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Aviation History
1924
1924 - 0676.PDF
•" OCTOBER 16, 1924 ROYAL AIR FORCE ARMY CO-OPERATION Divisional Training at Aldershot OUR readers will understand that the Lympne meeting put a strain upon our space in recent issues, but now that the eventful week is past we make no apology for devoting atten tion to the part played by the Royal Air Force in army divi sional training at Aldershot last week. And we may take as our text an article by Lieut.-Col. Repington, which appeared in the Daily Telegraph of September 26. Col. Repington gives us the impression of one who has a sentimental attach ment to the old order of things, a feeling at which we should be the last to scoff—for what British soldier does not in his heart of hearts regret the days of pike and claymore, and feel something of the prejudice expressed in the term " villainous saltpetre " ? So we do not resent the apparent satisfaction with which Col. Repington records that during the man oeuvres " high winds, driving rain, and lowering clouds, some 300 ft. above the ground on more than one occasion, prevented the airmen from executing their mission," or the inference which he draws that an air force does not and cannot compete with cavalry for protective reconnaissance. The passing of the cavalry would indeed be a tragedy of modern military developments, and if the weather of western .Europe makes room for cavalry as well as aeroplanes in modern warfare, no lighting man will regret it. In fact, this bent of Col. Repington's mind makes all the more striking the very high testimony which he pays to the work of No. 4 (Army Co-operation) Squadron during the man oeuvres. He appears to have been quite startled at its efficiency, and he is fair, even generous, in the way in which he records his amazement. One other little point in the article increases the value of his testimonial—namely, his ignorance of R.A.F. matters. He writes of Squadron-Leader C. H. B. Blount, O.B.E., M.C., who commands No. 4, as " Squadron-Commander Blount," and he confesses himself no judge of types of aeroplane. Ihe 4th Squadron (whicli is equipped with Bristol Fighters) supplied the superior air force against which each division in turn had to contend, and also provided a small flight for each division. The bombers came from other units. On the two days on which the weather in the early' mornings handicapped the airmen—though on actual service we very much doubt it clouds 300 ft. above the ground would have completely incapacitated them, despite the grave risk of casualties—the incapacity only fasted for a few hours. As the day wore on '' the airmen affirmed their watchfulness and their power." Squadron-Leader Blount was enabled by their reports to plot out on his map the greater part of the enemy's dispositions, so that the general character, direction and strength of the attacks became clear. Col. Repington was fascinated by the way in which this was done. A large scale map was spread on a table and covered with glass. As the reports came in each new disposition was marked in black on the glass, and the former position was easily erased. Two staff officers of the army sat by the squadron-leader to interpret the developments and report to the divisional general, and, says Col. Repington, " watching the gradual revealment of the enemy's movements, position, and intentions, as shown on the map as it grew, was extraordinarily interesting . . . It is nearly as weird and uncanny as the control station at headquarters during a Zeppelin raid on London." Thus, in the eyes of a critic, by no means prejudiced in favour of the newest arm, the reconnaissance work of the Royal Air Force was amply justified. Nor was Col. Repington less impressed by the striking power of the aeroplanes. On one day a supply column consisting of 36 lorries was located by an aeroplane with wireless near Frensham pond at 4.27 p.m. Only 21 minutes later the column was attacked by four Bristol Fighters and was broken up. " The rapidity with which this was done was startling." On another day a column of 63 wagons near Alice Holt wood was similarly destroyed. '' These were highly unpleasant experiences for the army." But worse was to follow. A whole artillery brigade was caught on a road, and the aeroplanes flew up and down above it, swooping down in turn to rake the column from stem to stern with a continuous stream of fire. The bombers also attacked towns and divisional railheads far in the rear, and Col. Reping ton thinks that bombers flying in formation and well armed with machine guns " are not attractive to attack by air." Col. Repington admits that " the superior air force, given weather possible for flying, exercises a predominance over the whole of the rearward communications of a moving army, and it is dangerous and difficult for any wheeled column to operate at all except by night or through woods." Col. Repington also notices the versatility with which the airmen discounted a disability inherent in their weapon. They did not attack extended infantry, or guns with shields, with their machine guns. To be effective against such tar gets, it is well known that small arm fire must be what is known as " grazing " fire—that is to say, the trajectory must be more or less parallel with the surface of the ground. Shots fired from an altitude are called " plunging fire," and when a shot misses the individual target it has very little chance of hitting another. On such occasions the airmen turned their own artillery on to the target, and shrapnel did the work which machine guns in the air could not do. Col. Repington is quite nonplussed when he contemplates the changes in army tactics which are imposed by the new arm. Headquarters must not be situated at cross roads— the most suitable place for them—and must be carefully concealed ; infantry must be taught to take cover on the shady side of hedges and trees to escape the eye of the aerial camera, etc. Quite rightly he sees that the only effective reply to air attack is the provision of a superior air force. Apparently, in the manoeuvres which he describes, the bombing and reconnaissance aeroplanes were not subject to the attacks of hostile fighters and scouts, and conse quently did not need fighting escorts. This immunity made the air operations unreal. Mastery of the air, or at least freedom of the air, must be asserted by the fighting aircraft before the bombers and reconnaissance machines can do their work. But were the whole of air warfare to be practised at army manoeuvres the umpiring business would be exceed ingly difficult; and while it was under consideration whether a supply column had been destroyed or whether the bombers had previously been shot down by hostile Siskins, poor Tommy would be apt to grow very hungry. • <$> <$> <8> Married. Captain J. E. DOYLE, D.F.C., was married, on October 7, at Zeal Monachorum, to GRACE VERA BURD, youngest daughter of Dr. and Mrs. G. V. Burd, of Okehampton. The marriage took place at Belhaven Church, Glasgow, on .Wednesday, of Flight-Lieut. C. E. WILLIAMSON-JONES, D.F.C., R.A.F., London, to HELEN ELIZABETH, younger daughter of Mr. and Mrs. ANDREW MACLELLAN, of 4, Belhaven- Terrace, Glasgow, W. The marriage took place, on October 14, at St, George's District register office, Prince's Row, of Air-Commodore CHARLES RUMNEY SAMSON, C.M.G., D.S.O., and Miss WINIFRED REEVES, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert K. Reeves, of The Mansion, Leather head. To be Married The engagement is announced between Lieut. WILLETT AMALRIC BOWEN-BUSCARLET, R.A. and R.A.F., son of Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Buscarlet, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, and VIOLET MARY, daughter of the late Mr. JOHN MONTHERMER MONTAGUE and Mrs. Montague, of Broom Hill, near Barn staple. The marriage of Squadron-Leader P. C. SHERREN, M.C., R.A.F., and Miss JOYCE TILDEN SMITH will take place quietly at St. Mark's, North Audley Street, on October 29, at 2.15. Killed STANLEY EDWARD HALL, R.A.F., was killed on September 22, whilst flying at Abu Sueir, Egypt. His age was 25. 676
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