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Aviation History
1927
1927 - 0153.PDF
MARCH 10, 1927 All the units are bombing squadrons, some with twin- engined machines and some with single-engined machines. \si in the case of the regular squadrons, the establishment of the former is 10 machines in two flights, and of the latter 12 machines in three flights. All the squadrons are raised and stationed in localities which are considered promising, and most of them bear territorial designations. The location of their home aerodromes, however, has no tactical signifi- cance ; as on mobilisation, each squadron will move to a war station. A Special Reserve squadron has regular personnel up to the equivalent of one flight and part of headquarters. An Auxiliary Air Force Squadron has an adjutant, a stores officer, and from 20 to 30 airmen provided by the regular Air Force. All the rest of the personnel must be citizen officers and airmen. At present, the units are as follows :— Special Reserve Twin-engined. No. 502 Ulster Bombing Squadron. Vimy). Single-engined. No. 503 Bombing Squadron. Waddington (Avro, Fawn). Auxiliary Air Force Single -engined. 600 City of London Bombing Squadron. Hendon (Avro, D.H.9a). 601 County of London B.S. Hendon (Avro, D.H.9a). 602 City of Glasgow B.S. Renfrew (Avro, D.H.9a). 603 City of Edinburgh B.S. Turnhouse (Avro, D.H.9a). 605 County of Warwick B.S. Castle Bromwich (Avro, D.H.9a). These two forces together represent a total of 82 first-line machines, the Avros being, presumably, for practice. Aldergrove (Avro, No. No.No. No. No. Coastal Coastal AreaReconnaissance Flight. Southampton.No. 480 Calshot.The Southampton is a twin-engined type, and so this unit gives us five first-line machines. Machine Strength We therefore arrive at the following totals :— Air Defences— Wessex Bombing Area circa) .. .. 124 Fighting Area (circa) . . . . . . 168 S.R. and A.A.F 82 Coastal Area .. .. .. .. 5 379 IRAQ COMMAND The headquarters of the Iraq Command are situated inBaghdad, and the A.O.C. is Air Vice-Marshal Sir Edward L. Ellington, K.C.B., C.M.G., C.B.E., p.s.c. The squadronsstationed in the country are :—No. 6, Army-co-operation, Mosul (Bristol Fighter) ; Nos. 8, 30 and 55, Bombing, Hinaidi(D.H. 9A) ; No. 70, Bombing, Hinaidi (Victoria) ; No. 84, Shaibah (D.H.9A). The number of first-line machines isabout 70. The A.O.C. also has under his command three armoured car companies of the R.A.F., one battalion ofBritish infantry, two battalions of Indian infantry, and ancillary troops. MIDDLE EAST The Middle East Command comprises Egypt, Aden, Pales- tine and Transjordania. The headquarters are at Cairo, and the A.O.C. is Air Vice-Marshal T. I. Webb Bowen, C.B., C.M.G. In Egypt there are at present three squadrons, but another is being formed at Heliopolis, and will be added to the Middle East Command. The squadrons stationed in Egypt are :—No. 208, Army Co-operation, Moascar, Ismailia (Bristol Fighter) ; No. 216, Bombing, Heliopolis (1 flight Vimy, 1 flight Victoria) ; No. 47, Bombing, Helwan (D.H.9A) ; No. 45, Bombing, forming (Vernon) ; Aden Flight, Aden (Bristol Fighter). The Aden Flight is under the command of the military authorities. It is about to be increased to a squadron. The total number of machines is 50. Palestine and Transjordania The headquarters are at Amman, and the A.O.C. is Group Captain L. W. B. Rees, V.C., O.B.E., M.C., A.F.C. No. 14 squadron (Bombing) is equipped with D.H.9A's, two nights being stationed at Amman and one at Ramleh. There is also one armoured car company of the R.A.F., and a wireless company provided by the Army. This command shows^an establishment presumably of 62 first-line machines. INDIA The Royal Air Force in India is commanded by an Air Officer of the rank of Air Vice-Marshal, namely, Sir Geoffrey Salmond, K.C.B., K.C.M.G., D.S.O., p.s.c., whose head- quarters are at Delhi. It has undertaken some more or less independent actions against recalcitrant tribesmen on the • North West Frontier. Moreover, there is always the possi- bility of air attack from Central Asia. We have, therefore, to consider the possibility of India establishing an independent air force in the future, and this may excuse an examination[of what is at present undoubtedly a military air arm, consisting R.C.A..F. Edmonton • CORMORANT L. |V NORWAY HOUSE. VANCOUVER tilGHRIV^R O LANOPLANE STATION V SEAPLANE STATION Sketch map showing location of the various air stations of the Royal Canadian Air Force. It will beobserved that they form a chain across Ottawa to Vancouver. The R.C.A.F. is largely occupied in survey work, forest patrol, etc. But it must be borne in mind that these figures pay no regard to the establishments of training schools and development flights, although in Army Manoeuvres, 1925, the School of Army Co-operation at Old Sarum put a special night into the field ; while for reasons given above the army co-operation squadrons and the fleet air arm have been deliberately excluded, as not contributing to air power in the true sense of the word. only of army co-operation squadrons and day-bombing squadrons. If an air attack is ever encountered, a complement of fighter squadrons will become an immediate necessity. We need not discuss here whether India will always borrow squadrons from the R.A.F., or whether she will some day raise an air force of her own, on similar lines to those of the Indian Army. The air force in India is organised in three wings, all grouped along the North-West Frontier. 133
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