FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1925
1925 - 0047.PDF
JANUARY 22, 1925 Pilots often disregarded their rights under the customs of war, and made rules for themselves, which might have come straight from the pages of Froissart. In some cases pilots spared enemies who were at a disadvantage, and whom it was their duty to shoot down. Richthofen was once spared by a British pilot when the former's gun had jammed. Richthofen himself gave quarter to a British machine which he thought was in flames. The chivalrous spirit of the air personnel will, thinks the writer, be a powerful obstacle to the ruthless employment of air power against civilians. The later chapters of the book deal chiefly with purely legal questions, such as the position of a pilot who is captured in enemy territory when carrying a, civilian spy in his machine. Has he the rights of a combatant ? or is he " tainted " by his dealings with the spy and therefore liable to be shot out of hand ? The point is a novel one not previously contemplated by international law, and the practice of belligerents, says the writer, must determine the custom of war. On the other hand, he does not hold it essential for a pilot or observer to be dressed in correct uniform when conducting warlike opera- tions, provided that their aircraft is correctly marked. The anecdotes which serve as illustrations of different points are numerous and most interesting. The correct version of the story of the R.E.8, which landed with both pilot and observer dead in their seats, is given. So, too, is the story of the leaflets dropped over the Indian corps, which appealed to the Mussulmans in a script which only the Hindus could read. Mr. Spaight has read widely and deeply before he wrote this book. It is in the main a legal disquisition, but, despite that fact, many long passages provide as entertaining reading as one could desire. It is a book which ought to be possessed by every mess in the Royal Air Force. Air Actions in Iraq LAST week we referred to R.A.F. action against Wahabi raiders in Iraq, and we now give some further information on the matter. The Times correspondent states that the aerial counter-attacks against the Wahabi raiders continued for four days, and it is worth noting that, whereas after the first attack by aeroplanes the Wahabis scattered and fled, leaving the stolen sheep and camels wandering aimlessly about the desert, on the subsequent occasions they were most tenacious, endeavouring to retain possession of the loot, which was left in the care of the rearguards. There were several separate raiding parties of Wahabis, whose attacks on two sectors of the frontier synchronised, whether by a definite plan or merely accidentally it is hard to say. In the course of the operations, as the Wahabis swiftly retreated towards their desert fastnesses, the aeroplanes were compelled to make longer and longer journeys from their base in the pursuit, but there were no British casualties. By Air to the Pole YET another aerial expedition to the North Pole is being planned. This one is being organised by a young British Columbian explorer, Grettir Algareson. who will have as second in command Comdr. F. A. Worsley, D.S.O., of Shackleton fame. It is proposed to proceed this summer by way of Reykjavik to Spitzbergen, thence as far as the ice permits. A base will then be formed and the air journey to the pole undertaken from this point. A special machine, developed from the light 'piano, fitted with skii and floats is being designed for the attempt. Public Inquiry into Croydon Air Disaster THE Air Ministry announces :—The Secretary of State for Air has directed a formal investigation of the accident at Croydon on December 24, 1924, to the aircraft G—EBBX, belonging to Imperial Airways, Ltd., to be held under the Air Navigation (Investigation of Accidents) Regulations, 1922. He has appointed Sir Arthur Colefax, K.B.E., K.C., to hold the investigation, and Prof. B. M. Jones, A.F.C., Mond Professor of Aeronautical Engineering at Cambridge Univer- sity, and Mr. James Swinburne, F.R.S., M.Inst.C.E., as assessors for the purposes of the investigation. The Court will hold its first sitting at the Law Courts in Quadrangle Court A at 11 a.m. on Friday, January 23. The investigation will be heard in open Court. Persons desirous of being heard by Council or otherwise should attend at the first sitting of the Court. Sir Charles Wakefield and King's College COL. AND ALDERMAN SIR CHARLES WAKEFIELD, Bt., has been appointed on the King's College Delegacy by the University of London. , ' " Joy Flips " for Wembley ? IT is hoped that one of the features of this summer's exhibition at Wembley will consist of a display of British, progress in aviation. The Society of British Aircraft Con- structors are endeavouring to secure a section of the Palace of Engineering for the purpose of exhibiting a comprehensive selection of the productr of the British aircraft industry. Also, it is hoped to arrange flights for visitors in large passenger machines from an aerodrome near by. Two R.A.F. Flying Accidents THE Air Ministry regrets to announce two flying accidents, both occurring on January 17, resulting in the death of two R.A.F. pilots. In one case, as a result of an accident at Ramleh to a Bristol fighter of No. 14 (Army Co-operation) Squadron, Amman, Flying Officer Ronald Reid Hardcastle Bruce, the pilot of the'aircraft, and No. 326113 L.A.C. Alex Sutton, were seriously injured. Flying Officer Bruce died^at Palestine General Hospital on the same day. The second accident occurred at Ismailia to a Bristol fifihfrer of No. 208 (Army Co-operation) Squadron, MoasiiaV1, lsmaiha, and Flying Officer James Alexander McLaren, M.C., the pilot of the aircraft, was killed. H H m m m 13 0 a is si ffl 13 H B B m w H H H 0 H H 13 An American Commercial Limousine : The Kinner 5-pas- senger biplane employed by Dr. T. C. Young, of G lend ale, Cal. It is fitted with a 198 h.p. Renault engine. IBB B H H 47 •%•
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
