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Aviation History
1917
1917 - 0532.PDF
I/11CWT MAY 31, 1917. German seaplane in the North Sea. "The officers completelydestroyed the seaplane before boarding the ship. A few minutes later a Zeppelin arrived and took them off. Wonderfulto relate, the Zepp. Commander did not at the finish proceed to sink the rescuers of their brother airmen. LIEUT. OTTO THELEN, the recently escaped and re-capturedGerman airman, lets a little light in upon the direction of least resistance to follow by prisoners of war when endeavouringto make good their escape, viz., to reach the sea via some river and take chances of getting picked up by some friendly" alien " craft. Upon Thelen's first try it nearly came off. He and his companion, after hiding for three days, in a boat, <s> <s> managed to actually reach the sea, where, however, theiradventvire ended by the boat they struck not being of the " friendly " alien type, judging by his latest exploits,Thelen should do well in Germany presently if burglary becomes a legalised calling after the war amongst HunnishKultured Arts. THOSE who have not forgotten the early days of the R.F.C.(Military Wing) will be interested in the following announce- ment, which appeared in the London Gazette of May 23rd :— Temporary Appointments at the War Office. T~- Deputy-Director.—Brevet Lieut.-Col. F. H. Sykes, C.M.G., Hrs., from" an A.A.G.j and to be Temp. Brig.-Gen. whilst so employed ; Feb. 8th. IKe Rocral &ero Cluof the, United. Kiz\gda OFFICIAL NOTICES TO ME.MBER5 Club House. The following prices have been fixed for the present bythe Committee :— Bedroom (including Bath) . . . .• 5s. each per night. Breakfast .. .. .. .. 2s. 6d. House Luncheon ..' ..- ..- 2 s. 6d.House Dinner.. .. .. ..3s. 6d. Billiard Room. The Billiard Room is now open for the use of the Members. Flying Services Fund.Boxes for collecting subscriptions for the Flying Services Fund are now available, and anyone wishing to have a boxcan obtain the same on application to the Secretary. Aero Club for the benefit of officers and men of the RoyalNaval Air Service and the Royal Flying Corps who are incapacitated on active service, and for the widows anddependants of those who are killed. The fund is intended for the benefit of.all ranks, butespecially for petty officers, non-commissioned officers and men. Forms of application for assistance can be obtained fromthe Royal Aero Club, 3, Clifford Street, New Bond Street, London, W. I. Subscriptions. ' £ s. d.Total subscriptions received to May 22nd, 1917 11,757 4 11 Employes of Ruston, Proctor and Co., Ltd.,Aircraft Works (Eighteenth contribution).. I 10 o THE FLYING SERVICES FUND administered by THE ROYAL AERO CLUB. THE Flying Services Fund has been instituted by the Royal Total, May 29th, 1917 ... .. 11,758 14 n B. STEVENSON, Assistant Secretary. 3, Clifford Street, New Bond Street, W. 1. AVIATION IN PARLIAMENT. Royal Flying Corps. MR. BILLING, in the House of Commons, on May 22nd, asked whether an Army Order or any other Order has been issued by the authorities at home or abroad forbidding officers ormen of the Royal Flying Corps or any other portion of the Army to criticise or comment upon the B E 8 biplane ; if so, whether this Order refers to the B E 8's in use at home as well as abroad ; whether this Order has been issued because the inherent defects of this type of aereplane make it particularly liable to criticism ; whether a Brigade Order has been issued to any brigade of the Royal Flying Corps in France forbidding officers to criticise the aeroplane on which they are mounted; and whether, in such an Order, officers have been warned that their remarks may be distorted by critics of the Royal Flying Corps through ignorance or malice ? The Parliamentary Secretary to the Air Board (Major Baird): No Order has been given at home or abroad forbidding officers and men of the Royal Flying Corps or any other portion of the Army to criticise or comment upon aeroplanes. Criticism and gossip about new types of aeroplanes of which the critics have no real experience, is discouraged. This policy has been justified in the case of the RE8, which was criticised on its introduction, but is now in much request by Artillery squadrons. Mr. Billing : With reference to the R E 8, is the hon. gentleman aware of the reply he gave recently that certain pilots in the Royal Flying Corps refused to fly this type of machine, and that the number is increasing ; I understand that Captain Ball refused to fly this type of machine ; and under these circumstances will he consider the advisability of having an enquiry into the RE8? Major Baird : No, sir; there is absolutely no need for an enquiry. The R E 8 machine is being supplied, and directly officers get it they are delighted with it, and. we are sending out this machine as fast as we can. Mr. Billing : Is any action taken against those pilots who refuse to fly ? Mr. Billing asked whether a civilian aviator, Mr. Roland Ding, recently killed in Yorkshire by the breaking of his machine in the air, was flying a B E biplane or an aeroplane of Government design; if it was a B E biplane or other machine of Government design ; whether it was fitted with an engine of a higher power than the machine was originally designed <o carry ; whether the B E biplane was originally designed for a 100 horse-power engine; whether it was first sent on active service with only a 70 horse-power engine ; whether it is still sent on active service with only a 90 horse-power engine ; whether it has been found to be safe to fly with an engine of 150 horse-power ; whether such power is being fitted to this type in order to attain a reputation for Government official design ; and whether, in view of the recent fatality occasioned by this, he will now cause this practice to be discontinued ? Major Baird : The aviator referred to was in the private employment of a firm of aeroplane constructors, but I understand that he was flying a BE2 machine with a 90 horse-power R.A.F. engine, which is the type for which it was originally designed. The answer to the fourth, fifth, and sixth parts of the question is in the affirmative, and to the seventh part in the negative. The last part of the question, therefore, does not arise. Enemy Outrages and Reprisals. • MR. BILLING, on May 23rd, asked the Prime Minister whether he will state the reasons for the reluctance shown by the authorities to initiate air raids as a reprisal for the sinking of hospital ships and other enemy outrages ? Mr. Bonar Law : I have no statement to make on the subject. Mr. Billing : Have we not put ourselves in a humiliating position by adopting a great principle and then on a question of expediency Mr. Speaker : That seems to be a matter for argument. Civil Aerial Transport Committee. MR. BILLING asked the Prime Minister when it is proposed that the new Committee for considering the development of our air' policy after the War shall have its first sitting; and whether its proceedings will be in secret, or if it is proposed to lay any of its recommendations upon the Table ? The Parliamentary Secretary to the Air Board (Major Baird) : The.proceedings of the Civil Aerial Transport Committee, which will meet immediately after Whitsuntide, will be, in any case for the present, entirely confidential. Until the nature of the Committee's recommendation is known it is not possible to answer the last part of the hon. member's question.Air Services—Captain Ball. COLONEL LORD HENRY CAVENDISH-BENTINCK, on May 25th, asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether Capt. Ball refused to fly a R.E. 8 . machine ? Major Baird : I am much obliged to my Noble Friend for affording me this opportunity of giving the most explicit denial to an allegation which is entirely without truth. United States and British Aeroplanes. ' MR, BILLING, on May 24th, asked the Prime Minister whether the Government is prepared to loan or sell to the American Government one or more of the latest types of our aeroplanes for the purpose of facilitating and speeding up the pro- duction of a great fleet by our American Allies ? — - The Parliamentary Secretary to the Air Board (Major Baird) : I have been asked to answer this question. It would not, I think, be desirable to give any detailed information in regard to measures of co-operation in aeronautical matters between this country arid~ the United States, but the hon. Member may rest assured that the question is one on which the two Governments are in close consultation. Mr. Billing : This is again a question of policy—whether the right hon. Gentle- man the Leader of the House does not think that the loaning of one or two of our best machines and of our best men to the American Government at the present minute would do more to win the War than all the Debates in this House since August, 1914 ? Mr. Bonar Law : Obviously the policy of the Government is to co-operate io every possible way with the Government of the United States. The details 01 the co-op?ration must be a 'question for the Departments concerned. Mr. Billing : Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that at the present moment wfr have absolutely declined to lend the Americans one machine ? Major Baird : That is absolutely untrue. 532
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