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Aviation History
1927
1927 - 0152.PDF
squadrons are divided into : (a) day bombers with single- engined machines ; and (b) night bombers with twin-engined machines. In the former class, a squadron consists of three flights, each of four machines, or 12 first-line machines per squadron ; while in the twin-engined class (and this applies to all twin engined aeroplane units) a flight consists of five machines and a squadron has two flights or 10 first-line machines in all. The squadrons of this area are distributed as follows :— Day Bombers. No. Machine Type. 12.. .. Fox 11.. .. Fawn 100 . . Horsley 39.. .. D.H.9a 207 .. D.H.9a Night Bombers. No. Machine Type. 58.. .. Virginia 7.. .. Virginia 99.. .. Hyderabad 9.. .. Virginia Station. Andover. Netheravon. Spittlegate. Spittlegate. Eastchurch. Station. Worthy Down. Bircham Newton. Bircham Newton. Manston. MARCH 10, 1927 organized in three flights. All the aeroplanes are single seaters. The disposition of the squadrons is :— No. 13 1719 11129 2332 2541 4356 Machine type. Woodcock. Woodcock. Grebe. Siskin. Grebe. Gamecock. Gamecock. Grebe. Siskin. Gamecock. Grebe. Station. Tangmere. Upavon. Upavon. Duxford. Duxford. Duxford. Kenley. Kenley. Hawkinge. Northolt. Tangmere. Biggin Hill. We may take the strength of the area as 144 first-line machines. But we must add to that figure the potential strength of other units contained in the area which might in time of war provide two more squadrons. These are: No. 24 Communication Squadron, which is stationed at Kenley and is equipped with Avros, Bristol Fighters and D.H.9a's; the Night Flying Flight at Biggin Hill; the Home Com- MIDDLE EAST] PESHAWAR (SO) H.Q. \ BAOHDAD-HOA HINAIDI (B,X,5S, 70) /RAMLEH (14) PERSIA l>„„ _MOASCR,IS CAIRO ¥-*HEUOPOLIS (216) jOUETTA (26) • H.Q. INDIA ARABIA A BOMBINCj SQUADRON • ARMY CO-OPERATION 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 THE ROYAL AIR FORCE IN THE EAST : This sketch map shows the location of R.A.F. air stationsiinEyPf» Middle East, and India. The system of indicating the nature of the squadrons stationed at ;the various centres is uniform with that employed in the map of Great Britain published on p. 131. These nine squadrons together give us an establishment of 100 machines. But to them must be added two other bombing squadrons which are stationed at Martlesham for special duties and have been left under the Inland Area. These are :—No. 15, which is equipped with the Horsley, and No. 22. On mobilisation these would be added to the strength of the Wessex Bombing Area and would bring the total of machines up to 122 or 124. Fighting Area The Fighting Area is the really defensive section of the Home Defence Force, for the bombing commands must always take as their motto " Attack is the best Defence." The fighter squadrons are therefore arranged in a ring round London, the nerve centre of the Empire. The stations allotted to the area are:—Duxford, Northolt, Kenley, Biggin Hill, Hawkinge, Upavon, and Tangmere. Area head- quarters are at Uxbridge, and the A.O.C. is Air Vice-Marshal H. R. M. Brooke-Popham, C.B.E., C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., A.F.C. The strength of a fighter squadron is 12 first line machines munication Flight at Northolt; and the Station Flight at Duxford. The usual establishment of an independent fligW of single-engined machines is six, and of twin-engined machines is five. These three flights are variously equipped, and they are very short of flying personnel. So we may perhaps add 24 to the above figure of 144, and put the machine strength of the area down as about 168. General Reserve Three regular squadrons are held in General Reserve, namely, Nos. 24 (Communications), 39 and 207 Bombing Squadrons. In peace time these are included in the two areas of the Home Defence Force, Nos. 39 and 207 in the Wessex Bombing Area, and No. 24 in the Fighting Area, and all have been included in the lists given above. Special Reserve and Auxiliary Air Force These two forces are in process of formation, squadrons being raised one at a time as dictated by circumstances. The headquarters for both forces are at Sloane Square,Lon don, and the A.O.C. is Air Commodore J. G. Hearson, C.B, etCl 132
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