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Aviation History
1920
1920 - 1091.PDF
OCTOBER 14, 1920 been sounded and lighting gradually reduced, though main- tained brilliantly enough to form a good mark for hostile aeroplanes. When bombs dropped artificial fires would have been produced to encourage the airmen in their belief that they had just hit their objective. All of which sounds very wonderful—on paper. Somehow we fancy even such very simple folks as the Germans proved themselves to be in the art of war would have, in time, dis- covered the artifice. But there's no harm in elaborating the fanciful picture of what might have been. Per contra there appears to be strong corroborative evidence irom a German source of the sound theory of German camouflage on an ex ensive scale which was some little time ago put forward by Mr. Solomon J. Solomon in his " Strategic Camouflage," and referred to in detail in these pages. In support of Mr. Solomon's theories, a review published last month of his book in " Das Technische Blatt " is now quoted. The reference to Mr. Solomon's contentions is as follows :— '' Camouflage is the blue mist which one creates against the enemy's air interpretation, in order that the photographs may be silent about important plans, and that the adversary in other places may be deceived by appearance. "This is probably the first book in which this actually •decisive weapon is depicted, perhaps somewhat too broadly in detail, and penetrated by means of convincing pictures. It confines itself to strategical camouflage ; that is to say, the disguising of camps, attack roads, railways, and long- range cannons, in the assembling places a few kilometres behind the battle-zone. It is incomparably more vital than tactical camouflage, which affects only the protection of direct arrangements, such as trenches, light artillery ; and because it hid not only the masses of troops and transport, but above all the designs of the leaders. " Ludendorff in his war memoirs, under the title of 'The Attack in the West, 1918,' explains to us what this may mean. The author rightly states that the Allies were superior to the Germans in tactical camouflage, but in strategical camouflage we put them in the shade. From March, 1918, when first he perceived the colossal extent of our masking, he conducted a fruitless campaign against the authorities, who declared the whole thing nonsense and unthinkable. Thus, right until the end, the German attacks, nay, even ' Bertha,' which bombarded Paris, remained undiscovered and unhindered. " And really the scales do fall from the eyes of the civilian when he reads with what simple means the enemy's air- interpretation was fooled for years. Only in this manner was the success which almost invariably attended our mass attacks made possible. " Space, unfortunately, fails us, if only to point out the penetrating conclusions which the author arrives at, because naturally he is concerned not with their arrangements, but with the German, which he never saw close by, and that for the reason that they were the very first things which we destroyed on our retreat. We agree with him that in future wars on land camouflage will play a large part." ROYAL AERONAUTICAL SOCIETY NOTICES Leciures.—The next meeting will take place at the Royal Society of Arts, John Street, Adelphl, on Thursday afternoon, October 21, when Major-Gen. Sir W. S. Brancker.iK.C.B., will take the Chair at 5.30 p.m. On this occasion, abstracts of two papers will be read, to be followed by a discussion. Squad- ron Leader R. M. Hill will read his paper on " A Comparison of the Flying Qualities of 'Single and Twin-Engined Aeroplanes," which was presented to the Aeronautical Research Committee, who requested the Royal Aeronautical Society to provide facilities for its wider •dissemination and discussion. The second paper will also be of particular interest to Members interested in Aerial Transport, being on " Night Flying " by Mr. Cecil Baker. Annual Dinner.—Owing to the difficulty of finding accom- inodation, it has been found necessary to postpone the Annual Dinner until November. A definite announcement as to date and place will be made shortly. Forthcoming Arrangements.—It is hoped shortly to be able to announce an addition to the lecture programme in the shape of a paper describing certain experiments which have been carried out in the direction of producing a practical direct lift heavier-than-air machine. This is a matter which has in the past been the subject of many papers read before the Society, and it is hoped that the paper and discussion will result in the dissemination of the latest information in this particular line of research. Library.—The following books have been received and placed in the Library : " The Struggle in the Air, 1914-1918," Charles C. Turner ; " Design of Aeroplane Engines," John Wallace; " English-French Aero Dictionary," Leonard Henslowe. W. LOCKWOOD MARSH, Secretary CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY AERONAUTICAL SOCIETY THE First Session of the Society successfully terminated in March last with some 130 undergraduate and 20 honorary members on its roll. No lectures have been given during the summer months but in May over 80 members visited the Royal Airship Works, Cardington, Bedford, and some considerable number were to be found at Martlesham during the competi- tions. H.R.H. the Duke of York has graciously consented to become the Patron of the Society. As His Royal Highness, besides being a pilot, has also been up at Cambridge the Society feels itself greatly honoured to have as a Patron a member of the Royal family who is so intimately connected •with its activities. The following is the syllabus for the present term :— Oct. 20. Brig-General R. K. Bagnall-Wild. C.M.G., C.B.E., "" Inspection of Aircraft Steels." Oct. 27. Mr. J. D. North, F.Ae.S., F.R.Met.Soc. " The Structural Design of Aeroplanes." Nov. 3. G. Glauert, Esq., B.A., F.Ae.S. " Spins." Nov. 10. Public Meeting with Air League of the British Empire, Maj.-Gen. Rt. Hon. J. E. B. Seely, C.M.G., "D.S.O., M.P. " Air Supremacy." Nov. 17. Major J. Erskine Murray, D.Sc. " Communica- tion with Aircraft." . Nov. 24. Mr. C. I. R. Campbell, O.B.E., M.I.N.A., A.F.Ae.S. " Rigid Airships." Dec. 1. Capt. F. S. Barnwell, C.B.E., A.F.C., F.Ae.S. " Aeroplane Design, some Present and Future Possibilities." Visit to H.M. Airship Station, Pulham. (Date to be announced.) , . All Meetings commence at 8.30 p.m. O. E. SIMMONDS, Hon. Sec, Magdalene College, Cambridge. Zeppelins for Transatlantic Work IT appears from a report emanating from Berlin that representatives of the Inter-Allied Disarmament Committee went to Staaken on the afternoon of October 7 to take over from the Zeppelin Company the new giant airship, specially •constructed for a service between America and Germany. The Zeppelin Company refused to surrender the airship on the grounds that Germany is allowed to retain all aircraft built six months after the signing of the Peace Treaty. Another report has it that the Zeppelin Company has requested permission of the Intcr-AUied Air Commission to •construct two giant airships for use in internation trade between the U.S. and Germany, and that the request was temporarily refused. -A Record Parachute Drop A CLAIM for a record is made on behalf of Lieut. A. G. Hamilton, of the U.S. Army Air Service, who on September 26 is said to have dropped 20,900 ft. in 13 min. by parachute. The performance was made at Arcadia, Florida. Testing a Fireproof Machine TYPICALLY American in conception was a " stunt " carried out at Mineola on the nightjiof October 6. Mr. Paul Collins ascended in a Curtiss machine which had been treated with a fireproof substance and then saturated with petrol, the pilot's clothes being similarly treated. At a height of 5,000 ft. the machine was set alight and the descent com- jnenced. At a height of 3,000 ft. two magnesium flare on the wing tips were ignited and assisted by the light from these the pilot made an excellent landing. It is stated that both the fireproofing and the system of magnesium flares are the inventions of Mr. W. Parke Bradley, a chemist. 1093 •%•?•
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