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Aviation History
1917
1917 - 0407.PDF
APRIL 26, 1917. the night one of our airships again dropped bombs on the same place, returning safely to its base." German. Berlin, April 14th. " On the entire front, but principally in the battle sectors, there was increased air activity. The enemy lost in air attacks on April 12th, 11, and yesterday 24 aeroplanes and four captive balloons. An enemy air squadron was destroyed near Douai. Baron von Richthofen's chasing squadron alone shot down 14 aeroplanes, of which Baron von Richthofen accounted for three and Lieut. Wolff four." Berlin, April i$th. " In Artois, on the Aisne, m Champagne, and south of the Vosges there has been very lively aerial activity. The French, British, and Americans lost 17 machines in aerial engagements ; four machines were shot down from the earth and two captive balloons. Baron von Richthofen brought down his 44th opponent, and Lieut. Schafer Bis 18th and 19th. From the three air squadrons which attacked Breiburg yesterday three British aviators were brought down.'' Berlin, April 16th. *""A united attack made by enemy airmen against our captive balloons along the Aisne was without result. Between Soissons and Verdun the enemy yesterday lost eleven aero- planes, the majority of which were of the latest type." i Berlin, April 18th. "On the same day during aerial combat and by means of anti-aircraft guns, 18 enemy aeroplanes were shot down. I/LIGHT " At several places the airmen joined in the infantry engagements by the dropping of bombs and by the use of their machine-gun fire." Berlin, April 21st. " The unfavourable weather prevailing during the last few days has restricted aerial activity. Since April 17 th seven enemy aeroplanes have been brought down in aerial engage- ments, and three by anti-aircraft guns." Berlin, April 12nd. " The enemy lost six aeroplanes in aerial battles yesterday. Of these five were shot down by Baron von Richthofen's chasing squadron. " Naval airmen off Nieuport brought down an enemy air- ship, which fell into the sea in flames." Berlin, April 23rd. "Our aviators set fire to four enemy captive balloons, and in aerial battles brought down 11 aeroplanes. Cavalry Captain Baron von Richthofen was victor for the 46th time, and Lieutenant Wolff secured his twentieth victory. The chaser-squadron of Cavalry Captain Baron von Richthofen has so far brought down 100 enemy aeroplanes. " Macedonian Front.-~-Qn the eastern bank of the Vardar and to the south-west of Lake Doiran there was violent artillery fire, which at Lake Dbrian was followed by a British attack. This attack was repulsed by Bulgarian troops. One of our aeroplane squadrons participated in the battle." • --• . . ; , ' "i ^r-' • AVIATION IN PARLIAMENT. Air Services Casualties-MR. JOYNSON-HICKS, in the House of Commons, on April 18th, asked what are the air Casualties in killed, wounded, and missing in each of the lastsix months in the Royal Naval Air Service ? ' Dr. Macnamara : We do not think it altogether desirable to give the particu-lars asked for. In the event, however, of a Secret Session being held, I imagine my hon. friend would wish to take the opportunity of raising the matter. Mr. Pemberton Billing: Will the right hon. gentleman state to the Housewhy it is undesirable to give the figures ? Mr. Joynson-Hicks asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whetherthe Army Council has arrived at any decision to alter their predecessor's policy of giving particulars of air casualties; if so, what are the reasons ; and, if not,whether he will give a list for each of the last six months stating the air casual- ties in killed, wounded and missing on the Western Front ? The Under-Secretary of State for War (Mr. Macpherson) : The answer to thefirst part of my hon. friend's question is in the negative, and the second part does not therefore.arise. With regard to the third part, I think that the questionmight be raised in the event of a Secret Session being held. Mr. Joynson-Hicks: Does my hon. friend realise that the last Army Councildid not object to the publication of these figures ; if there has not £teen any change why should not the request be granted ? Mr. Macpherson : So far as I know the last Army Council took the same viewof the question as we do now. Mr. Joynson-Hicks : Having regard to the importance of this matter to thoseof us who take part in the Secret Session Debate would it not be possible to provide some of this information earlier in order that we may be able to lookover it before the debate ? Mr. Macpherson: I cannot give any assurance as to that; but the hon.gentleman knows perfectly well that if any individual member of the House cares to go to the War Office he will be shown the figures.Mr. Joynson-Hicks : Thank you ; I will. Mr. Billing: Is the hon. gentleman aware that the present casualties on theFront are the gravest reflection on the administration of the Air Service 1 Mr. Macpherson : No ; I am not at all aware of that. ' United States (Air Service).MR. BILLING (by Private Notice) asked the Chancellor oi the Exchequer whether lie will appeal to the Government of the United States of America toconcentrate immediately on the construction and commission of a great Air Service, and also whether this Government is prepared to supply the AmericanGovernment with sample machines, engines, drawings and specifications of our latest and most successful types, and to render them every other possibleassistance to this end ? . Mr. Bonar Law : This subject is already under consideration with the Govern-ment of the United States. Mr. Lynch : Would it not be wise to allow the Government of the UnitedStates to decide these questions for themselves on the ground that one of the great assets is an infusion of brains, which are badly needed ? A Secret Session.MR. BILLING, on April 19th, asked the Prime Minister if he would arrange a Secret Session to enable him to give the members of the House of Commonsthe facts which were supplied to General Smuts and Sir Robert Borden, and which enabled them to make such assurances as to the condition of the AirService ? Mr. Bonar Law : It is proposed to take the Estimates of the Air Board onThursday next. The Government have decided that a Private Sitting of the House is desirable, and I hope to be able to say next week what arrangementswill be made for it. Mr. Billing: Is it understood that this House will have the information whichwas supplied to General Smuts and Sir Robert Borden, which enabled them to make these statements ? Mr. Bonar Law: In the opinion of the Government it is desirable that thereshould be a public discussion of the Air Board upon the Estimates in the ordinary way. After that there will be nothing to prevent its being discussedin the Private Session to which I have referred. Mr. Billing : Can the right hon. gentleman say when the Air Board Vote willcome on" ? Mr. Billing asked the Prime Minister if he will request the Chairman of theAir Board to meet the Members of the House of Commons in secret conference before the Air Vote comes before the House. The Parliamentary Secretary to the Air Board (Major Baird): The PrimeMinister has asked me to answer this question. The Air Board Vote will be taken at an early date, and my noble friend considers it preferable that thepublic discussion of matters concerning the Air Services, for which the Vote will provide an opportunity, should precede any such conference as is suggestedby the hon. member. Mr. Billing : Does not the hon. and gallant gentleman think it would br>better that the Chairman of the Air Board should have an opportunity of making any statement he may wish to make to Members of the House before this dis-cussion takes place, so that it might be found unnecessary to raise points which otherwise might be raised ? Major Baird: I have already given the hon. member the opinion of tht Chairman of the Air Board which is contrary to the view taken by himself. Rank Badges for R.N.A.S. Officers-MR. BILLING asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention had been called to the confusion and dissatisfaction occasioned in the RoyalNaval Air Service by the fact that there is no outward distinction between flight-lieutenant, flight-commander and squadron-commander in the uniform ofthe Royal Naval Air Service ; whether he is aware that in the Royal Flying Corps the following distinguishing marks have been adopted for these ranks :flight-lieutenant, two stars; flight-commander, three stars; squadron-com- mander, crown ; and whether, under these circumstances, he will consider theadvisability of introducing a regulation which shall permit flight-commanders to wear a small gold star above the eagle on the left arm, and squadron-commander a small golden crown in the same position, so long as they are attached to the air branch of the Royal Navy ? Dr. Macnamara : The principle of distinction of uniform between the ranksof flight-lieutenant, flight-commander and squadron-commander has been recognised by the Board of Admiralty1; the details are now being worked outby the Departments concerned. r, Mr. Boland asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, in viewof the expense entailed on young officers attached to the Royal Flying Corps who would have to scrap their old uniform and provide themselves with acompletely new kit if the proposed new instruction is enforced, steps will be taken to cancel it ? Mr. Macpherson : Officers posted from other units to the Royal Flying Corpswill during the first three months of their service with the Corps wear their former uniform. Those who are posted direct to the Royal Flying Corps onfirst commission will wear Royal Flying Corps uniform. Officers who return from abroad will conform within three months of their arrival in England, andofficers serving at home by August 15th, 1917. These arrangements should obviate any hardship being incurred through the necessary change of uniformDesign and Construction of Airships. MK. BILLING asked wUat control the Air Board has over the design andconstruction of airships for the Royal Naval Air Service ? Dr. Macnamara : The Air Board have no control over the design and con-struction of airships for the Royal Naval Air Service. Accident near Grosmont. MR. T. C. TAYLOR asKed the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the pilotof the naval aeroplane N 5,056 who, near Grosmoat, in Yorkshire, fell and was killed on the 15 th inst., was a trained aeroplane pilot; whether the cause ofthe accident has been ascertained ; and, if so, could he state what it was ? Dr. Macnamara : This officer was under training; he was flying a Maurice-Farman aeroplane, on which type he had carried out four hours' solo flying previous to the accident. The pilot apparently got into difficulties in thickclouds and lost control of the machine, whose nose dived to the ground. The subsequent examination did not disclose any constructional defects in themachine. Training of Pilots. MR. BILLING asked the Under-Secretary of State for War what is theminimum number of hours' flying insisted on before pilots are sent to the front ? Mr. Macpherson : I regret that this information cannot be given publiclyas it would be useful to the enemy. A Roosevelt for the'Flying Service. A REPORT from Ottawa states that Quentin Roosevelt, son of the ex-President of the United States, will take the aviation course at Camp Borden, and qualify for overseas service with the Canadian Flying Corps or with the American Expeditionary Force if the latter is sent. 40;
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