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Aviation History
1920
1920 - 0512.PDF
MAY 6, 1920" AVIATION IN PARLIAMENT Aeronautical Ply-Wood BRIG.-GEN. CROFT, in the House of Commons, on April 21, asked theParliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether a large quantity of ply-wood was recently disposed of for an alleged sum of £160,000 ; if so,whether public tenders were invited or firms who had written to the Ministry asking to be informed when this ply-wood was to be sold were given anopportunity to quote ; and whether a commission of 2i per cent, was paid on the sale 01 this timber ? Mr. Hope ; A large quantity of aeronautical ply-wood was recently soldfor the sum of approximately £117,000. Public tenders for this material were not invited, because a legal doubt existed as to whether certain firms hadnot a prior right to offer under an existing arrangement with the Aircraft Production Department. The price obtained for this material was consideredto be a very good one: The answer to the-last part of the question is in the affirmative. In accordance with the normal custom of the trade, the salewas effected through a broker, who, in return, guaranteed the'sale and was responsible for payment. Civil Aviation MR. S'JGDEN, on April 26, asked the Minister of Transport when he will beable to give details of his plans for assisting endeavour and progress in civil aviation ?Sir E. Geddes : As I stated in my speech on March 24 the Ministry of Transport is not responsible for civil aviation. The question is therefore onewhich should be addressed to the Air Ministry. MAI. GLYN, on April 27, asked the Secretary of State for War and Airwhether, in view of the present condition of a civil aviation industry in this country, he will issue as a Parliamentary Paper a complete statement inregard to the civil aviation branch of the Air Ministry, showing, separately, what results have actually been accomplished up to date ; at what cost andhow has the money voted been disbursed ; what is the settled policy of that Department to be in carrying out the policy adopted by the Governmentfor the future ; and in what manner the Department suggests that efforts may be made to encourage the industries engaged in the manufacture ofaeroplanes or parts of aeroplanes in this country ? Mr. Churchill : As I stated in debate on March rr last, I hope very shortlyto lay before the House a Paper by the Controller-General of Civil Aviation. I think my hon. and gallant friend will find there the detailed informationto which he refers. Halton Camp, East MR. TREVELYAN THOMSON asked the Secretary of State for War and Airif he will state the number of youths at the Royal Air Force school of tech- nical training at Halton Camp, East, whose term of service with the coloursexpires next year ; whether he considers that the cost of the training given will be recouped to the State in those cases where the boys then re-entercivil life ; and whether, in the interests of national economy as well as in the interests of the youths themselves, he will consider the desirability of liberatingthem at once when they have civil employment waiting for them ? Mr. Churchill : I am informed that there are no boys at Halton servingunder the conditions described in the first part of the question, and the second and third parts do not, therefore, arise. British Flying Officers in India SIR W. JOVHSON-HICKS asked the Secretary of State tor War and Airwhether British flying officers en route to Mesopotamia are often stranded for a fortnight in Bombay, with no extra allowance to cover their expenseswhile there ; and whether he will remedy the hardship ? Mr. Churchill : The point has not previously been brought to notice. Theofficers in question should, on arrival in Mesopotamia, claim from the Com- mand Taymaster there, the travelling allowances due for the period of deten-tion in Bombay. In case there may have been any misunderstanding, special instructions have been sent to the paymaster as to the admissibility of suchclaims, if received. SIR W. JOYNSON-HICKS asked the Secretary of State for War and Airwhat are the existing arrangements as to the length of stay of officers and men in India ; and what are the arrangements for married officers and menin that country ? This question was only intended to apply to the Air Force, but someonehas put in the words " for War." Mr. Churchill : I think the answer has been framed by the War Officeand is intended to apply to the military. If necessary, the hon. member perhaps will repeat his question.(As the answer referred to the Army it is not printed here.) SIR W. JOYNSON-HICKS : The difficulty is that the right hon. gentlema-r-occupies two offices, but surely an hon. member is entitled to put down, as 1 did, a question applying simply to the Air Force ? Somebody else put i»the words " for War." Are we not entitled to ask separate questions and to-- expect separate answers ? Mr. Speaker : It would have made the question clearer if the hon. member 'had, in the body of his question, indicated his intention that it should apply only to officers and men of the Air Force. If he had put in the words to that-effect it would have made it clear. Surrendered German Aeroplanes ,SIR HARRY BRITTAIN asked the Secretary of State for War and Air whether it isvthe intention of the Government to destroy or to make use ofthe German aeroplanes to be delivered as and when they are handed over ? Mr. Churchill : These aeroplanes will be surplus to all possible British,requirements, and it has been decideu that, except for some machines reserved, for exhibition purposes, they shall be reduced to produce and the materialsold. Aeroplanes, Fast Fortune, EdinburghBRIG.-GEN. WIGAN asked the Secretary of State for War and Air how many new or secondhand aeroplane? are stored at Bast Fortune, Edinburgh ?•how they are stored ; when they were used last; whether they are rapidly deteriorating ; whether it is intended to use them again or dispose of them ;.and what action is likely to be taken in the matter .' Mr. Churchill: At East Fortune there are at present two seaplanes and'84 aeroplanes, 33 of which are in good condition, the remainder consisting of machines which require considerable overhaul, and crashed machines. Theyare stored in sheds which arc in good condition, the wings of the machines- being removed and placed alongside the fuselages in each case. The machineswere last used about 18 months ago, and the rate of deterioration is normal.- They will all shortly be handed over to the Disposal Board. German AircraftMR. CHARLES PALMER, on April 28, asked the Secretary of State for War and Air whether he has seen a precis of the Report which General Masterman,head of the Allied Commission of the Air Control, is presenting to the Ambas- sadors' Conference in Paris, urging the necessity for immediate Allied actionito force Germany to execute the Clauses of the Peace Treaty dealing with suppression of military aircraft in Germany ; and whether he is still prepared;to trust our late enemy in regard to the 12,000 aeroplanes which, as part of the Treaty, should by now have been handed over ? Mr. Churchill : It may be well for me to explain that Air Commodore'Masterman is not acting directly under the orders of the Air Ministry with regard to the enforcement of the Air Clauses of the Peace Treaty. MarshalFoch has been deputed by the Allies to supervise the Military and Air Clauses of the Treaty, and Air Commodore Masterman, as head of the Inter-AlliedAeronautical Commission of Control reports to Marshal Foch, who refers to the Council of Ambassadors as he sees fit. Air Commodore Masterman is ofcourse, an officer of the Royal Air Force, and he furnishes weekly reports- to the Air Ministry on the progress of his work under the Inter-Allied Com-mission. Mr. Palmer : Is the right hon. gentleman still fully convinced that 12,000-aeroplanes will safely arrive in this country Mr. Churchill : No, sir. The Government intend that they shall be broken*down on the spot and reduced to produce and disposed of in the best possible- manner.Mr. Billing : Is the right hon. gentleman aware of the enormous commercial' value to Great Britain of these large bomb-carrying aeroplanes ? Will he -offer them to those desiring to introduce a commercial service in this country ? Col. Lowther : Is it not a fact that all the clauses of the Treaty have beemkept ? Did no*t the Leader of the House give the House an assurance to • that effect ?Mr. Churchill : I said nothing in conflict with that. No doubt there are minor irregularities with the execution, but we are not confronted with adefinite refusal to carry out the purposes of the Treaty. Col. Lowther : Is the refusal to surrender all the paraphernalia of war aminor irregularity ? Mr. Churchill : I do not admit that they are refusing. There are delays,,and some of them unavoidable, owing to the chaotic conditions prevailing.- We are not confronted with any direct refusal or repudiation of the obliga-tions of the Treaty. Mr. Billing : May I have an answer to my question ?Mr. Churchill : The hon. gentleman should communicate with the Dis- posals Branch of the Ministry of Munitions. AIR MINISTRY ANNOUNCEMENTS x Summer Time in Europe SUMMER time was introduced in Serbia on the night ofApril 9-10. It was introduced in Hungary on April 5, and will continue in force in that country until September 20.(A.M. Notice No. 46.) Summer Time was introduced in Belgium on the nightof February 14-15, in Turkey on the night of March-i, and in Italy on March 21. (A.M. Notice No. 48.) --_ Donibristle Aerodrome THE following arrangements have been made at Doni-bristle Aerodrone, which is about three miles north-east of the Forth Bridge, and nine miles north-west of Edinburgh :—A new wind-direction indicator in the form of a white aero- plane has been erected at the north-east corner of the aero-drome. The name Donibristle has been marked in the middle of the surface of the aerodrome in large fiat concrete letters ;it runs due north and south, the " E " being the most northerly point. Pilots should land on or near the name, as the surfaceat the sides of the aerodrome is rough and irregular. (A.M. Notice No. 49.) French Military Aerodromes THE French Minister for War has granted pel missionto British civilian pilots to land on the following military aerodromes in France :-—Avord, Cazaux, Chateauroux,Dijon, Etampes, Istres, Luxeuil, Lyons, Malzeville, Pau, Romilly, Thionville, Tours, and at Hussein Bay in Algeria..(A.M. Notice No. 50.) Wearing of Uniform by Demobilised OfficersTHE permission to wear uniform granted to officers,, who have served in the Royal Air Force, on demobilisationfrom that Force, extends only to State and other ceremonial occasions. If uniform is worn the dress must be that whichis appropriate to the occasion. Repairs to R.A.F. Marine Craft ARRANGEMENTS have been made whereby the Admiraltywill undertake on repayment repairs to the hulls and machinery, including reconditioning, of marine craft belonging to the-R.A.F. The work is to be done in the dockyards if facilities- exist when the repairs are required ; if not, tenders are to-be arranged by the yards for the work to be done by contract, the necessary supervision being furnished by dockyard *officers. The Air Ministry has been asked to prepare com- plete defect lists in advance of the vessel's arrival at the-dockyard or other repairing port, in order that no avoid- able delay may be incurred in putting the work in hand,more particularly when tenders for repairs by contract have- to be arranged for. 512
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