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Aviation History
1919
1919 - 1322.PDF
THE great and successful Transatlantic flights during the present year have been made the occasion for experimental mails, and in the case of those starting from Newfoundland they have used distinctive stamps. The Sopwith Aviation Co. received a nominal subsidy of one dollar from the Colonial Government to carry mails to England, and the current 3 cents brown stamp of Newfoundland was specially over printed " First Transatlantic Air Post, April, 1919." The mail carried by Mr. H. G. Hawker was franked with this stamp, and it was salved with the aeroplane by the United States steamer, Lake Charlottesville, and the letters were duly delivered. It was one of these " Hawker " stamps, unused, #iat was sold recently in London for £2.10 in aid of a New foundland War charity. The mail carried over by Sir John Alcock and Sir A. Whitten Brown, also bore a special stamp, the 15 cents of the 1897 or Jubilee issue of Newfoundland being overprinted " Trans atlantic Air Post, 1919. One dollar." This mail was de livered in London within three days of leaving Newfoundland. It is not generally known that a more elaborate stamp issue was prepared and used for franking the mail to be carried by Mr. Raynham. This issue comprised four denominations of adhesive stamps, 1, 2, 3, and 24 cents (Caribou issue), the 3 cents embossed envelope, and the id. Universal Postal Union postcard, all overprinted " 1st Transatlantic Air Post, Martinsyde, Raynham, Morgan." As the mails carried by each of the three machines were extremely limited in bulk, the stamps used on the original letters are scarce, and form valuable records of a truly great adventure. WHERE the true poetic touch came in ! From a Daily Chronicle correspondent the following touching episode in the disentanglement of the Fiume complications is set out, dating from Milan on September 27 :— " Casagrande, the patriot aviator, has forsaken his newly- BLACKLEGS !— OUT OF REACH : During the railway strike aeroplanes do much to relieve the mail and other traffic tension, and are not interfered with by the strikers, needless to say. 1324 OCTOBER 2, 1919 wed bride at Nice, France, and gone to Fiume, stirred by the poet's brave deeds and eloquent words. He arrived at Venice, and thence proceeded by motor launch to Pola. His friends, abetting him, released three hydroplanes, and flew to Fiume. D'Annunzio, delighted, kissed his noble recruit, making him Commander of Fiume's Air Fleet." We may be old-fashioned, but personally we would even prefer to have a poet render his own version of his pet poem to us. There are limits. IT is hardly surprising to learn officially that although it is only a few weeks since the R.A.F. opened its special re cruiting campaign recruits have come forward in such numbers that the Force is now up to its present authorised strength. Accordingly all recruiting has now been suspended except for carpenters, cooks and clerks, for which trades, a certain number of vacancies still remain. The attractive new con ditions of service and rates of pay are, of course, largely responsible for this satisfactory result and the authorities are, we learn, extremely pleased with the class of men who have come forward. As the number of applications still being made shows no sign of diminishing, men of the trades for which vacancies still exist and who desire to enter the R.A.F. would be well advised to apply without delay. WHAT appears to be a very practical proposition, and one deserving every encouragement, comes from Capt. (tem porary Lieut.-Col.) J. T. Halligan, R.D.F., ex-Q.M.S., Irish Guards, for the founding of a " Rankers' Club " in London. The War has created quite a new set of conditions and " atmosphere," to provide for which there is plenty of room. Col. Halligan's scheme, which embraces the R.A.F., as put by himself, is as follows :— It has occurred to me that if a '* Rankers' " Club was established in London it would prove a great boon to all rankers, both those who are now civilians and those who are still serving. If you would be good enough to insert this letter in your paper, so that it can get to the notice of all rankers and those persons who are interested in rankers, and the scheme meets with approval, arrangements could be made to hold a meeting in London at an early date to discuss the project. L consider that the club should be established and run on the following lines :— To be a residential club in London for all those who have obtained commissions from the Regulars, Territorials, or New Army, and for all those who obtain similar commissions in the future. Town and country members to pay different subscriptions. All our distinguished rankers to be asked to serve as presidents or vice-presidents. The chairman and committee to be selected annually. The committee to be comprised of equal numbers of civilian and serving members. f A public subscription list to be opened for the foundation of the club; the subscribers' names to be inserted on a tablet and placed in the club after it has been opened. Some arrangements to be made to record and place in a conspicuous position the names of all those rankers who have given their lives for their country. One room in the club to be set aside for this sole purpose. The club would serve as a memorial for those who have made the greatest of all sacrifices, and would provide a place where all those members who are now civilians could meet one another, and also get in touch with their comrades who are still serving. As soon as the club has been established a Rankers' Association could be formed to give assistance and advice to all members. FOR the carrying-out of these laudable ob jects, Col. Halligan, who invites correspondence to A.P.Q., S. 19, Zeneghem, France, writes further :—If any " ranker " (civil or military) who is stationed at home will volunteer to take on the duties of secretary for the purpose of organising the meeting referred to in para. 2 above, and any others will also offer their services for the committee, and will all forward their names and addresses to me, I will en deavour to get the organisation started.
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