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Aviation History
1922
1922 - 0361.PDF
JUNE 22, 1922 They gave the order to uproot them from their peace station on a Wednesday evening, and by Saturday evening the whole squadron of 12 machines, personnel and everything had landed satisfactorily at their new station. With regard to what had been done afloat it was rather harder to particularise, but they had not lagged behind afloat any more than they had on land. In fleet exercises also their aircraft were playing an increasingly important part. Deck landings had proved successful, torpedo work was becoming increasingly useful, and all this work afloat required the greatest efficiency in training. From all sources he heard good accounts of the first lot of cadets that had left the Air College at Cranwell. The Staff College at Andover was now a going concern. He was , there the other day, and he could say that he had seldom met a more brilliant set of keen young officers, all of them anxious to improve themselves for the benefit of the Air Service and to investigate every possibility of the air. The boys being trained at Halton and Cranwell were gaining a great reputation, and he did not doubt they would go on doing so. So far it was all praise, but there were many difficulties ahead ; but whatever might be the contro versies of the future, at any rate the Air Force had been formed. It was very small, certainly, but certainly it was very efficient. There were many mistakes that must be corrected, but the foundations were there, and it was for their successors one day to say whether they had been well and truly laid. In conclusion, Sir Hugh said how proud they all were that General de Castelnau, Capitaine La Ferriere and Capitaine de Kerillis were present there. With regard to H.R.H. the Duke of York, he was not going to say anything about him. He was not there as a guest. He was a member of the Independent Force, and he was there as one of them. He thanked General de Castelnau and all his French colleagues for the great help they gave them in France. " May the happy entente that he established between the British and French >Air Services continue for ever," was his heartfelt wish. Sir Walter Lawrence in happy terms proposed " The Guests," and gave a few highly appreciated reminiscences. Mr. Winston Churchill, responding, remarked, that it was in very stern and hazardous circumstances that the Inde pendent Air Force was born, and no one, except perhaps Sir Hugh Trenchard, could possibly have foreseen the result that would have been obtained in so short a time inythe German Rhine cities. " If the Independent Air Force has been worthy of its commander," said Mr. Churchill, " the commander has been worthy of the Independent Air Force. Fine as is the reputation of the Independent Air Force, it is a great honour that General de Castelnau should come among us to-night." There was no period during the war comparable to the Marne. Upon a narrow balance an immense decision turned. No factor was too small not to be brought into the general addition of that vast calculation. But what would have been the value of that great victory .had it not been for the efforts of General de Castelnau ? No one had struck a greater blow for France and for the dignity and honour of his country than General de Castelnau. A very delightful evening was concluded with thanks to the Chairman, which was accorded with musical honours in no uncertain strain, with a couple of "finals" for Lady Trenchard and Hugh Minor. Those present at the Reunion included : Lieut.-Cols. E. B. Gordon, C.M.G., D.S.O., F. H. L. Errington, C.B., V.D., R. C. Donaldson-Hudson, D.S.O., J. Walev-Cohen, C.M.G., D.S.O., the Hon. Victor Russell, R. H. Collier, D.S.O. Wing Commanders Loui« Grieg, M.V.O., J. H. A. Landon, D.S.O., O.B.E., J. E. A. Baldwin, D.S.O., O.B.E., H. R. Nicholl, O.B.E., L. A. Pattinson, D.S.O., M.C., D.F.C., C. E. H. Rathborne, D.S.O., A. Vere Bettington, C.M.G. Majors E. K. Brown, H. H. Smith, T. Vincent Smith, M.C., F. M. Iredale, S. A. Chambers, C. H. Nathan, Louis Reynolds. Squadron-Leaders S. M. Cleverly, C. G. Burge, O.B.E., J. C. Quinnell, D.F.C., John Sowrey, A.F.C., H. Gardiner- Hill, A. F. A. Hooper, O.B.E., W. R. Read, M.C., D.F.C., A.F.C., W. J. Ryr.n, C.B.E. Fiight-Lieuts. W. E. Reason, Alec Gray, M.C., C. R. Cox, A.F.C., C. B. Dick-Oeland, C. A. Stevens, R. C. Saverv, D.F.C., A. N. Benge. R. Halley, D.F.C., A.F.C. Captains T. B. Marson, M.B.E., A. S. Keep, D. Brunt, L. C. Bygrave, H. L. Robertson, W. A. Herbert, J. E. Hume, D.S.O-, F. B. Rayner, F. J. Terrell, E. D. Harding, Wm. Smith, A. G. Trussell, D.S.M., A. H. Fynn. Flying Officers T. A. G. Hawley, R. S. Martin, E. J. McLoughlin, J. R. Bell, D.F.C., Jack Cottle, M.B.E., D.F.C., John Mitchell, D.S.O., D.F.C., W. Wild, M. Burbidge, R. Stanley-Smith. Messrs. C. G. Grey, Stanley Spooner, C. C. Turner, E. F. Van-der-Riet. a a H 13 THE LONDON-CONTINENTAL SERVICES FLIGHTS BETWEEN JUNE 11 AND JUNE 17, INCLUSIVE RouteJ Croydon-Paris ... Paris-Croydon ... Croydon-Brussels Brussels-Croydon Croydon-Rotterda m- Amsterdam. Amsterdam-Rotterdam- Croydon. Totals for week No . o f flights * 40 40 6 5 10 11 112 No . o f passenger s 96 91 15 6 8 7 223 No. of flights carrying Mail s 16 8 5 — 9 9 47 Good s 27 26 5 5 9 9 81 No . o f journey s complete d f 38 35 6 5 10 11 105 1 Averag e flyin g tim e h. m. 2 30 2 54 2 27 2 34 2 46 2 50 Fastest time made by D.H. 34 G-EBBT (ih. 57m.) D.H. 34 G-EBBS (2h. 23m.) D.H. 34 G-EBBT (2h. 5m.) D.H. 34 G-EBBT (2h. 26m.) Fokker H-NABI (2h. i6m.)§ FokkerH-NABl (2b.. 34m.)! Type and (in brackets) Number of each type flying B. (5), D.H. 18 (2), D.H. 34 (2), G. (6), H.P. W.8B (3), Sp. (i), V. (i), W. (1). B. (4), D.H. 18 (2), D.H. 34 (2). G. (6), H.P. W.8B (3), Sp. (1). V. (1), W. (1). D.H. 34(1), V. (1). D.H. 34 (1), V. (i), F. (9). F. (8). * Not including " private " flights. f Including certain journeys when stops were made en route. % Including certain diverted journeys. § Rotterdam. Av. = Avro. B, = Breguet. Br. = Bristol. Bt. = B.A.T. D.H.4 = De Havilland 4, D.H.9 (etc.;. F. = Fokker. Fa. = Farman F.50. G. = Goliath Farman. H.P. = Handley Page. M. — Martinsyde. N. = Nieuport. P. = Potea. R. = Rumpler. Sa. = Salmson. Sp. = Spad. V. = Vickers Vimy, Vulcan, etc. W. = Westland. Incidental Flying.—During the week Capts. Muir and Stocken made several test flights on Aircraft Disposal D.H. 9's, and Mr. Hayns took an Avrp over to Brussels on the 17th. 361 \
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