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Aviation History
1927
1927 - 0501.PDF
JOT.Y 7, 1927 Smart, O.B.E., D.F.C., A.F.C., gave an exhibition of crazy flying on a D.H. " Moth " with " Genet " engine, during which he performed some startling and weird evolutions. This was followed by a series of exhibitions of individual aerobatics by four pilots—Flying Officer A. H. Wheeler and Sergt. H. A. Marsh, of No. Ill (Fighter) Squadron, on Siskins (" Jaguars "). and by Flying Officer R. H. Horniman and Sergt. M. Low, of No. 32 (Fighter) Squadron, on " Game- cocks " (" Jupiters ")—the last two flying simultaneously. These pilots were considerably hampered by the low clouds, but nevertheless put up remarkable performances, executing all the various stunts, such as loops, rolls, spins, etc., at a comparatively low altitude. This concluded the " first house," and we all got ready to see the other good things that had been provided for us from 3 to 6 p.m. A few minutes before 3 p.m. the King and Queen entered the aerodrome and drove past the enclosures to the Royal box. As the band struck up the National Anthem the squadrons of day bombers took off for the first event, Group Evolutions. This event was an exhibition of drill in the air by three Day Bombing squadrons—No. 12, Andover, under Sqd.-Ldr. T. E. Salt, A.F.C., on Fairey " Fox " ; No. 39, Spittlegate, under Sqd.-Ldr. H. V. Champion de Crespigny, M.C., D.F.C., on D.H.9A—Liberty ; and No. 207, Eastchurch, under Sqd.- Ldr. J. B. Graham] M.C., A.F.C., also on D.H.9A—Liberty. As on previous occasions, the squadrons took off in forma- tion, a very imposing spectacle, and once in the air they went through all the different evolutions of air drill. This year, we thought, the formation did not present that exactness and smart Guard-like regularity of previous demonstrations. It must be remembered, however, that the low clouds again made matters somewhat difficult—in fact when changing formation outside the aerodrome on one occasion, two of the D.H.9A'S of No. 39 " touched," one being slightly damaged. It was, however, brought skilfully to earth by its pilot and nothing more serious resulted as it might easily have done. The special point of interest about this event lay in the comparison as regards performance of the D.H.9A'S and the Fairey " Foxes," especially when, on one occasion, all three formations passed over the aerodrome, the D.H.9A'S in advance and the " Foxes " behind but rapidly overhauling the former, and eventually passing ahead in between their formations. The demonstration of converging bombing that followed was as lively as ever, and created much excitement. It was given by four " Grebe-Jaguars " from No. 25 (Fighter) Squadron piloted by Flight-Lieut. S. T. B. Cripps. D.F.C., and Flying- Officers L. E. Maynard, K. K. Brown and R. J. A. Ford. The target (according to the programme, a moving one) was a tank, which after being hauled out on the 'drome, dozed peacefully during the attack. The latter consisted of a rapid series of successive swoops on the part of the " Grebes from rapidly changing directions. When about 50 ft. above the tank each machine discharged its bomb—no bomb sights being used—and then zoomed away to make another on- slaught. After the first few bombs we could not see the tank for smoke, so could not spot the hits, but they all seemed uncomfortably close. A new and highly original event came next, one that was much appreciated by all present. This was Air Manoeuvres to Music, carried out by No. 41 (Fighter) Squadron under Sqd.-Ldr. F. Sowrey, D.S.O., M.C., A.F.C., on " Siskins." It must be explained first of all that the music of the band was transmitted to each pilot by radio-telephone, while the instruc- tions given by Dancing Master Sowrey—who did not fly in formation with his squadron but at a short distance off— were heard, by the same means, by the spectators on the ground, via the loud speakers. On the band striking up " I'm an airman " the squadron took off in formation and flew away to this tune. Then the tune changed to " Chick, Chick, Chicken " at which we heard the order given to turn back over the aerodrome, followed by " Prepare to Lay Eggs." As the machines passed over the 'drome in single line abreast, large white eggs fell to the ground ! The next movement was particularly striking, for as the band switched over to " Here we go round, etc." the machines suddenly broke into single file and chased each other's tails ! To the next tune, " Rolling Home," all simultaneously rolled over, while to the " Froth blowers' Anthem " they all looped together. Finally, the squadron flew past the Royal Box, and saluted, to the Royal Air Force March, and then came l>ack and landed to the strains of " Bill Bailey, will you Please Come Home." It was a well-planned turn, well carried out. The Taxi-cum-Fly past (or Parade) of new and experimental machines, which followed, was, if anything, much more interesting than previous ones. For one thing, the machines were more new and less experimental ! After taxying past the enclosures the machines turned and took off—and here the variety of unstickings was most interesting to see—so that presently the sky was churned up by no fewer than fifteen different types of aircraft, which was a sight in itself well worth seeing. The types that took part were as follows : Gloster " Gamecock" (" Jupiter"), No. 8073, winner of the Sassoon Cup ; Armstrong-Whitworth " Atlas " (" Jaguar "), Army Co-Op. ; Short "Chamois" ("Jupiter"), Army Co-Op. ; Gloster "Goring" ("Jupiter"), day bomber; Hawker " Horsley " ("Condor"), day bomber; Boulton and Paul " Sidestrand" (2 " Jupiter"), day bomber ; Fairey IIIF ("Lion"), day bomber; D.H. "Hound" (" Lion "), general purpose ; Vickers' " Valiant " (" Jupiter"), general purpose ; Westland " Wapiti " (" Jupiter "), general purpose ; Bristol " Bull Dog " (" Jupiter"), day and night fighter; Handley Page " Hinaidi" (2 "Jupiter"), night bomber ; Avro " Ava " (2 " Condor "), day bomber ; Handley Page " Hamlet " (2 " Lynx "), civil air transport ; West- land " Pterodactyl " (" Cherub "), aerodynamic research. Two more remarkable demonstrations of crazy flying followed, this time by Sq.-Ldr. Smart on the " Genet-Moth," and by Sq.-Ldr. J. Noakes, A.F.C., M.M., on the Avro Mono- soupape. Both pilots would slither and dither hither and thither until one felt quite bewildered. Before we were sufficiently recovered another startler w:1 . served up. This was a display of simultaneous aerobatics given by five instructors from the Central Flying School on D.H. "Moths" with "Genet" engines—the pilots beirr; Flight-Lieut. D. D'A. A. Greig, D.F.C., and Pilot Office-s A. E. Beilby, G. H. Stainforth, R. L. R. Atcherley, and H. 1". D. Waghorn. It was one of the prettiest and neatest displays of simul- taneous starting in formation we have seen, the relatively slow speed of the " Moths " adding considerably to the effect. Two evolutions in particular appealed to us, one simple but beautiful, the other difficult and startling. In the former the five machines flew in very close V formation ; then, one saw this " V " get bigger and bigger, as they fle v across the aerodrome—a most weird effect to the eye. Secondly, again flying in close V formation, all five simul- taneously turned over on their backs and flew thus upside down ! Meanwhile four squadrons (of five machines each) of night bombers had taken up position on the 'drome, the huge twin- engined machines making an imposing array. These wen.- the four squadrons which took part recently in the reliability test over a 400-mile course, and after the last-mentioned event they took off in the order of the result, which was as follows:—(1) No. 7, Worthydown, under Wing-Comdr. C. F. A. Portal, D.S.O., M.C. (2) No. 9, Manston, under Wing-Comdr. C. C. Durston. (3) No. 58, Worthydown, under Sq.-Ldr. A. T. Harris, O.B.E., A.F.C.—all Vickers1 " Virginia's " with Napier " Lions." (4) No. 99, Bircham Newton, under Wing-Comdr. B. E. Smythies, D.F.C., Handley Page " Hyderabads" with " Lions." After circling the aerodrome they flew past the enclosures in formation—a splendid sight. Then followed a very popular event—the attack on and destruction of a kite balloon. The latter ascended to about 600 ft., with our old friend, Maj. Sandbags, in charge when there came along an interfering patrol of nine ." Grebes " of No. 19 Squadron, one of which detached itself from the forma- tion, made for Rupert, and fired a few rounds into his wobbling sides. Just as Maj. Sandbags remembered his parachute and an important engagement, a tiny red flame appeared on Rupert's side, and a few seconds later a huge sheet of flame with clouds of dense smoke enveloped the whole of his (Rupert's) envelope. The final descent of the fiery and smoky furnace was certainly a thrilling si?ht. Now came one of the most realistic events the Display has ever produced, an air battle or daylight attack on London. A " hostile " squadron of bombers (D.H. 9a of No. 39) was seen approaching the aerodrome, over which they were met by one of the two defending fighter squadrons (" Grebes," of Nos. 19 and 29), and a right royal battle ensued. Both sides suffered casualties, several bombers and fighters coming down in flames (supplied by Holt Flares, Ltd.), and trails of smoke. The bombers turned away, but a second " hostile " formation approached, this time of twin-engined bombers (" Hyderabads," of No. 99), and these were tackled by the other fighter squadron, with far more effective results, the bombing formation being broken and most of them brought down in flames. Finally, all remaining bombers made one more effortjto 459
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