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Aviation History
1920
1920 - 0134.PDF
JANUARY 29, 1920 DOES the flight from Hounslow last Saturday in a Vickers- Rolls-Royce machine with Capts. Broome and Cockerill up, plus a passenger, mark the first stage in an air-journey to the Cape via Cairo ? Race or no race, the first to fly this African route will make history just the same. So here are hearty good wishes to the pioneers in whomsoever they may be found. _• ' • :. -."'.• - , ^ ;"• MEANTIME the possibility of the flight being done in the opposite direction has increased, as the Cape Government is prepared to support a Cape-Cairo attempt, subject to the flyers being South Africans. And quite rightly, too. SMART and very suggestive work of the Evening News last Monday, sending over to Calais by air to handle the Foch Dover-Patrol foundation-laying ceremony. Mr. Clifford Whitley, our contemporary's special representative, left Hounslow with a photographer at 9.10 on Monday morning in an Airco machine for reporting the event. They carried out their work and returned to Hounslow at 2.15 p.m., and in the later edition of the Evening News on Monday report and photographs of the ceremony at Calais appeared as if it had happened but at Charing Cross. WHEN a war has to be won, temperament of a people has a deal to do with the result. The Germans may have had the will to win, but their temperament was not equal to their so-called " indomitable will." Our boys fortunately have the right temperament, and that's just the difference—the will automatically falls into line. And that temperament is the power to treat with a light heart and cool judgment the most serious position or dilemma. Particularly does this apply to every section of the R.A.F., and from the latest Indian papers to hand evidence of this same spirit crops out again in the Mahsuds campaign, in the doings of the boys at Christ- mas during intervals of bombing the recalcitrant tribesmen. A correspondent of the Calcutta Englishman, writing from Mandanna Kach, in describing how the Christmas was spent in camp, says :— " The irrepressible youngsters of the Royal Air Force infused a little of Christmas spirit into command post during the midst of the operations. One airman, whose machine was gaily decked with tricolour stripes, flew over and dropped a chit, ' Stand by to receive goose,' and presently a huge sack came hurtling through the air, which, on being opened, was found to contain a goose, a bundle of onions for stuffing, a box of dates, two tins of cigarettes and a box of Christmas crackers, with a characteristic note, ' With compliments from above and hell to the enemy.' Altogether the airmen had a joyful Christmas day, for they succeeded in blowing the top off one of the towers of Kotka, damaging another, and creating considerable unrest among the Mahsuds, who could be seen scuttling to caves like rabbits whenever a machine came overhead." Yet our Government would let practically the major part of the units which go to make up our aerial supremacy be scattered to the four winds, whilst in every direction the Germans are instituting plans whereby their peaceful pene- tration in the air by means of planes and airships will presently be so pronounced that we shall be lucky if we are able to scramble through the unholy muddle in time to be on top once again. of the latest instance. It is authoritativelya super " Bodensee " type of airship has beenBY way stated that completed at Friedrichshafen with which it is intended to establish a service between Switzerland, Germany and Sweden, to be extended later to Allied ports and the Mediter- ranean. This peaceful penetration item, trial trips of which will take place in February, contains restaurant and sleeping cars accommodating 18 passengers over and above the crew —which all sounds quite healthy from the peaceful penetra- tion point of view. And we notice, having in mind the pro- posed visits to Allied ports, Dover, Harwich, etc., have now- been notified as no longer " prescribed areas." Think it INAUGURATED in November, we are glad to learn that the W.R.A.F. Old Comrades' Association is making good head- way. Already 22 local branches have been formed, and initial steps have been taken for forming branches in 19 other centres. In addition to the formation of branches at home, it is intended to start others in the Colonies, as a great many ex-officers and other ranks of the W.R.AJF. have emigrated. The subject of employment forms an important side of this work. Fifty-six members have already applied to the asso- oooooooo o o - . " • • o o Two views of the * Q Lawson 26-pas- senger "Air Liner " taken during its recent 2,500-mile flight from Milwaukee to New York, Washington and back, This ma- chine was de- scribed in "flight" for September 11 last. O O O O O O O O O O O O O o oooooooo
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