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Aviation History
1917
1917 - 0972.PDF
* (Ja&Ssry 7170 Sergt. W. R. Clark, R.F.C. 15912 1st Air-Mech. S. H. Goodall, R.F.C. 49181 Sergt. A. R. Harvey-Bathurst, R.F.C. 8551 1st Air-Mech. H. C. Velati, R.F.C. Previously Missing, now reported Wounded and Prisoner in German hands. Lieut. V. A. Norvill, Aus. F.C. " C '- T Missing. \. 2nd Lieu.t. E. S. Bacon, R.F.A. and R.F.C. ' Lieut. B. K. B. Barber, North'd Fus., attd. R.F.C. 2nd Lieut. J. H. Binns, R.F.C. Lieut. A. F. Bird, Norf. R. and R.F.C. Lieut. A- T. Heywood, R.F.C. • Lieut. S. A. Harper, M.C., Ches. R., attd. R.F.C. 2nd Lieut. J. C. Huggard, R.F.C. 2nd Lieut. W. Kember, Lan. Fus. and R.F.C. Lieut. A. O. Macniven, High. L.I. and R.F.C. • Lieut. J. B. C. Madge, R.F.C. y Lieut. K. W. McDonald, R.E. and R.F.C. Lieut. J. W. F. Neill. R. Scots, attd. R.F.C. 2nd Lieut. A. C. Pickett, R.F.C. 2nd Lieut. C. Pickstone, R.F.C. - '"• Lieut. C. J. Pullen, R.G.A. and R.F.C. 2nd Lieut. E. D. S. Robinson, R.F.C. 2nd Lieut. E. M. Sant, Essex, attd. R.F.C. " - SEPTEMBER 20, 1917. 2nd Lieut. F. Scarborough, R.F.A., attd. R.F.C. Capt. C. C. Sharp, R.F.C. "2nd Lieut. W. A. L. Spencer, R.F.C. 2nd Lieut. T. M. Webster, R.F.C. 2nd Lieut, J, F. Wightman, R.F.C. Lieut. S. W. Williams, Essex R. and R.F.C. Previously reported Prisoner, now reported Wounded and Prisoner in German hands. Lieut. G. S. French, Cambs. R. and R.F.C. Previously Missing, now reported Prisoners in German bands. Lieut. C. A. S. Bean, B.C. R., attd. R.F.C. 2nd Lieut. J. Chapman, High. L.I., attd. R.F.C. 2nd Lieut. G. Colledge, Yeo. and R.F.C. 2nd Lieut. V. C. Coombs, R.F.C. , _••-, ; ~ 2nd Lieut. J. F. Henderson, R.F.C. 2nd Lieut. A. B. Hill, R.F.C. 2nd Lieut. R. N. W. Jeff, R.F.C. —-• : T . Lieut. W. B. MacKay, Cent. Ont. R., attd. R.F.C. Lieut. M. Moore, Y. and L. R., attd. R.F.C. 2nd Lieut. L. Read, R.F.C. - 2nd Lieut. H. G. Tinney, R.F.C. -; . - 2nd Lieut. A. Wearne, Aus. F.C. • - " • 87534 2nd Air-Mech. W. Harris, R.F.C. •67S7 Sergt. T. Walker, R.F.C. . _- "X.', CORRESPONDENCE. Aircraft Stunts for Aircraft Sports. [1944] A prolonged stay in France has prevented me from attending any of the numerous sports gatherings recently held by some of the leading aircraft firms. I am somewhat surprised, however, to notice on reading your reports of these affairs that up to the present no one seems to have attempted to give them a really distinctive character. I read of the same old flat races—or round races, according to the shape of the course—the same old competitions with eggs and spoons, and the same old sack races. I am not going to suggest that prizes should be awarded to the employee who has had the sack the most often, or to the damsel of the dope department who knows most about " spoons," but surely it is possible to introduce items a little more closely associated with the aircraft industry. A competition to decide Who could dope a tail-elevator or rudder in the shortest time could be made quite exciting, and Would also have a beneficial effect on those taking part. Similar events could be arranged regarding the painting of patriotic circles on planes, or putting on a coat of " P.C. 49," or whatever the official paint is called—each of these events being Supervised by A.I.D. officials. The nimble fingers of the young ladies in the fabric department could be utilised in a competition for a certain length of sewing, speed and neatness being equally important. By way of imparting a little variety to the ordinary foot races, why should not the competitors in the 200 yards sprint carry on their shoulders a propeller ? And I should thoroughly enjoy watching—not taking part in—-a. mile • race for men carrying a 5-gallon drum of castrol. Finally, if there must be an egg-and-spoon race, let it, for the benefit of all concerned, be confined to the waitresses in the canteens. I merely throw out these few suggestions in the hope that they may induce some of my ingenious friends in the air- craft industry to evolve some new ideas for forthcoming athletic meetings. DOUGLAS W. THORBURN. Hdtel Edouard VII, Paris, September 1st, 1917. Parachutes. [1945] " Leading Seaman " refers to a very frequently- discussed controversy, " Whether a pilot Would rather stick to an uncontrollable aeroplane, or leap for life in a para- chute." We may safely assume that no aviator would deliberately throw himself into the unknown, as it were, except in the case of extreme emergency, and really no one but the aviator himself has a right to decide when this emergency occurs. " Leading Seaman " appears to deplore the loss of the aeroplane. Human life is more valuable than aeroplanes, and the sacrifice of a few aeroplanes, behaving as death traps, is a small price to pay for the saving of as many human lives by the comparative certainty of the Guardian Angel para- chute. " Leading Seaman," curiously enough, overlooks the danger to the " men upon earth " from a free falling aeroplane at night. Mr. Calthrop has provided for this contingency as far as possible by the illumination of the aeroplane by red electric lights automatically on the parachute being released. It is quite true that under certain conditions it might be impossible to " shove off " from a falling aeroplane, but even if it is possible to get clear in no more than fifty per cent, of cases, the game is worth the candle, and the apparatus is Worthy of universal adoption. As to training pilots in the use of the parachute, this should be infinitely less difficult than teaching them to fly. The principle adopted would be the precept of example ; the practical arrangements would present no insuperable difficulty. Were I a pilot, instead of a would-be parachutist, I would decline to fly without a Guardian Angel parachute. *' ANTARCTICUS." "Have We Got the Best Engines ? " [1946] It may be revealed after the War that better- designed aero engines than some of those at present in use have been pigeonholed by the Air Board, and engine designs that should have been pigeonholed, have been ordered by the thousand. Ugly rumours are flying around, and many are curious to know how one particular engine found its way into an aeroplane, and What is its record up to date. The method of dealing with designs sent in by practical engineers outside a given circle should be reformed. The official letter signed by a highly-paid official, who, probably, has no practical knowledge of the subject, is out of date. Let the men who pose as experts give a tangible reason for the non-acceptance of a design, and back their opinion and reputation with their signatures. Many of our experts are out of date, living on a reputation made many years before the war. To combat the Huns' up-to-date scientific methods," we should have a committee of disinterested men, with up-to-date business methods, who can tackle the problems daily as they come in, and see that each designer gets a fair hearing without favours. As things now stand, it takes from six weeks to two months to get an official reply which might have been sent by return of post, because they are all the same, meaningless and non- commital, and still we marvel not at the cry " Too late ! " " INTHENO." Farnborough, September 14th. Noted German Flyer Killed. A MESSAGE from Amsterdam states that Lieut. Hohen- dorf, a well-known German pilot in peace time, was shot down by a British pilot in France during the first week in September According to La Guerre Aerienne, Lieut. Hohendorf Went to a French school, as apupil, in 1913, pretending he was a Swiss, but when he was discovered by some workmen taking measure- ments of an important new machine, he disappeared. He was last mentioned in German communiquis in July, 1916, when he Was credited with having brought down his eleventh enemy machine. He was given the Order Pour le M6rite in that month. 972
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