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Aviation History
1927
1927 - 0575.PDF
JULY 28, 1927 London defences to their ground. The " Eastland " intelli- gence department is aware of the system of sectors of defence, and the bombers are instructed to attack in each sector in turn, in order to prevent the withdrawal of any more defence fighter squadrons. The control of the operations is being exercised on Monday, Thursday, and Friday by Air Marshal Sir John Salmond K.C.B., C.M.G., C.V.O., D.S.O., A.D.C., Air Officer Command- ing-in-Chief Air Defences of Great Britain. On Tuesday and Wednesday the respective commanding officers of the Fighting Area and the Wessex Bombing Area are conducting their own operations under the general supervision of the C.-in-C. Warfare commenced at 6 a.m. on Monday, 25th. The day was bright, and to ordinary earth-dwellers was in pleasing contrast to the weather throughout most of July. But up to 8 a.m. there was a layer of clouds at 2,000 ft. which later broke up into moving masses with clear gaps in between. These conditions became almost ideal for day bombers. They could take cover among the clouds, though they were forbidden to fly through them for fear of collisions, while the gaps often permitted them to take deliberate aim at their objectives. The two objectives to-day were the Duke of York's Headquarters at Chelsea, and the R.A.F. Store Depot at Kidbrooke. At each objective there was situated a mobile camera obscura and an umpire, who was able to decide whether a bomb would have hit the objective. An umpire also accompanied each bombing formation. Thanks to the weather conditions the hostile bombers met with considerable success in the morning in reaching their objectives. In the afternoon, however, they all suffered heavy casualties, though they were not always aware of this until after their return to their aerodromes. In all, eight raids took place on Monday, as follows :— (1) No. 11 Bombing Squadron (Horsleys) crossed the coast near Havant at 8.14 and attacked Chelsea at 9.30. The target was obscured by low clouds. The ground umpire observed them only 300 yards distant from the target. No. 41 Fighter Squadron (Siskins), which was sent up against them, failed to intercept them on account of the clouds. (2) No. 12 Bombing Squadron (Foxes) was reported over Beaconsfield at 9 a.m., and at 10 it attacked Chelsea from a height of 15,000 ft. The target was obscured by clouds. No. 32 Fighter Squadron patrolled for two hours but failed to find the enemy. (3) No. 207 Bombing Squadron (D.H.9A's) crossed the coast at Shoeburyness at 8 a.m., but the raid was unsuccessful on account of the clouds. (4) No. 12 Bombing Squadron (Foxes) came in near Bognor at 12.4 and at 13.08 attacked Chelsea from 8,000 ft. It suffered severe casualties from anti-aircraft fire, and the umpire, owing to the clouds, could not report the result of the bombing. Nos. 43 (Gamecocks) and 17 (Woodcocks) went up to intercept it, without result. (5) No. 39 Bombing Squadron (D.H.9A's) came in over Ipswich at 11.10, but on account of the thick weather turned back again. When the weather improved later four of the bombers returned and attacked Kidbrooke from 10,000 ft. The clouds saved them from interception by the fighters. (6) No. 99 Bombing Squadron (Hyderabads) crossed Aldeburgh at 13.45. At 14.04 they were caught over Great Sampford by No. 19 Fighter Squadron (Grebes), and again at 15.47 over New Cross by No. 56 Fighter Squadron (Siskins), which at the time was hunting another formation. The Hyderabads returned to earth blissfully ignorant of their fate, and reported a most successful raid. (7) No. 11 Bombing Squadron (Horsleys) got over Chelsea at 15.07, and a ground umpire reported that they had bombed Acton, the bombing being accurate. No. 17 Fighter Squadron (Woodcocks) patrolled for two hours without find- ing them. (8) No. 207 Bombing Squadron (D.H.9A's) came in over Hastings at 14.40, but were intercepted and attacked over Ashford at 15.17 by No. 25 Fighter Squadron (Grebes). The above is the gist of a summary issued on Monday evening by the authorities, and it may be modified and expanded by later information. The system of reporting from the ground worked very well, and in the various control rooms the progress of each bombing formation was plotted out on large maps. Many useful lessons were learnt by the authorities during the Jay, and it was not held that the early success of the invaders proved that there were flaws in the system of defence. For °ne thing, the whole of that system was not in operation. The searchlights were manned in some places by Terri- torials, and in others by the Regular Army. As darkness came on, interest in their operations became active. But after a lovely afternoon heavy clouds came on at nightfall and the operations for the night were cancelled. The Air Ministry made excellent arrangements for helping the special correspondents of newspapers to get a grasp of the exercises. Group-Capt. R. C. M. Pink, C.B.E., and Wing- Comdr. W. L. Welsh, D.S.C., A.F.C., conducted the corre- spondents round Northolt, Uxbridge, Kenley and Biggin Hill, showed them squadrons taking off on patrol and squadrons coming in from raids, took them into several control rooms, and explained the system at work, and showed them also (by the courtesy of Maj.-Gen. E. B. Ash- more, C.B., C.M.G., M.Y.O.) the" operation of the search- lights. Unfortunately there was one fatality. When No. 17 Fighter Squadron was coming in to land, two Woodcocks collided, and Flying-Officer Ian A. Anderson was killed. The machine caught fire and was burnt out on Northolt Aerodrome. Tuesday, " Somewhere in Westland " Yesterday I devoted my attention almost entirely to the fighting area. To-day was given to studying the Wessex Bombing Area, i.e., " Eastland." It meant wandering far and wide, and (considering that air transport was not avail- able) interesting and instructive visits to Netheravon, Andover and Uxbridge did not constitute a bad day's work. Uxbridge is not exactly a station of the Wessex Bombing Area, but it is always a useful place to visit when manoeuvres are on. I was very sorry that time did not admit a visit to Worthy Down as well, but there is a limit to the lateness of hour at which newspapers will accept copy. But before dealing with to-day, let me finish the story of last night. It was not until 22.45 that the C.-in-C. decided to cancel operations owing to the thickness of the clouds, which began to roll up at sunset. The fighter squadrons were then aground, as they are never ordered to go up until a raider is reported to be heading for their sector. But there were already 12 night bombers in the air, all working indi- vidually. Eight of them were " Virginia's " from Nos. 9 and 58 Bombing Squadrons, and four were Hyderabads belong- ing to No. 99. All squadrons had some stories to tell when their machines came home. Worthy Down became enveloped in thick fog and the machines of No. 5S were warned not to return there without further instructions. However, the weather presently cleared, and " Bill Bailey " came home. One of the Hyderabads had a forced landing owing to minor engine trouble, but the pilot put it down quite safely on the coast near Felixstowe. When the wireless " Cease Fire " was sounded, two of the " Virginia's " of No. 9 were already over London ; so they went through the motions of bombing their helpless objective, whose umpire had presumably gone to bed, before flying back to Manston. There was one more little comedy of the Lindbergh type, which perhaps evidences the growing air-mindedness of our people. During the night operations all the emergency landing grounds were illuminated, but one of them was so overrun by enthusiastic spectators that it became useless, and a wireless warning to that effect was sent out to the bombers. To-day the fortunes of war were varied, and the tale of slaughter grew. At 7 a.m. a flight of Horsleys of No. 11 B. Squadron left Netheravon and came in over Bexhiil at 8.45. They got to Kidbrooke, duly bombed it, and also took a photograph to prove that they had actually got there and seen it. They returned cock-a-hoop, but the squadron was mightily disgusted to learn later that No. 32 F. Squadron had. all unbeknown to the bombers, caught them near Tonbridge Wells, and had shot all three Horsleys down. I saw another flight of No. 11 take off soon after 13.00. It was a smart piece of work. At the sound of the klaxon three raiding machines and a spare were run out of the hangar, the Bristol gas starters got busy on the Condors, and dummy bombs were hung in the racks. The first machine was all ready in 2-J minutes. The bombs were unloaded again before the flight took off. This flight found the weather impossible, and after some 20 minutes returned again and landed. The raid was a failure. Another raid, one by No. 39 B. Squadron, was also completely defeated by the weather. So far all had gone well for the defence. But the " Foxes " of No. 12 B. Squadron turned the tables. They came in at Bognor at 9.30, and, aided by the clouds, got right over Chelsea and duly bombed it. No. 41 F. Squadron failed to intercept (Concluded on page 530.) 527
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