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Aviation History
1917
1917 - 0820.PDF
AUGUST 9, 1917. AVIATION MECHANICIANS •nd enlisted a>Utor» ENLISTED AVIttTOE.5 The uniform insignia of the U.S. Aviation Service. These are em- broidered for officers in silver and " for enlisted men in white. devastated by Hun brutality, and restore it. It is proposed to raise money to provide dwellings for returning peasants and with the necessary equipment for a fresh start in life. Putting aside, for the moment, the question of " indemnities," there should be some golden opportunities for some of the bloated munitioneers to do penance for their suddenly acquired wealth, by following in the footsteps of the Detroiters. SIR WILLIAM DUNN, the Lord *Mayor, is satisfied that, as a result of the arguments of the deputation, Which recently •Waited upon the Prime Minister, in favour of the Government providing out of national funds for compensation to those who suffer damage from attacks by aircraft or bombardment, representatives of the Government and of the Committee on War Damage Will immediately be at work on the details of the scheme to give effect to the principle Which the Prime Minister had accepted. As a consequence the Lord Mayor, Lord Parmoor (member of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council), and Mr. Mark Judge (chairman of the Com- mittee on War Damage) have been appointed to represent the committee at this conference. AT Sotheby's, when presently the Alfred Morrison almost priceless collection of autographs, letters Vnd papers comes under the hammer, there will be at least one item of interest to lovers of the history of aeronautics. Amongst the mass of prizes to be picked up are a couple of intricate pen-and- ink drawings of " war machines " by Leonardo da Vinci, with the descriptions written backwards for the purpose of secrecy. There may be others, but it were better for those keen upon the subject to personally go over the collection in case some item of treasure might be forthcoming. A VERY large number of " health resorts " have now been arranged for in the City of London for the temporary accom- modation, during Hun air raids, of the moving population acknowledging the Lord Mayor for its head. Only buildings with strong concrete floors have been considered, and by degrees the red printed notices are becoming familiar, intimating the fact that the public, under raid circumstances, may take advantage of these welcome " funk-holes " until danger has passed. It is a pretty live problem when it is considered that there are 48 miles of streets in the City square mile, and, according to the last census, 1,250,000 people and over 200,000 vehicles enter and leave it every day. About 400,000 people remain at work during City business hours. s $ Another Prize for Bombing Berlin. THE Figaro announces that it has received a second offer of 5-ooof. (/200) as a prize for the first aviator who drops a bomb on Berlin. - - , Gallantry by French Aviator. FROM the following story, in which names are-suppressed, and which is furnished by a Times correspondent, it may be gathered not only how closely the French air service is co-operating with ours, but also how promptly the French Government rewards its gallant -soldiers :— " In April last a combined Allied attack Was made on a seaport ' somewhere in Flanders.' A British aeroplane was hit, and fell with its occupants into the sea. The position was so dangerous, and the enemy's fire so heavy, that the French Commandant forbade any attempt at relief. A French Enseigne de Vaisseau, however, in defiance of orders, went with his seaplane to the rescue, and succeeded in getting the British officers on to his craft. The machine being later dis- abled, they were all taken prisoners by the Germans. " The French Commandant, in writing to the Enseigne's father, described the son's conduct as heroic. The fire was Autre temps, autre mceurs. Attention is drawn by " B. W." to What appears to be a particularly unpleasant phase of official legal bureaucracy. So much so, that one ventures to ask Whether honour still exists in official quarters When a point in favour of bureaucracy has to be saved. The case as put by " B. W." under date August 3rd, is as follows :— " I venture to draw your attention to the conduct of the Law Officers of the Crown in a recent case of public importance. They, at least, if the high traditions of the War count for any- thing, ought to conform to that standard. In July, 1916, the Attorney-General informed the House of Lords that the Government took possession of a well-known civilian aero- drome because it Was unique and possessed exceptional advantages for training pilots, and the country needed it badly. He tried to justify on that ground his contention that there was no legal obligation on the Government to pay. '• In July, 1917 (last week), the Solicitor-General, when before arbitrators appointed to assess the price to be paid to the owners of the same aerodrome (which the Government have since decided to buy), strongly urged upon the arbitrators that the place Was useless as an aerodrome, and that the Government ought only to pay the agricultural value of the land. " Surely such conduct is highly reprehensible and unworthy of barristers occupying such high positions. Can one wonder if patriotism begins to wane and the people begin to discredit the statements of Ministers of the Crown ? " Indeed one cannot wonder. v And it's going to be a lot worse before it's better, we fear. The pages of "FLIGHT" in the past bear witness to our opinion of the official treatment meted out to this particular aerodrome. The latest phase is a fitting official sequel to previous happenings. CONGRATULATIONS to Flight-Commander Geoffrey Terence Roland Hill, M.C., R.F.C., upon the further distinction con- ferred upon him by University College School old boys, in the presentation (per his father, Dr. M. J. M. Hill, Astor Professor of Pure Mathematics in the University of London) of the research medal which " Old Gowers " instituted 37 years ago for distribution from time to time to any pupil who, within ten years of leaving the school, shall have done such valuable original work as to merit it. Flight - Comdr. G. T. R. Hill, who is attached to the Experimental Flying Department at Farnborough, has done feme highly- valuable work for the country and received the M.C. about the same date as his brother, Capt. Roderic Hill, M.C., R.F.C., whose delightful work is so well known to our readers. <s> <$> terrific, the young man's action was watched with the greatest anxiety, and the escape of the whole party from wounds was miraculous. After speaking in the highest terms of the young" officer's conduct, the Commandant added that, as orders had been disobeyed, it would have been necessary, had he returned, to place him under arrest. The further duty had remained to report his conduct, with the result shown in the orders of superior authority. These included an Army Order of the day. recounting the exploit, and adding the palm to the Croix de Guerre, already earned by the Enseigne, and a decree appoint- ing him Chevalier of the Legion of Honour. An order of the Minister of Marine of a few days' later date promoted the Enseigne de Vaisseau to the rank of lieutenant as a specially deserving case. _ -- " His services have also beef recognised by the King, who has been pleased to create him a member of the D.S.O. and to confer upon his observer the D.S.M. The King has- also conferred the D.S.M. on the crew of the companion, seaplane. " The young officer is the son of a French nobleman of the South of France, connected with a British family well represented in the Services." 82O
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