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Aviation History
1918
1918 - 0159.PDF
FEBRUARY 7, 1918. and at such a speed as will enable it to cover about 700 kiloms., in the time allotted. A demonstration must also be made proving that the airship is capable of landing safely on terra firma at a given spot. " ZEPPELIN IV." In the course of a lecture delivered in. Berlin on Sunday oi last week, Count Zeppelin gave some particulars of his proposed new airship, " Zeppelin IV." It would be capable, he said, of remaining in the air for four consecutive days ^d nights during which period it would be able to travel 2 500 miles with ?2 passengers. Weather permitting the airship, would travel from Berlin to Constantinople in 30 hours, and the,Count actually calculated that a passenger sen-ice_nugh: be earned on between Berlin and Copenhagen at a profit of tenFrmt on the outlay required, these figures being based on an average load of 25 passengers per trip at 50 shillings per head. ISi 1=1 — — DETAILS OF BRITISH AIR RAIDS. THE following details regarding the air raids into Germany, reported in the General Headquarters communique of Jan- uary 25th, were issued by the War Office on February 1st: " On the evening of January 24th a squadron of night-flying bombing p anes left their aerodrome to bomb Treves barracks and railway station and Thionville steel works. Eight hundred and eighty-nine pounds of bombs were dropped on Treves, very good bursts being observed in the northern portion and in the centre of the town, and a large fire, which was observed later by other pilots, was caused in the north-eastern corner of the town. Machine-gun fire was directed at search- lights, trains, and buildings. One thousand one hundred and twenty pounds of bombs were dropped on Thionville steel works. All the bombs burst and large explosions were observed. Here, also, rounds from machine-guns were fired at searchlights, trains, and moving lights in the roads. Two hundred and eighty pounds of bombs were dropped on_ the railway at Oberbillig, six miles south-south-west of Treves. Machine-gun fire was directed into villages in the Moselle Valley. Two hundred and eighty pounds of bombs were dropped on the railway station and junction at Saarburg, Fatal Accidents. THREE officers lost their lives in flying accidents near an Eastern Counties town last week. Their names were 2nd Lieut. A. McPherson, R.F.C., 2nd Lieut G. Tufts, R.F.C., and 2nd Lieut. E. Barnes, R.F.C. 2nd Lieut. J. S. Young was killed while flying in Scotland on February 2nd. Lieut. J. M. Black, R.F.C., has died in the Cameron Hos- pital, West Hartlepool, from injuries received in a flying accident. HB companion, 2nd Lieut. Nichol, R.F.C., is in the same hospital, suffering from a fractured thigh. Fatal Aerodrome Fire. A FIRE occurred at a large building of a Norfolk aero- drome just before 3 a.m. on Feb. 4th, and as a result an R.F.C. mechanic, H. W. Langdown, was burned to death, while five others—H. A. Elder, A. E. Cox, C. Leuke, A. Crowther, and W. Taylor—were taken to hospital suffering from severe burns, and one has since died. It appears that an explosion occurred, and in a moment the place was in flames. The fire spread rapidly to a smaller building. Firemen were soon on the scene, but several hours elapsed before the outbreak was subdued 10 miles south of Treves, causing large explosions in the town, and searchlights, trains and lights in the town were fired at with machine-guns. " On the same evening a few bombing aeroplanes of a naval squadron attacked Mannheim and Thionville. . One thousand three hundred and forty-four pounds of bombs were dropped on the Badische-Anilin-und-Soda-Fabrik, the docks and the town of Mannheim. As a result of the bomb bursts in the factory, dense clouds of smoke were seen to rise after the explosion. One thousand three hundred and forty'-four pounds of bombs were dropped on Thionville town, railway junction, and factories. Altogether . 5,257 • lb. of bombs were dropped at an average height of 1,500 ft., while many rounds from machine-guns were fired with good effect, particularly on railway traffic in Treves. • " The evening started with bright clear moonlight, with a slight ground mist, but as time went on heavy banks of clouds came up from the north and the mist became very thick, making flying very difficult. One pilot made four attempts before he reached and bombed his objective. The anti- aircraft fire was heavy, but inaccurate." . Gifts from the Dominions. IN a Treasury minute, issued on Feb. 5th, relating to gifts made to th? Government towards the ccst of the war, the following are noted :— • • • Basutoland ^50,026 105. lid. for purchase of aeroplanes.- Mauritius 1,000,000 rupees (^66,666) utilised in aeroplanes. Zanzibar /50 000 used for purchase of aeropla-nes. .. The thanks of the King have been conveyed to the donors, but the Treasury places once more upon record its appreciation of those spontaneous and generous contribu- tions. . - The Due de Chevreuse Killed. ''•! IT is announced by the Temps that the Due de Chevreuse has been killed as the result of a flying accident while training as an aviator. -French Pilot Escapes from Germany. Le Matin learns that Flight-Sergeant Paoli, having succeeded in escaping from a German prisoners' camp> has arrived at the French frontier. A Tall Story. ' THE Handelsblad is responsible for a yarn that oh January 30th, two German airmen in uniform flew over the Dutch frontier near Oldenzaal, landed near Ochtrup, and after destroying their machine, deserted on bicycles. - , O o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o 0000000 One of the machine shops of the Swift Motor Car Co. engaged on the production of engines. OOOOOOO
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