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Aviation History
1925
1925 - 0347.PDF
JUNE 4, 1925 THE ROYAL London Gazette, Mav 26, 1925. General Duties Branch The following Flying Officers are granted permanent commissions in thatrank (May 27) :—1). M. Fleming, A. H. H. MacDonald. Lt. A. M. Pilling, R.N., is granted a temp, commission as a Flying Officer on attachment forfour years' duty with R.A.F. (April 27). P. J. Fitzgerald, Lt., K.N., Flying Officer, R.A.F., relinquishes his temp, commission on return to naval duty(May 17). The short service commissions of the follg. Pilot Officers on pro- bation are terminated on cessation of duty (Mav 27) :•—W. E. Fleming,A. R. C. Kirby. Stores branchThe follg. are granted short service commissions as Pilot Officers on pro- bation, with effect from and with seniority of May 25, 1925 ;—F. Scntt, AIR, FORCE 1). G. Vaughan. The foilg. are transferred to Stotes Branch on probationin ranks stated, with effect from, and with seniority of, May 25, 1925 : Firing Officers — R M Taylor, M.C., C. W. H. Mollcr, .1. F. Young, M.M.C.'B. Horsfield, F. H. Bedford, M.C., M.M. Pilot Officers. — V. W. Hemsley, St. J. F. Wintour (Lt., 16th Bn. London Regt., T.A.). Chaplains' BranchRev. W. T. Rees is granted the local relative rank of Wing Commander employed as senior Chaplain, Iraq Command (Jan. 13).Thewhile e: ROYAL AIR Appointments.—The following appointments in the Royal Air Force arenotified :— General Duties BranchFlight Lieut.—J. B. Allen, to Boys' Wing, Cranwell ; 25.5.25. Flying Officers : W. J. Shilcott, D.S.M., to Air Ministry ; 8.6.25. E. R.Hockaday, to No. 1 Stores Depot, Kidbrooke ; 8.6.25. J. A. Moore, to R.A.F. Depot, on appointment to a short service commn ; 25.5.25. Stores BranchFlying Officers : R. M. Taylor, M.C., C. W. H. Moller, ]. F. Young, M.M., C. B. Horsfield, and F. H.'Bedford, M.C., M.M., to No. 1 Stores Depot,Kidbrooke ; 25.5.25. Pilot Officers : B. W. Hemsley and St. J. F. Wintour, to No. 1 Stores Reserve of Air Force OfficersFlying Officer F. G. S. Musson is transferred irom Class A to Class C (May 26). Observer Officer M. T. Wyatt is trausierred Irom Class B to Class C.(May 26). FORCE INTELLIGENCE Depot, Kidbrooke ; 25.5.25. F. Scutt, D. G. Vaughan, A. Amy and C. E.Burke, to No. I Stores Depot, Kidbrooke, on appointment to short service commns. (on probation) ; 25.5.25. Accountant Branch Flight Lieutenant : F. W. Arthurton, to No. 4 Flying Training Sch., Egypt. 4.5.25. Pilot Officer: A. McBroora, to H.OJ., Cranwell. 1P.5.25. Medical BranchFlight Lieutenant: \V. Parsons, to Central Med. Board. 30.5.25. J. Prendergast, M.B., B.A., to No. 100 Sqdn. Spittlegate ; 26.5.25.Flying Officer : C. G. J. Nicolls, M.B., to No. 13 Sqdn., Andover ; 26.5.25. IN PARLIAMENT The Air MinistryRF.AF-ADMIRAL SUETER, on May 25, asked the Prime Minister whether lie could give an assurance to the House that it is the settled policy of theGovernment to maintain the Air Ministry as the Department responsible for aviation, development of airships, and air defence, and not to diminish itsresponsibilities or to absorb it in the Admiralty or any other Department ? The Prime Minister : No change is at present contemplated in the existingresponsibility. British Air Service to Czecho- SlovakiaSin. ALBERY asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether in view of the German refusal to allow any regular British air service totross to Czecho-Slovakia, he proposes to take any action ? Mr. Chamberlain : I he German Government are free to sanction or refuseto sanction such flights of aircraft over their territory as they think fit. R.A.F. Administration in Near East SIR F. SYKES, on Mav 26, asked the Secretary of State for Air if he isyet in a position to make a statement in regard to economies in Air Force administration in the Near East ?Sir S. Hoare : I hope to be in a position to make a statement on this subject shortly. Aero Engines TestsSIR F. SYKES asked how many aero engines, and how many types of aero engine, were tested to destruction in the year ending the 31st March,1925, with a view to the successive elimination of weak points in design V Sir S. Hoare : If by testing to destruction my hon. and gallant friendmeans testing until some definite failure is disclosed, the answer is that every type of engine under test, amounting to 26 types in all, was so tested in theyear ending 31st March last. The object of these tests is to obtain a pro- gressive increase in the power output of engines while conforming to theprescribed standard of reliability, and failures occurring in any particular tests indicate the modifications required before an engine can be acceptedat the rating which is being aimed at. It would be a matter of great difficulty to give the exact number of engines concerned, since the saire engine may besubmitted to test many times and may develop either the same or different failures at different times, and, moreover, the tests are carried out atvarious centres, the records of which would have to be consulted. Air Services, Egypt and India SIR F. SYKES asked whether the commercial operation of the air routebetween Egypt and Iraq or of a route between Iraq and India is now again contemplated by the Air Council; and, if so, when it is proposed to bring such a policy into effect ? . .Sir S. Hoare : The question of the operation of a commercial air service between Egypt and India is again being carefully examined, and I hope tobe in a position to make an announcement on the subject shortly. Singapore and Air DefenceSIR GERALD STRICKLAND on May 27 asked the Secretary of State tor Air what is the estimated cost in this financial year of the air defence of Singa-pore ; and will he obtain an approximate estimate thereof on the completion of the base there according to present plans ?The Secretary of State for Air (Lieut.-Col. Sir Samuel Hoare) : As regards the first part of the question, no expenditure from air votes is contemplatedthis year for the purpose mentioned, with the possible exception ot a sum not exceeding £300 for a detailed survey of the site of the aerodrome. Asregards the second part, it is impossible at present to give even an approximate estimate of the cost of the scheme of air defence that may be found necessary. Sir G. Strickland : Is it wise to embark on the construction of a great navalbase at Singapore without reckoning the probable ultimate cost of upkeep .' Sir S. Hoare : 1 have already pointed out that no expenditure has yet been involved on the Air Vote. Qualified Pilots COL. WOODCOCK asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he can give the proportion of qualified pilots in the Air Force in relation to tnenumber of the other officers and men in the Force ; and whether he can give the corresponding proportion for the French Air Force ? . .Sir S. Hoare : The percentage of pilots qualified or at present under training in relation to the total number of officers on the strength of the Royal AirForce is 74, whilst the percentage in relation to all ranks is approximatei\». As regards the second part, in the French service a large number ot thepersonnel engaged on duties in connection with the Air Service are borne on the military and naval establishments, and it is not possible to givecorresponding figures, but the percentage of flying in relation to ground personnel is probably much the same as in the Royal Air Force. Recruiting AdvertisementsMR. BECKETT asked the amount spent in the six months ending March 31 in recruiting advertisements ?Sir S. Hoare : The approximate expenditure in respect of the period referred to is £1,620.Mr. PALING : Are we getting the necessary number of recruits? Capt. Gee : Will the right hon. gentleman consider the advisability ofdoubling this amount in order that men may realise the desirability of fighting for their country '!Sir S. Hoare : I will consider my hon. and gallant friend's suggestion, but I would like to point out that the recruiting figures so far are not unsatisfactory. Irish Free State and Killeagh AerodromeMR. J. BECKETT asked the amount spent on the unfinished aerodrome at Killeagh, Ireland ; the progress made before its handing over to the IrishFree State ; and its condition when handed over ? Sir S. Hoarc : The answer to the first part of the question is £491,476 ;to the second, that one shed was half finished, another about one-third finished, and the subsidiary buildings and works were nearly completed whenthe station was transferred by the Admiralty to the Air Ministry in 1919. As regards the last part, no further work was carried out after the transferabove mentioned, but the aerodrome was raided in 1922, when very con- siderable damage was done to the buildings, and they were consequently ina dismantled condition when handed over to the Irish Free State Government. Mr. Beckett : When the aerodrome was handed over, did loose propertysuch as steel girders also become the property of the Free State Government, or did we make arrangements for collecting it ? Sir S. Hoare : So far as I remember, everything was handed over to the Free State Government, but I will look into the specific point raised by the hon. member. Air Minister's Visit to Middle East MR. SMITHERS asked the Secretary of State for Air whether, in view ofthe far-reaching importance to the Empire and of future possibilities, he will publish in the form of a White Paper a report of his recent trip during theEaster recess with a sketch map of the ground covered ? Sir S. HOARE : The question of the issue of a White Paper in connectionwith the recent tour by air of my right hon. friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies and myself in the Middie East is at present under considerationby His Majesty's Government, and* in this connection I will bear my hon. friend's suggestion in mind. Airship Base, India . .MR SPENCER' (for MR. VIANT) asked the Secretary of State for Air if the site of the airship base in India for the new 5,000,000 cubic feet Stateairship has been selected as a result of the visit in January last of the Air Vice- Marshal ; if any operations have been started ; and if sites for mooring mastsin other parts of India have been arranged ? Sir S Hoare • The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirma-tive • to the second in the negative. As regards the last part, other sites for mooring masts were examined, but the erection of a mast elsewhere than atKarachi is not contemplated in the first experimental stage. Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy : Besides the mast at Karachi, will therebe any intermediate mast in Egypt, Palestine or anywhere else ? Sir S. Hoare : Probably there will be an intermediate mast m Egypt. Commercial Airship Services ME SPENCER (for Mr. Viant) asked if the flights of R.33 has enabled the Air Ministry to form an opinion as to the reliability and safety of airships lor commercial service "/ ,.,.,. e . ,Sir S Hoare : The Air Ministry hope to establish the reliability of commercial airship'services, not by means of the flights of any particular ship, such as theR.33, but by a comprehensive programme of experiment and research. The break away of the R.33 has, however, demonstrated that a damaged airshipcan ride out a storm and return safely to her base, and when this ship has been reconditioned she will carry out a further series of flights for the purposeof obtaining certain essential aero-dynamical and other data affecting design, stresses, &c. Our anticipations as to the reliability and safety of the airshipfor the operation of commercial services are, 1 think, justified even on a basis of the experience obtained to date ; but I should prefer not to treat the matteras proved until one or more vessels have actually been tried out on a com- mercial route.347
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