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Aviation History
1925
1925 - 0427.PDF
JTJI-Y 2, 1925 THE RDYALLWJ AIR FORCE London Gazette, June 23, 1925.General Duties Branch Flight Lt. C. F. Toogood is granted a perm, commn. in rank stated (Tune 24). (Lt., E Surrey R.), relinquishes his temp, commn. on return to Army Duty(June 9). The short service commns. of the follg. Pilot Officers on probn. are terminated on cessation oj duty (June 24) :—C. M. Inglis, H. M BasonA. F. Satchwell. Reserve of Air Force OfficersThe follg. are confirmed in rank :—FLYING OFFRS.—A. R. Turpin (May 27) ; A. M. Mackay (June 16) ; H. S. Eaton, E. C. Gordon, L. W. Norman, H. ]. Price, T. Terrell, D.S.C., C. Thomas (June 23). PILOT OFFRS.—C. S. Clarke,L. H. A. Fray, H. G. Harper, G. J. Holdcroft, J. Patersou, J. J. Burchett Ruttcr (June 23).Pilot Offr. C. L. Atkinson is transferred from Class C to Class A (June 19) ; Pilot Ofir. J. H. Taylor is transferred from Class A to Class B (May 15) ;Flying Offr. L. F. Cubitt. is transferred from Class A to Class C (June 23). The commn. of Flying Offr. on probn. j. E. Sitch is terminated ou cessationof duty (Feb. 15). M emorandaThe permission granted to Sec. Lt. C. H. Jehan to retain rank is with- drawn on his enlistment in the Territorial Army ; T. L. M. Meares resignsthe rank of Lt., permission to retain which was granted to him by Gazette dated Aug. 30, 1921. ROYAL AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE Appointments.—The following appointments in the Royal Air Force arenotified :— General Duties BranchFlight Lieutenants.—R. Jope-Slade, D.S.C., to R.A.F. Depot, on transfer to Home Establ.; 27.5.25. P. C. Wood, to R.A.F. Base, Leuchars ; 8.6.25.F. H. Coleman, to No. 30 Sqdn., Iraq ; 3.6.25. A. W. Symington, M.C., to Inland Water Transport, Iraq; 14.5.25. M. Ballard, to No. 6 ArmouredCar Co., Iraq ; 24.5.25. G. G. Dawson, to No. 24 Sqdn., Kenley ; 6.7.25. G. F. Smylie, D.S.C., to R.A.F. Depot on transfer to Home Estab.; 5.6.25.D. C. Balfour, to R.A.F. Depot on transfer to Home Estab.; 22.5.25. Flying Officers.—S. G. Williams to Elec. and Wireless Sch., Flowerdown ;10.5.25. (Hon. F./L.) L. W. H. Phillips, to H.M.S. "Hermes"; 8.6.25. J. Messer-Bennetts to R.A.F. Depot on transfer to Home Estab.; 31.5.25.*R. V. Bramwell-Davis to Stores Depot, Iraq ; 14.5.25. G. E. Newton to No. 15 Sqdn., Martleshm Heath ; 22.6.25. W. F. Warner, to No. 216 Sqdn., Egypt; 4.6.25. T. Ketherstonhaugh, to Aircraft Depot, India, instead ofto No. 28 Sqdn., as previously notified ; 1.2.25. F. G. Cator, to R.A.F. Depot, on transfer to Home Estab. ; 30.5.25. A. H. D. Livock, to AircraftDepot, India, instead of to No. 20 Sqdn., as previously notified: 1.5.25. H. C. Black, to R.A.F. Depot; 23.6.25. J. R. Wolley, to No. 20 Sqdn.,India ; 22.3.25. (Hon. F./Lt.) E. L. O. Baddeley, to No. 5 Sqdn., India ; 26.5.25. (Hon. F./Lt.) U. C. de Burgh, to R.A.F. Cadet Col. ; Cranwell,29.6.25. (Hon. F./Lt.) W. H. Vetch, to No. 28 Sqdn. India ; 15.4.25. E, T. St. M. Brett, to No. 45 Sqdn., Iraq ; 4.H.25. L. Martin, to C. and M.Party, Cattewater ; 1.5.25. M. H. Garnons-Williams, to H.M.S " I-'ajjle" • 20.6.25. Stores Branch Flight Lieutenant.—R. Adams, to the Packing Depot, Ascot ; 15.6.25.Flying Officers.—A. S. Berry, to Aircraft Depot, lmlia; 4.3.25. A. J Redman, D.F.C., to C. and M. Party, Cattewater ; 1.5.25. IN PARLIAMENT India and Air CommunicationsSIR HARRY BRITTAIN, on June 22, asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether, in view of the desire to establish air communications withIndia in the shortest possible time, he is able to state that the Government of India is collaborating fully with the Air Ministry in making arrangementsfor landing grounds and other necessary requirements ? Earl Winterton : I am glad to be able to inform my hon. Friend that theGovernment of India are collaborating fully with the Air Ministry in connec- tion with the establishment of air communications with India.Royal Air Force. Kenley Aerodrome (Low Flying) CAPT. GARRO-JONES, on June '24, asked the Secretary of State for Air,in view of the facts that local residents have protested to the officer com- manding Kenley Aerodrome against the amount of low flying that is carriedon over their houses, and that two flying officers have already lost their lives by crashing into a house in that neighbourhood, in what respect KenleyAerodrome is indispensable for low-flying practice, while fully equipped and more remote and rural air stations are available ? Sir Samuel Hoare : The situation of Kenley Aerodrome is of greatimportance in relation to the air defences of the country and it is essential that active use should be made and experience gained of the aerodrome.It would not be satisfactory to have the training of the units allotted to -this station carried out elsewhere, even if there were, which there is not,another station available for the purpose. As stated in my reply on June 17, all avoidable low flying is prevented, and the low flying which does take placeis inevitable in the normal training of service squadrons. Airships and ExperimentsMR. VIANT asked the Secretary of State for Air, in view of the fact that the R.33 had been expressly reconditioned for the purpose of obtainingcertain data affecting design, and that in her experimental flight on April 6 last the proper tests could not be carried out because the scientific instrumentswere not recording with accuracy, and the essential data sought have not yet been obtained, whether the Air Ministry are proceeding with thereconditioning of R.36 and the building of the two giant airships, or are delaying the work on these ships until the R.33 is repaired and these essentialtests carried out ? Sir S. Hoare : It is not considered necessary to delay the reconditioningof the R.36, which has already flown successfully, until the data affecting design are obtained from the aeronautical trials of R.33. As regards thetwo new airships, much of the design work can be proceeded with m advance of these trials and no instructions have, therefore, been given for the workto be delayed It is not, however, intended that the final design of the Air Ministry ship shall be completed until the data from full scale trials areavailable. Airship Route to IndiaMR, VIANT asked the Secretary of State for Air if, on the route to India, the State airships will follow more or less a definite trade route or whetherthey will take advantage of favouring winds and take the route dictated by the meteorological conditions prevailing at the moment?Sir S. Hoare : Under the present scheme of airship development, which includes trial flights by both airships to India, a mooring mast is beingerected in Egypt and a mooring mast and shed at Karachi. In the flights between England and Egypt, and Egypt and Karachi, the utmost advantagewill naturally be taken of favouring winds and other meteorological conditions. R.A.F. Parachute AccidentMR. VIANT asked the Secretary of State for Air if the particular parachute which failed to open and save the life of Corporal Wilson had been previouslytested, and, if so, by what method ; if the parachute has been examined since the tragedy ; and if any facts have emerged to prove whether theairman did or did not at any time pull the cord ? Sir S. Hoare : As regards the first part of the question, the parachutereferred to had been tested by being twice dropped, with a weight attached, from an aeroplane ; it had also been used for 12 practice parachute jumpsprior to the accident. As regards the second and third parts, the examination oi the parachute, which took place immediately after the accident, showedthat the late Corporal Wilson had failed to pull either the main or the emergency ripcord and that the parachute/ was in perfect working order.Air Communications and Australia and New Zealand SIR H. BRITTAIN, on June 25, asked the Secretary of State for Airwhether the Australian and New Zealand Governments have been approached, and, if so, with what results, with regard to the linking up of these twoDominions and Great Britain by means of an air service. Sir P. Sassoon : In accordance with the recommendations of the AirCommunications Committee of the Imperial Economic Conference, 1923, the Dominion Governments have been informed of the position of theairship scheme and, in general, of all developments affecting civil aviation. The question of approaching the Australian and New Zealand Governmentsin regard to the linking up of those countries and Great Britain by an air service will be taken up when the experimental stage of the airship programmeis further advanced. Mr. T. Williams : Are we to understand that, when the various EmpireGovernments have made these communications possible, we are then goiup to hand them over to private enterprise and thereby create a vested interestin what should obviously be a national concern ? Sir P. Sassoon : No, 1 do not think the hon. member is entitled to drawthat conclusion. Odiham Aerodrome LORD H. CAVENDISH-BKNTINCK asked the Secretary of State lor Airwhether it has been possible to find any site in the neighbourhood that will obviate the withdrawal from arable cultivation of 400 acres near Odiham ;and what is the estimated time of flight by an aeroplane from Aldershot to Odiham and Stockbririge respectively ? Sir S. Hoare : I regret that it has not been found possible to find analternative site to Odiham. As regards the second part of the question, the estimated time of flight from Aldershot to Odiham is eight minutes,and from Aldershot to Stockbridgc 36 minutes, whilst the distances by road are about 9 miles and 40 miles respectively. I would, however, pointout that the distance by air from the Army units with which it is to co-operate is not the only factor governing the location of an Army Co-operation Squadronsuch as that which it is intended to station at Odiham ; if co-operation is to be effective, accessibility by ordinary means of ground transport is also ofthe first importance. R.A.F. Officers' Training (Iraq and India) SIR F. SYKES, on June 26, asked what charge, if any, is made againstthe Governments of India or Iraq for training costs and gratuity liability in respect of short-service commissioned flying officers employed in thosecountries; and what is the estimated average cost of such training and gratuity expenditure ?Sir S. Hoare : The cost of the Royal Air Force in Iraq is chargeable to Imperial funds and no recovery is effected, therefore, from the Iraq Govern-ment in respect of the cost of the items referred to by my hon. and gallant friend. As regards India, the per capita contribution towards the cost oftraining, etc., of the Royal Air Force supplied for the Indian Establishment and for non-effective services has not yet been fixed, and is at present underinvestigation. Advances on account are being made in the meanwhile, lt is not possible at present, therefore, to state the amount which the IndianGovernment will eventually contribute in respect of these services. Short-Service Commissions SIR F. SYKES asked how many short-service commissions in the RoyalAir Force have been granted ; how many officers holding such commissions have been granted permanent commissions ; how many, in addition, arestill serving on the active list; and how many are ou the Reserve of Air Force Officers and qualified and fit for pilot duties ? Sir S. Hoare : The answer to the first part of the question is 2,098 ; tothe second, 408; and to the third part, 1,191. These figures include com- missions granted in all branches of the Service. As regards the last part,the number of officers in the Reserve who previously held short-service commissions and are qualified and fit for pilot duties "is 127, of whom 82are in regular flying practice and immediately available. Sudan-Lake Chad Air Flight SIR F. SYKES asked whether it is still intended to undertake a flightfrom the Sudan to Lake Chad ; what is the estimated cost of the flight • and if it is intended to maintain permanent flight facilities along theroute ? Sir S. Hoare : The answer to the first part of the question if in theaffirmative. As regards the second part, it is not possible as yet tn give a close estimate of the cost of the flight. As regards the last part, the onlypermanent flight facilities which will be maintained are those already in existence in the Sudan. 427
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