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Aviation History
1928
1928 - 0257.PDF
APRIL 5, 1928 A shore guard was arranged by Officer Commanding Depot to watch theflying-boats during the night, whilst a motor boat was also kept standing by. Heavy thunderstorms Were experienced during the evening, but the fiving-boats were quite secure at their moorings. Monday, November 7, at Hlnaidi. All aircraft were refuelled to 400gallons during the forenoon. This was carried out by means of 5-gallon drums brought out in dinghies. As is usual with 5-gallon drums, the petrolwas dirty and trouble was experienced with the refuelling pump filter choking up. S. 1149 found both wood aircsrews had similar defects to those found inS. 1150 at Alexandretta. As the spares for the flight had not arrived at Hinaidi, temporary repairs were carried out which lasted to Basra, wheretwo new wooden airscrews were fitted. Tuesday, November 8. At Hinaidi.—The Air Officer Commanding,King Ali and his Prime Minister, inspected the flying boats during the morn- ing, and King Ali was taken for a short flight over Baghdad in S. 1151. Heexpressed great interest and pleasure in the experience. All the personnel of the flight were inoculated against cholera at HinaidiHospital, as there was an epidemic in Iraq at the time. Wednesday, November9. At Hinaidi.—Many visitors were shown overthe flying-boats during the day. During the stay at Hinaidi great hospitality was shov/n to the flight, andeverything possible was done to make the personnel comfortable and to assist With the work. Tuesday, November 10. Hinaidi-Basra. 260 Miles. (4 hrs.; R5knots).—At 09.00, the flight took off in succession and after circling Hinaidi in formation, proceeded down the Tigris to Deala, and thence to the Euphratesand down that river to Basra, Which was reached at 13.00. The weather throughout was perfect, the wind being light S.E. breezes. The four buoys for the flying-boats were situated on the left side of theriver opposite the Royal Air Force Depot. The river at this point is about 300 yards wide, and has a current of about 3 knots. The great objectionto this mooring site is the native boat traffic which passes constantly day and night, and, if there is no wind, completely out of control. To guardagainst this serious risk, an officer of the flight was detailed to patrol in a motor boat during the hours of darkness, and a guard boat was anchored ateach end of the line of moorings with an officer and four airmen on board, with an Aldis lamp which lit up any passing craft. The searchlight from thegunboat Grnyfly was also turned on to the flying-boats at intervals during the night. These precautions kept the flight free from damage during theirstay, but many native craft had to be towed clear and cne lightly fouled a flying-boat without damaging it.. During the afternoon the flying-boats were refuelled to 400 galls, from5-ajall. drums brought out in dinghies. All the personnel slept ashore at the K.A.F. depot. Friday, November 11. Armistice Day at Basra.—The two minutessilence was observed on board the flying-boats at 11.Oil hours local time. A cable was received during the day giving the disposition of H.M. shipsin the Persian Gulf, also a cable from Bushire stating that quarantine (cholera) was unavoidable at Persian ports and the personnel could not be allowed toiand in Persia. The flight were most hospitably received and given every possible assistance at Basra. Saturday, November 12. Basra-Bushire, 190 miles. (2 hrs. 45 mins.;691oiots.)—The flight took off in succession at 07.55, escorted by five D.H.9 A's from the squadron at Shaiba. The weather was perfect, and after anuneventful flight the flying-boats flew over H.M.S. Enterprise, which was anchored six miles off Bushire, and landed in the harbour at 10.40. During the flight W/T communication was established with severalmerchant ships in the Gulf on 600 m. The seaplane moorings were laid inside the river opposite the town ofBushire, and were satisfactory in every way. The Presidency launch Percy Cox immediately brought out'fuel, which was shipped to the flying-boats innative boats and a naval dinghy from Enterprisi. All aircraft refuelled immediately to 400 galls., after which the personnelhad lunch on board the Percy Cox. The Persian Military Governor was shown over one of the boats and appeared to be impressed.Except for one duty officer, al! the officers had dinner and spent the night oil board H.M.S. Enterprise. Sunday, November 13. At Bushire.—Personnel not allowed to landowing to quarantine, and the day was spent cleaning up the flying-boats. The river being free from sharks, bathing was permitted from the flying boats—an opportunity every one took advantage of, as the problem of baths, especially tor the airmen, is a difficult one. Enterprise left during the afternoon to meet the flight at Henjam, inaccordance with orders issued by S.N.O., Persian Gulf. The weather during the stay at Bushire was perfect, with a temperature of80° F. inside the hull and a light N.W. breeze. Monday, November 14. Busbire to Henjam, 348 miles. (4 hrs.40 mins. ; 74 knots.)—A fine clear morning with N.li. wind of 5 tn.p.h. The flight took off in succession at 07.30 and, by request, passed low over thetown in formation At 10 10 course was altered to pass over Enterprise, 10 miles off Sez Kais. The flight flew past her in close formation. Helpedby a steady following breeze, the flight made good time along the desolate coast, landing at Henjam at 12.10.Refuelling to 4(10 galls, was immediately carried out from native boats, 4-gall. tins being used. The mooring and refuelling facilities were entirelysatisfactory. The captain of H.M.S. Triad visited the flight and was shown over one ofthe flying-boats. Five officers slept on board H.M.S. Triad. Two were put up ashore by the Superintendent of Telegraph. The airmen slept onboard the flying-boats and went on board Triad for food and baths. Henjam is a small, barren, rocky island which is used as a base by H.M. shipsstationed in the Gulf. The Navy have made a golf course, cricket ground, and tennis court. There is also' a small club for officers and canteen forratings. The Persian Gulf telegraphs have a telegraph and W/T station on the isLuid, md go-downs for naval stores are situated close to the pier.Tuesday, November 15. At Henjam.—The captain of H.M.S. Enter- prise and many officers from Enterprise and Triad and the local nativeauthorities were shown over the aircraft. Flying Officer Scott was taken sick during the day and was treated by the medical officer on board H.M.S. ''""' !he was able to leave with the flight on the following day. This was the only case of sickness since the flight started, the general health of the crewsbeing excellent. During the afternoon all the personnel landed on Henjam Island for exorcise. .Wednesday, November 16. Henjam-Gwadar, 380 miles (5 hrs. 40 mins. ; 66 knots).—The flight took off in formation at 073" hrs., theweather being perfect. Wind N.E., 5 m.p.h., and visibility exceptional During the flight W/T communication was maintained with the B.I. mansteamer Parsova en route to Karachi from Batra. The mooring and fuel arrangements had been made from Karachi andwere quite satisfactory, although the use of 2 gallon tins for the first time during the cruise made refuelling rather slow, as time is wasted openingthe stoppers, and tins cannot be emptied into the refuelling tank quickly enough to keep the refuelling pump supplied to its full capacity, lhe flightonly refuelled to 300 gallons per boat, so as to assist the ' take-oft in case the swell increased. , „ ,The flight was met by the Political Officer for Makran, who had travelled down from Ouetta with his escort to welcome the flight and render anyassistance required In order to relieve him from another-long journey by camel and car back to his district he was offered and accepted a passageto Karachi in one of the boats of the flight. All the flight personnel slept on board the flving-boats. . , ,Thursday, November 17. At Gwadar.—Officers and airmen landed in relays for exercise during the day. During the morning a breeze blewup lro'm the East and a considerable swell rose immediately, enough probably to prevent a take-off with full load. Later the wind died down,but a slight swell remained all the time the flight were at Gwadar. The local representative of the Sultan of Muscat and other local notables visitedthe boats. All the personnel slept on board. Friday, November 18. Gwadar-Karachi, 260 miles (3 hrs. 35 mins.;72 knots).-The flight took-off in formation at 0730, there being no wind at the time, a clear sky and good visibility. Owing to the swell the flying-boats taxied under the lee of the promontory and took-off along the swell. No trouble was experienced and all took-off well, t-apt. Smith, the PoliticalOfficer, was taken as passenger in S.I 150 and expressed his appreciation OIA few rate off Karachi the flight were met by an escort of H.HWs and Biistol Fighters from Royal Air Force Depot. The flying-boats landed inKarachi harbour in succession at 1055, and were met by the G.O.C. bind, Officer Commanding Roval Air Force Depot, and many local .officials. .The moorings for the flving-boats are laid in the river opposite the shipping wharves, and are quite satisfactory except that a constant stream of trafficpasses close to the aircraft, and there is danger of collision particularly when the wind drops and the sailing craft are drifting on the tide. Arrange-ments have been made with the harbour police to have patrol boats constantly on watch, and an officer and four airmen are always kept on board the nying-boats to act as a guard. ROYAL AIR FORCE PROMOTIONS EXTREME pressure on our space has made it impossible toallude hitherto to the new system of promotions in the Royal Air Force which will come into force on July 1 next. Hithertoall promotion above the rank of Flying Officer has been by selection, and this method will still obtain in the caseof promotion to Wing Commander and all ranks senior to this. The new scheme is based on a system of antedates, bymeans of which seniority will be weighted so as to give earlier promotion to officers who have acquired certain specialistand other service qualifications or who are recommended as specially suitable for accelerated promotion to the ranks ofFlight Lieutenant and Squadron Leader. The new scheme does not apply to officers who are permanently unfit or are unquali-fied for duty as pilots, or to officers seconded or attached from the Royal Navy and Army. Officers are expected to commence specialist training afterfour years' service. In addition to qualifications in such specialist subjects as engines, photography, navigation, etc.,a Flying Officer may gain an antedate by becoming a flying instructor; a Flight Lieutenant by graduating at a staffcollege ; and both by becoming interpreters in Eastern languages (i.e., Japanese, Arabic, Persian, Turkish, orRussian). Before a Flying Officer can be promoted he must haveserved for three years in that rank and for two of them in a flying unit, have passed promotion examination B, and have been recommended by his A.O.C. Before a Flight Lieutenant can be promoted he must have served for five years in that rank, have passed or been excused promotion examination C, and have been recommended by his A.O.C, Flying Officers may receive an antedate of six or twelvemonths if specially recommended for accelerated promotion, another six or twelve months on account of specialist quali-fications, and another six months on account of having qualified as an interpreter ; but the total antedate will notexceed 24 months. Flight lieutenants may receive an antedate of as much as36 months on the ground of special recommendation, another 12 or 24 months for specialist qualifications, 12 months forinterpretership, and 12 months for graduation at a staff college. The maximum total antedate, however, is not toexceed 48 months. Lists of Flying Officers and Flight Lieutenants will be com-piled, and officers will be promoted in turn at convenient intervals. Flying Officers who are repeatedly passed over for promotionmay be retired on the grounds of unsuitability. Flight Lieutenants and senior officers may be permanently passedover for promotion but retained in the service until retired for age. F. A. DE V. R. 229
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