabinet, and we are satisfied that everything is being done that can be done atthe moment. Mr. Watt: Was it not on the question of the Air Service that the last Government went out, and has this Government been any improvement ?Mr. Bonar Law : I think the hon. Gentleman is confusing this Government with that of France. Anti-Aircraft Corps. '.' ,' ' MR. GLANVILLB asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether theAdmiralty entered into a contract with the men in the Anti-Aircraft Corps which was not terminable by either party except for ill health or misconduct,or do the Admiralty claim the right of cancelling the contract wnifeit refusing it to the men ? Dr. Macnamara: The Admiralty have full authority to discharge thesemen. Royal Naval Air Service. MR. BILLING asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what has been thecost to the nation for the creation, expansion, and establishment of the Royal Naval Air Service since August 4th, 1914 ? Dr. Macnamara: Even if the clerical work involved in computing the costwere commensurate with the advantages to be gained from it, the Admiralty cannot undertake in the middle of war to give information of this kind abouta fighting service. . Machinery for Aeroplane Building. MR. BILLING asked the Minister of Munitions whether it is the custom ofthe Minister of Munitions to refuse to grant permits for the purchase of neces- sary machinery for the manufacture of aeroplane parts; whether newmachinery capable of this accurate work is standing idle in the warehouses on this account; whether the Ministry have prepared a list of second-handmachines throughout the country, many of which are incapable of producing accurate work; and whether manufacturers are pressed to purchase thesesecond-hand machines by the Ministry ; if so, for what reason ? Sir W. Evans: In order to avoid waste of labour and material in the manu-facture of machinery beyond what is absolutely essential for the production of war material, a special section of the Ministry is charged with tie duty ofscrutinising all demands for new machinery, and of sanctioning or refusing the supply of such machinery in accordance with the circumstances of eachcase. While this scrutiny is being made, it is possible that suitable new machinery may remain unoccupied, but my right bon. friend will be pleasedto investigate any special case of undue delay the hon. member cares to bring to his notice. For the reasons stated, the Ministry endeavours to arrangefor the utilisation of existing second-hand machinery where it is available and technically suitable. Tools Allowance in the R.N.A.S. GENERAL IVOR PHILIPPS, on March 21st, asked the Secretary to theAdmiralty whether A.M.C. ratings in the Royal Naval Air Service are required to find their own tools at an initial cost of £13 10s.; whether he is aware thatthe Admiralty allowance of 3d. per day for the use of these tools in the service of the State is insufficient to cover the cost of the wear and tear of such toolsand provides no funds to pay for the use of the tools in the service of the State or to pay for loss and breakage ; and whether he will consider the desirabilityof providing Government tools or increasing the daily allowance so as to prevent loss falling on the men ? Dr. Macnamara: The circumstances in which these ratings have beenrequired to find their own tools were explained in my answer to my hon. friend the member for the Westhoughton Division on February 21st. These ratingsare generally enlisted from artisans who would already possess most of the tools contained in the list recently drawn up by the Admiralty ; therefore anexpenditure of only a few shillings would be necessary in most cases to bring the man's kit up to Admiralty requirements. Facilities are afforded to pur-chase tools at Government rates, which are considerably below those at present ruling in the retail market. Used Government tools may also be purchasedto complete the kit at four-fifths of the Government rate for new tools. The 3d. per day allowed for upkeep of tools amounts, roughly, to £4 10s. perannum, sufficient to provide a new kit of tools every three years. The allow- ance should, therefore, amply cover depreciation and breakages. Practicallyall the tools included in the standard equipment are necessary to a fully quali- fied carpenter in civil employment—^certainly none could be considered asuseless on the man's return to civil life. It is, however, intended to issue a revised list of tools which will bring the cost of the full kit considerably below£13 ios. Sir Douglas Haig and the Air Services. MR. BILLING asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Air Board whetherGeneral Sir Douglas Haig has expressed his dissatisfaction, either directly or indirectly, with certain types of machines which are being employed in France ;whether the BE 2 E, BE 2 C, or BE 2 D machine is still being ordered ; and, if so, in what quantities ? ^ Major Baird : The answer to the firs^part of the question is in the negative ;but I would refer the hon. Member to the statement of the Field-Marshal's views contained in the dispatch from him which was published on December 29thlast. As regards the second and third parts of the question, it would be contrary to public interests to give information as to the types and numbers of aero-planes being ordered. The hon. Member may rest assured that no machines are being ordered for employment in France which the Commander-in-Chiefdoes not want. Mr. Billing asked what proportion of British Government designed machinesare at present being employed in France and what proportion of private British- designed ; what proportion of French-designed; and what proportion ofaccidents coming under the heading of killed, wounded, or missing are to be attributed to each of these types, respectively, in the last twelve months ? Major Baird : It would not be in the public interest to give the informationasked for in the first and second part of the hon. Member's question. The com- pilation of the figures asked for in the third part of the question would involvea very considerable amount of work, and as it would not furnish the material for a fair comparison, I do not think that the War Office could justifiably beasked to undertake it at the present time of pressure. Sale of Service Aeroplanes. MR. BILLING, on March 22nd, asked the Parliamentary Representative tothe Air Board whether he is aware that new aeroplanes are being offered by the administrators of the Royal Flying Corps for sale by private tender;whether any civilian has access to inspect these machines; what is the total number of machines which are being so offered ; what types of machines arebeing so offered ; and what is the reason of their being so offered ? Major Baird: Certain aeroplanes are now being offered for sale by privatetender. Opportunity for inspection is limited to representatives of schools instructing intending applicants for services approved by the War Office. Thetotal number of machines is eighty-nine, composed of Bleriots, Caudron and short biplanes, Morane monoplanes, and twin Curtiss ; of these, thirty-sixhave been used. The reasons for disposal are, in the great majority of cases, 301
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