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Aviation History
1918
1918 - 1015.PDF
Flight, September 12, 1918. First Aero Weekly in the World. ^T^/ - Founder and Editor i STANLEY SPOONER. •: > - ; . : k Joam&l dtxoiti to the Interests. Practice, and Progress of Aerial.Locomotion and Transport. OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE ROYAL AERO CLUB OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. No. 507. (No. 37, Vol. X.) % SEPTEMBER 12, 1918. L y, Prtca M.POM Frea, 74. Flight J"A« Aircraft Engineer. Editorial Office: 36, GREAT QUEEN STREET, KINGSWAY, W.C. 2. Telegrams: Troditur, Wtctcent, London. Telephone: Gerrard 181B. Annual Subscription Rates, Post Free : United Kingdom .. *8s. md. Abroad 33*. od. These rates are subject to any alteration found necessary Bnder war conditions. :'" :".^-'..J CONTENTS. " • '. Editorial Comment: '• '""",_ '.'• " PAGE The Chevrons Question .. .. .„,,:.- '— •,- .. .. ,. 1015 .The German Shortage of Machines .. lf .. ... .' .. .. 1016 "Drumfire" Propaganda .. .. „, .. —;. ... .. 1016 The Nationalisation of 1 ndustry ,, "~i± ..;. v, :.:.. .. .. 1017 Honours :w ;. -*»"-.. ,~ _ ... 101S The Sopwith "Camel" _.. .. .'. -~Ji,_ .. 1019 Tke Royal Aero Club. Official Notices .. .. .. • '.. .. 1023 The Roll of Honour .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1023 The Two-SeateV Rumpler Biplane, G. 117 .. .. ,,. ,. .. 1025 The 300h.p. Maybach Engine .. .. .. \. "., .. .. 1031 Airisms from the Four Winds .. .. .7- .'., -,-. .. .. 1036 Personals.. .. .. .. .. .. '.. ,, ^n~ .. .. 1O38 The Royal Air Force.. .. .. .. ,. •-.» .. ^ .. .. 1030 Leisure Hours.. .. i,.- ... .. ' .. 1043 SideWinds ' .. .. .. y/—-i.1 ~.i ' .. 1044 Legal Intelligence * ...' ••'~~t '-,.• ... .. 1044 EDITORIAL COMMENT. "Newspapers are an essential part of our war organisation." . [Sir Auckland Geddes, Minister of National Service.) ' E regret that so far there has been no further announcement on the question of the objectionable order relating to the wearing of active service chevrons by the officers and men of the Royal Air Force. It is to be assumed, therefore, that the Air Ministry persists in its intention to deprive the personnel of the R.A.F. of the distinction conferred as a reward - chevrons *or arcuious service overseas and which, Question. *n a veI7 large proportion of cases, was gained by its wearers in either the Navy or ihe Army for service which had nothing at all to do with the flying branch of either Service. As we pointed out in a previous article on the subject, the decision is a gross and distinct breach of faith with those affected by the order. The memorandum for the constitution of the Force distinctly laid down that no one was to suffer in the matter of decorations or rewards for his transfer, and yet one of the very first things that is done is to deprive officers and men of what is most certainly either a " decoration or reward " for over- seas service. __ We understand that one of the reasons assigned for the questionable decision is the quite farcical one that at the time officers and men qualified for the wearing of chevrons the R.A.F. did not exist, and it is,thus illogical that they should be worn on the uniform of a new Service. As we say, such an argument is about the very last word in futility. Why not carry the matter to its logical conclusion, and, as well as depriving the personnel of their chevrons, forbid the wearing of the Mons ribbon, which equally covers a period when the R.A.F. was not in being ? Indeed, we do not see why the Air Ministry should not go the whole hog and rescind the award of all honours and decorations gained prior to the constitution of the R.A.F. Or, as its powers do not extend to revision of honours granted by the Crown, at least it might be made contrary to dis- cipline for their recipients to wear the outward and visible signs of their honours when in R.A.F. uniform. It would certainly not be a bit more absurd, nor would it be a greater injustice to those concerned, than the action which has already been taken with regard to service chevrons. In once more raising the question we can assure the powers that be that we have not done it out of any desire to indulge in captious criticism. On the contrary, no one is more jealous of the morale and esprit de corps of the Force than we, but we know that feeling among the officers and men concerned is very strong on the subject. They feel, and we entirely agree with their point of view, that they are being treated with grave injustice and are being made the victims of bad faith. Nor is that feeling abated by the impression which is gaining ground that the action of the Ministry has been dictated by certain senior officers who have arrived at their high rank without having seen a day's service in an actual theatre of war. It is being openly said that these officers do not like to be seen with chevronless sleeves, and have managed to " wangle " matters so that everyone shall be on an equality. Whether there is anything in this or not we do not profess to know, since we have no more knowledge of the genesis of the order than the average outsider, but at least it must be acknow- ledged that the idea is quite as likely to be near the mark as any other. Once again we suggest to those in authority that there is only one thing to be done.
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