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Aviation History
1924
1924 - 0480.PDF
JULY 31, 1924 IN PARLIAMENT Air Operations in Iraq and India MR. LANSBURYon July 10 asked what is the name of the locality from which a raid took place into the Iraq territory, resulting in the death of 146 men and 127 women and children, and in the course of which all male prisoners and wounded, both men and boys, were put to death ; whether he can tell the House the causes which led to this outbreak ; whether these raiding tribes are among those who were bombed on any of the five occasions on which bombing has taken place during the past five months ; and will he state the date when the above-mentioned disturbance, causing so great a loss of life, took place ? Mr. Leach : The locality referred to is a desert area lying about 130 miles south-West of Djaliba, which is a railway station 76 miles west of Basra. The raid, Which took place on March 14 last, can only be attributed partly to the natural turbulence of the tribes and partly to the desire for loot. The par ticular tribe responsible for the raid has not been bombed at any time. Miss Lawrence : Can the hon. member say whether these casualties were inflicted by one tribe on another or by His Majesty's forces ? Mr. Leach : The casualties referred to took place in a raid which had no relationship to air raids. The raids referred to are tribal raids which we are seeking to bring to an end. Sir C. Yate ; These men were killed by the raiders. Mr. Leach : Yes. Viscountess Astor : Is it not true that if it had not been for the raid many more people would have been killed. [Hon. Members : " Answer ! "J Mr. Speaker : Some questions do not allow of an answer. Mr. Lansbury asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is abls to state the number of dwelling-places destroyed by bombing on the five occasions when bombing took place in Iraq during the past five months ; what number of sheep and cattle were destroyed ; and the value of the grazing lands which were also bombed ? Mr. Leach : It is not possible to state the number of buildings destroyed by bombing in Iraq during the period covered by the question, but the chief occasion on which material damage was effected was in the course of punitive air action against Shaikh Mahmoud's headquarters, when several houses and a large tobacco store were destroyed by fire. As regards the second and third parts of the question, no figures are ascertainable, but the reports received indicate that as a result of the issue of warnings, livestock are often removed by the tribesmen from the area affected. I would point out tha» the objects of air action in such cases are largely secured, not by the infliction of casualties, but by making the tribesmen concerned realise that the Government of their country has means of reaching those who offer armed defiance to its authority. Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy asked (1) whether the Royal Air Force has been in action, since the present Government took office, in .any dependencies or mandated territories other than Iraq ; and, if so, what were the circum stances ; (2) On how many occasions the Royal Air Force has been in action since the present Government tcok office, otherwise than in Iraq ; what were the occasions ; and whether bombs were dropped or machine guns brought into action, and against what objectives ? Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy : May I point out, Mr. Speaker, that the fir^t question is intended and does refer to British territory, and the second question to territories other than British ? Mr. Leach : The Royal Air Force has been in action, outside Iraq, on two occasions since the present Government tcok office, on both occasions on the North-West Frontier of India. The first was at Razmak, on April 19, 1924, when an aeroplane directed the fire of a section of howitzers against a village, which was shelled in reprisal for the sniping of patrols in the neighbourhood. The second was on May 25 and 28, when bombs and machine guns were used against two villages of the Mahsuds, who had committed several serious outrages and had been warned that if they did not comply with certain terms, including the return of Hindus kidnapped and sold and the surrender of rifles, air or other action would be taken against them. Three out of four sections of the Mahsuds complied with these terms ; the fourth failed to do so, and were consequently attacked. Lient.-Commander Kenworthy : When these villages were bombed with machine guns, was any warning given so that non-combatants and children could be removed ? Mr. Leach : Yes, that is always done. R.A.F. in Iraq LIEUT. COMMANDER KEKWORTHY on July 17 asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many aeroplanes are stationed in Iraq ; how many pilots and observers are stationed there ; and how many aeroplanes are ready for immediate service for the defence of this country in case of war ? Mr. Leach : It is not considered to be in the public interest to give the infor mation asked for in the first and third parts of the question. As regards pilots and observers, there are stationed in Iraq 296 officers of the General Duties Branch, all of whom are liable to fly, and 23 airmen pilots. Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy : I do not want to impinge upon the public interest, but can the hon. gentleman say how many pilots there are available for immediate war service in this country ? I want a comparison between the defence arrangements here and there. Director of Scientific Research SIR F. SYKES on'July 18 asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether any appointment has yet been made to the post of Director of Scientific Research; and, if not, what steps are being taken to expedite an appoint ment to this post ? Mr. Leach : I regret that certain difficulties which have arisen in regard to this appointment have not yet been cleared up. Night Flying under Tropical Conditions SIR F. SYKES asked whether the night-flying training which has taken place in the Near East is such as has enabled conclusions to be reached in regard to regular night-flying in tropical and semi-tropical conditions ; and whether the data obtained has been published for the benefit of the aircraft construc tional and operational industries, as was done in the case of the night-flying experiments on the cross-Channel route in March, 1923 ? Mr. Leach : Sufficient experience has not been gained to enable any very definite conclusions, suitable for publication, to be reached, but the Air Ministry is prepared to place at the disposal of persons interested any informa tion in its possession which bears on this subject. Personnel Flying Duties SIR F. SYKES asked what were the numbers of Roval Air Force personnel engaged on June 30, 1923, and June 30, 1924, respectively, on active duty as pilot or observer, and on other duties ? Mr. Leach : To ascertain the number of pilots and observers employed actively on flying duties on the two dates named would entail very consider able research, the labour on which would not, I think, be justified. I would, however, point out that all officers of the General Duties Branch, unless excused on the ground of age, medical unfitness or other special reasons, are required to fly regularly. The numbers of such officers were 2,353 on June 30, 1923, and 2,481 on June 30, 1924, and there were in addition 23 and 106 airmen pilots on these dates, respectively. The remaining personnel numbered 623 officers and 26,338 airmen on June 30, 1923, and 675 officers and 28,418 airmen on June 30, 1924. British Round-the-world Flight . CAPT- WEDGWOOD BENN on July 24 asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he can make a statement showing exactly what steps have been taken by the Air Ministry to assist in the success of the British round-the-world flight. Mr. Leach : Squadron-Leader Maclaren has been lent instruments and maps for his flight and supplied with full meteorological and other advice in regard to the selection of his route. The commanding officers of all Royal Air torce stations on or near the line of his flight were instructed to render all possible help to him, and an engine was lent by Air Headquarters, Iraq, to replace the one damaged in his forced landing in the Sindh Desert. IJPV Beua : Can the ton- gentleman say anything as to what assistance could be rendered to Squadron-Leader Maclaren in the flight across the Pacific ? Viscount Curzon : Did the hon. gentleman, before Squadron-Leader Maclaren started across the Pacific, take steps to get into touch with the Admiralty. with a view to naval assistance being provided, if necessary, in this very dangerous passage ? Mr. Leach : Those details were settled before this Government assumed office. Capt. Benn : Could the hon. gentleman say—this is not a party question at all—whether any communication was made to the Admiralty by the Air Ministry, so that this gallant officer should have any necessary assistance in this dangerous flight ? Mr. Leach : I have not any information on that matter, but I presume that representations of that character would be made. Lieut.-Col. Sir Samuel Hoare : Would the hon. gentleman look up the papers, when I think he will find that representations were made and that all the Departments concerned were ready to do everything possible to make the flight a success ? Mr. Leach : I believe that is so. Reconditioned Military Airship COMMANDER BELLAIRS asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether the Secretary of State for Air and any other Members of the Cabinet will take passage to Egypt in the reconditioned military airship ? Mr. Leach : I am afraid that my noble friend's and his colleagues' move ments cannot be pledged so far in advance of the event. Commander Bellairs : Will the Air Ministry bear in mind the special responsibility of the Cabinet in overriding the previous decision of the Air Ministrv ? Sir H. Brit tain : Is it not a fact that this airship would hold the entire Cabinet ? Commander Bellairs asked the cost of reconditioning the military airship for her voyage to Egypt ; what date it is anticipated she will be ready for the trip ; and what additional accommodation ashore or afloat, involving expense to the Air Ministry or other Departments, is proposed in connection with the trip ? Mr. Leach : In answer to the first part of the question, it is estimated that the cost of reconditioning the airship for tropical trials at the intermediate base will be, approximately, £20,000. As regards the second and third parts, I am not in a position to say when the airship will be ready for these trials, nor is it possible, pending the final settlement of the site of the intermediate base, to state what expenditure will be necessary for accommodation, except that it is not likely to be large. R.A.F. Statistics LIEUT.-COL. SIR FREDERICK HALL asked what is the total number of officers and other ranks on the active list in the Air Service ; what is the number serving in Great Britain ; what is the total number of aeroplanes fit for service : what is the number being built ; and what is the number of machines now in this country ? Mr. Leach : The answer to the first part of the question is 3,156 officers, 102 cadets and 28,524 airmen ; to the second, 2,125 officers, 102 cadets and, 20,501 airmen. It would not be in the public interest to give the information asked for in the remaining parts of the question. R.A.F. Petrol Consumption MR. HARDIE asked how many gallons of petrol are used annually by his Department. Mr.Leach : As the Royal Air Force is expanding, an average annual figure would be misleading, but the present rate of consumption is a little under 3,01.0,000 gallons annually. Construction SIR T. BRAMSDOK asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if, in view of anticipated future additions to and extension of the naval arm, he will consider the appointment of a Committee to investigate the advantages of aircraft construction, including airships, in the vicinity of the naval home ports where exceptional facilities exist. Mr. Leach : It is not possible for the Air Ministry to dictate to the aircraft manufacturing firms the location of their works. Only one airship is being built by the Government itself, at the Royal Airship Works, Cardington, from which it would be obviously disadvantageous to remove the construction work. I do not consider, therefore, that any useful purpose would be served by the appointment of the Committee suggested by the hon. member. Civil Aviation Pilots' Licences SIR F. SYKES asked what are the circumstances under which applicants for civil pilots' licences are required to undergo practical tests ; how many such tests have been carried out since the issue of licences was undertaken by the Air Ministry ; and what were the results of such tests in the cases of applicants who had not flown regularly for six months or more ? Mr. Leach : As regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. and gallant member to the Air Navigation Directions, 1924 (A.N.D. 3c), of which I am sending him a copy. The answer to the second part of the question is 137; to the third, that between July 15 1921, prior to which date statistics are not available, and July 23, 1924, of 61 applicants who had not flown regularly for six months or more, 36 passed the practical tests and 25 failed. Air Defence of London MR. A. T. DAVIES, on Jnly 28, asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that there are aeroplanes and engines now in use for the defence of London which are of the same pattern and make as were in use at the termination of the war ; what is the speed of the fastest among these machines ; whether he is aware that post-war machines now possessed by foreign countries are capable of flying 200 miles an hour; whether the Air Board has in use any machines capable of flying 200 miles an hour ; and, if so, what is the number ? Mr. Leach : As regards the first part of the question the re-equipment of the squadrons referred to is in progress and will be completed within the next 12 months. In reply to the remaining parts, as I have previously stated, it is undesirable to enter upon comparisons between the relative performances of British and foreign service aircraft. 480
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