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Aviation History
1918
1918 - 1036.PDF
SEPTEMBER 12, 1918, IT comes as somewhat of a shock to Bumbledom, the refusal of reimbursement to Metropolitan Borough Councils by the Government of the cost of making good damage to public works, sewers, and other underground works through enemy air raids. Like a good many more taxpayers, the councils accepted as only natural that damage from air raids was by way of being a national war charge. And now they find they're wrong. Information of the existence of a Govern- ment aircraft insurance scheme may not yet have pene- trated to these august bodies, and we therefore mention its existence on the off-chance. It takes the cost off the indi- vidual borough and reduces the Government profit on their scheme, or at worst places the loss on the shoulders of the community at large. ] f FONCK, the great French Ace, is credited with such keen eyesight—to which gift he ascribes much of his success in the air—that he can see almost as well at night as in daylight and drives a motor car without lights at 40 miles an hour on a dark unknown road without hesitation. The story- teller does not say if there is any hesitation on the part of the other fellows on the road, but for our own part we're glad we don't live near Fonck's dug-out. . No wonder there waJ music in the air the other day from the Frankforters. According to a contemporary, one of the Allies' bombs managed to find the big Frankfort Opera House! THERE is a considerable field opened up for almost limitless exploitation in the suggestion made by the London County Council for incorporating Gotha Street and Victoria Street, Hackney, under the name of Warneford Street, in honour of this British pilot of Zeppelin destroying fame. CANON MAY sends us the following " Hymn for Airmen," which has been found to meet a growing want, and which he asks us to help to make better known. The spirit throughout the five verses will be echoed by all those whose dear ones are forward to bring retribution to the Hun beast:— O Lord, uphold the men who fly _ ; On slender wings 'twixt earth and sky ; Give steadfast hearts, and skilful hands. For all their dangerous task demands. t ** As high they soar o'er land and sea, . 1 May each feel still more near to Thee ; ; Their stay Thine everlasting arms, - - 'Mid all the stress of war's alarms. * - *~ Never alone, since Thou art there ; , „ v Nor oft cast down in doubt or care : Their shield and buckler mayest Thou be, Their only fear the fear of Thee. Grant quickened eye and ear and brain ; Firm mastery o'er fatigue and pain ; Foresight and courage so combined, That all their aims achievement find. So, as from earth and sky ascend,, Glad hymns of praise that have no end ; So, Thine the praise from those who fly, On slender wings 'twixt earth and sky. AMEN. For the further information of our readers, Canon^Majr mentions the tune applicable as Melcombe, No. 4, Hymns- •• A. and M. FOR EMBRYO CADETS.—Mr. E. J. Wjgnall, the Registrar, East London College (University of London), has sent the- following suggestive, if somewhat lengthy, note of interroga- tion, to the Press for publication :— ^] " Will your readers whose sons are disappointed at finding they are too young by about six months to be accepted as " cadets in the R.A.F. apply to me for a copy of an address- • delivered by Brigadier-General J. G. Hearson on the Training - of Air Pilots, and also for particulars of the Special Pre- .: liminary Course in Aeronautics, Science, and Engineerings ; which has been instituted by the Council of this College after # consultation with officials of the Air Force ? " •- THERE is a fat and well-favoured individual, dressed like a respectable workingman, who works a little game in the ' vicinity of Aldwych which seems to pay him better than * work. He accosts Colonial and American soldiers, and shows them a fountain pen which he says he has just picked up, and as it's " no use to me, Mister," he will take half-a-crown for it. . He acts his little part very well, and slyly represents that he believes the pen to be of a well-known make, and doubtless worth half-a-guinea. As a matter of fact, it is a cheap 1 Japanese article, ordinarily retailed at sixpence. I noticed him only a day or so singing this syren song to a couple of easy-going Americanair.mechanics, who were already beginning to fumble in their pockets for the needful silver. Surely this game is not outside the law ? The police might do well to pay this individual a little attention. UNHONOURED prophets, like the poor, are always with us. Not least among them is a scribe who tells us in " Coming Fashions " (next to the announcement of a new hair net: "Requires Only Two Pins, No Untidy Ends") that years ago he (or she) was alone in the public press to prove the superiority of the aeroplane over the dirigible balloon. Of course it was his (or her) own fault for sandwiching these '- brain children between the tips on eggless puddings and the answers of Aunt Jane to the lovelorn. The writer confides in us that hi: intended to increase '' the factor of stability in flight by hinging the front portions of the wing of a monoplane so that they could fold back auto- matically under the pressure or the wind, thereby increasing " the speed of the machine in proportion to the reduction of the area of resistance and also the general stability." Q.E.D., as Euclid, friend of our youth, used to say. We should be at one with the writer, if she (we are Sure of it now) had put in a claim for making looping-the-loop practic- able, in fact inevitable, some years before that feat was accomplished ! - Two photographs of the Cross of 17 lamps erected close to the Chateau of Porrentruy in Switzerlandto indicate the Swiss border to aviators. Its erection has aroused a good deal of criticism locally* one objection being that the lines of light might be mistaken for a railway station and bombed. IO36
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