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Aviation History
1929
1929 - 0124.PDF
JANUARY 17, 1929 THE ROYAL AIR FORCE FLYING-BOAT CRUISE Log of the Far East Flight: Singapore-Australia-Singapore Section IK our issues for April 5 and August 9 last wo published the official logsof the R.A.F. Far East Flight up to Karachi and Singapore respectively. It was under the command of Group-Captain H. M. Cave-Browne-Cave,and left Plymouth on October 17, 1927. The distance flown during the last stage was 10,190 nautical miles,a total distance since the Flight left England of 19,624 nautical miles or approximately 22,600 statute miles. This is the actual track flown fromport to port, and does not include the distance flown circling towns or picking up formation. Since returning to Singapore the Flight hascarried out a further cruise of more than 4,500 miles to Hong-Kong making the total distance covered on the whole flight more than 27,00(1 statutemiles. The flying time on the final stage was 144 hours 5 minutes, and the totalflying time from the departure from England equalled 284 hours 35 minutes. This includes a small amount of local flying time at various places wherethe Flight stopped during the tour. The average ground speed on the last section was 72 knots as comparedwith 67 knots on the stage from England to Karachi, and 66 knots between Karachi and Singapore. In a covering report the Commanding Officer states :—The same crews,aircraft, engines, etc., which had flown from England, were used throughout this cruise from Singapore, round Australia, and back to Singapore. The Flight left Singapore on May 21, 1928, cruised through the DutchEast Indies to Australia, Broome being reached on June 1, and thence along the west and south coasts of Australia to Melbourne, where it stayedduring July. On July 30 the cruise was resumed along the east and north coasts of Australia to Port Darwin, which was reached on August 30, andthence through the Dutch East Indies to Singapore, where the Flight landed on September 15, 1928. The aircraft and engines of the Flight have all been most satisfactory ;they have given no trouble of any consequence, and have caused no forced landings. Only very minor replacements have been necessary, and theyare still in very good condition. The water-tightness of the metal hulls and wing-tip floats has been excellent. As each engine has completedover 300 hours' flying, they arr all being removed for overhaul, and the spare engines arc being fitted for the next cruist- to Hong-Kong. Three ofthe aircraft will be used again for the next cruise ; the fourth, which is in the same condition as the others, is being left at Singapore, in accordancewith Air Ministry orders, and its place will be taken by the spare aircraft, S.I 127. The corrosion of rivet points in the hulls and the deposits ofbarnacles below the water line has been much less than on the earlier stages of the cruise. The navigation of the Flight has given no difficulty in each of the opensea crossings (Koepang to Cape Leveque, 300 nautical miles ; Thursday Island to Arnheim Point, 325 nautical miles ; and Port Darwin to Koepang,410 nautical miles). Good landfalls were made. The health of the Flight has been very good. One officer had slightfever at Perth ; but apart from that, all the Flight have been available for duty throughout the cruise. The Commanding Officer emphasises that the arrangements made bythe Dutch authorities and the Australian Government in connection with the flight were most satisfactory, and that at all ports of call the Flightwas heartily welcomed and entertained. He adds that the effects of the flight generally have been of great value. The log of the flight (giving distance in nautical miles, flying time, andaverage ground speed in knots) is as follows :— Monday, May 21. Singapore—Klabat Bay. 220 miles. (3 hrs.30 mins.^ 63 knots.)—At 05.45, moorings were slipped, the weather being fine with a rain-squall approaching from the N.E. ; the sky was 0 '8 clouded.Owing to the very low water and the many fishing stakes, which were difficult to see, the Flight took off independently at 05.55 in an average of 19 sees.(300 galls.), and left in formation for Klabat Bay. The weather conditions during the flight were generally fine, with occasional local rain squalls duringthe first half of the flight ; the wind was northerly up to 10 knots for the first hour and then varied between E. and S.E. up to 5 knots for the remainderof the flight. The equator was crossed at 07.33, and a bottle containing the Flight visiting cards marked to H.M. Father Neptune was dropped to markthe first crossing of the Equator by a Flight of R.A.F. Flying-Boats. The route, which passed Pulo Batam, Mesana and Kentar Islands, was favourablefor the operation of flying-boats, as there were many islands to afford shelter in emergency. The Flight lauded in formation in Klabat Bay at 09.25,after a circuit of Blinjot, and secured to four moorings about half-a-mile from the landing quay. The Flight remained at Klabat Bay on Tuesday, May 22, where they weremost hospitably entertained as guest? of the Dutch Government. Wednesday, May 23. Klabat Bay—Batavia. 320 miles. (5 hrs.45 mins. ; 60 knots.)—At 05.55, Flight took off in formation in 25 sees. (300 galls.) and, after circling, course was set at 06.00 direct to Muntok overthe island, on wvhich a considerable amount of clearing had been done. Muntok was passed at 06.45, the wind then being S.E. 12. The Flight thenproceeded between Banka and Sumatra to First Point, where course was set for Batavia at 08.05. S.S. Malabar, the only ship seen during the Flight,was passed at 08.07. As far as could be seen inland, the coast of Sumatra was uninhabited jungle with mangrove swamps near the sea. At 08.50,S. 1151 landed imposition 3° 4' S. 106° 17' E. The landing was due to one of the accumulators, which was being charged, catching fire ; the pilot,finding he was being partially choked and blinded by the smoke and fumes, which were streaming out of the cockpit past him, landed immediately. Theremainder of the Flight circled round S. 1151. Owing to the roughness of the sea and the damage to S. 1151 batteries, lamp signalling was unsatis-factory, and S. 1152 landed to ascertain whether assistance was required. The burning battery in S. 1151 was put out, nothing else catching fire, andas soon as the hull was clear of fumes S. 1151 reported she was ready to proceed ; S. 1152 then took off at 09.15, followed by S. 1151. Both flying-boats, which at the time were carrying 180 galls, of fuel each, took off satis- factorily in the 4-ft. sea and 15-knot wind. The Flight reformed and flewdirect to Tanjong Priok (the port of Batavia), landing there at 11.45. Three Dutch two-seater seaplanes (apparently Brandenburgs) escorted the Flight inThursday, May 24, was spent at Batavia. Friday, May 25. Batavia—Sourabaya. 375 miles. (6 hrs.; 62knots.)—At 06.00 moorings were slipped, the weather conditions being fine with an overcast sky. The flying boats taxied out in succession throughthe shipping to the entrance of the harbour and took off there in succession between 06.10 and 06.15, the average " take off " time being 30 sees. (400galls.). The Flight circled to Priuk in formation, and left for Sourabaya at 06.18, being escorted for 10 mins. by three Dutch two-seater Brandenburgseaplanes. The course followed was Sedari Point, Inderamayu Point, Cape Janom and Panka Point, where three Dornier Wai (two Eagle IX enginesin tandem) flying-boats from the Dutch Naval Air Station at Sourabaya joined the Flight and escorted them to Sourabaya. The coasts were mainlyflat and swampy with fish-ponds on the points and high ground inland. The wind varied from S. to E., 5 to 12 knots. There was a swell except underthe lee of the land, and at times the sea was moderate. The sky was 0-7 covered with clouds for the first three hours, and the average height of theFlight was 600 ft. ; it then cleared for the remainder of the flight, which was at 1,000 ft. The visibility was good. The Flight lauded in formationin the open water off the seaplane base at 12.12 and taxied in line ahead up the long, narrow channel to the moorings near the seaplane sheds, the AirStation Band playing the British and Dutch National anthems and the Dutch seaplanes circling overhead. This channel is straight and runsN. and S. ; there is a buoy carrying a green light at its seaward end and two leading marks on shore which are in line to a boat in the channel. Themoorings were conveniently laid and there was no trouble in finding them or mooring up. On completion of refuelling, all crews went ashore. The dutyofficer and the duty airmen were accommodated in the Dutch Air Station quarters, where there were good anti-mosquito arrangements. This is thefirst time since leaving Singapore that the flying-boats have been left without their guard of one officer and four airmen on board, and the reason for thisdeparture from normal routine was that the Air Station Medical Officer reported there were malarial mosquitoes at the mooring site at night. Themoorings were secure, well sheltered and free from traffic, there were good facilities for putting the crews on board the flying-boats in case of emergency,and a searchlight on the pier, which enabled the flying-boats to be watched at night. The Flight remained at Sourabaya during Saturday, May 26, and Sunday,May 27. Monday, May 28. Sourabaya—Bima. 375 miles. (5 hrs. 40 ruin. ;65 knots.)—At 0*5.50 moorings were slipped and Flight taxied out of the approach channel in line ahead. During this taxying, S.I 151 grounded lightlyon a bank. The Fligl.t took off in formation in 30 sec. (400 gall.) at 06.10 and after circling Sourabaya in formation with an escort of threeDutch twin-float seaplanes, left for Biina. The weather was fine with a slight haze and a light westerly wind for thefirst half-hour, the haze then cleared and the wind varied between S. and E. from 10 to 15 knots for the remainder of the flight. The average height ofthe flight was 500 ft., as there appeared to be a stronger head wind higher up ; it was rather " bumpy " near the various headlands that were passed- Thesea was moderate with a slight swell in the open, it was calm under the lee of the land. At 11.50 the Flight landed in formation at Bima and securedto the buoys near the East shore of the bay On Tuesday, May 29, the Flight remained at Bima. All crews dined,and slept in the flying-boats, which were too far from the shore for any mosquitoes or flies to come on board.Wednesday, May 30. Bima—Koepang. 310 miles (5 hrs., 20 min. ; 60 knots.)—The Flight took off in formation at 06.00 in 30 sec. (350 gall.)and left lor Koepang. The course followed was past Komodo Island, through Sapeh Strait and South of Flores. The weather conditions were generallygood with winds varying from S. to E. from calm to 10 knots. A small water spout was sighted about 5 miles away between Langkoi and KeritaPoint. The open sea was moderate for the first half of the flight, but on nearing Koepang the wind and sea were calm. During the early part of theflight there were cumulus clouds on the mountain and heavy clouds to the north ; the sky was clear later. The visibility generally was good, andexceptional near Timor, which was sighted 80 miles away. After circling Koepang the Flight landed in formation at Tenau in Semau Strait, about3 miles S. along the coast from Koepang, at 11.20, and secured to moorings there. This site had been chosen by the local authorities as there is fre-quently a swell at Koepang at this time of year. The Flight spent Thursday, May 31, at Koepang. Friday, June 1. Koepang—Broome. 470 miles (6 hrs. 55 mias. ;68 knots.)—The Flight took off in formation at 05,40 in 53secs., with 500 gall. of petrol. The course followed was across Roti Strait, direct to C. Leveqin-and down the coast to Broome. The weather which was clear at the star!, clouded over about 06.00, when a rain squall was passed 2 miles to port,light rain was flown through from 06.15 to 06.30, and there was heavier rain to the eastward. There was considerable swell for the first hour, but aft"r-wards the sea was slight to calm. At 07.20 Ashruorr Reef was passed ; when first sighted this was rompleteJy covered with birds, as the formationgot closer the whole surface of the reef seemed to lift as the many thousand? of birds took off together and flew away. Four schooners were sighted nearthe W. end of the reef ; these were the only ships sighted during this flight. At 07.30, the sky cleared. At 10.20 land was sighted on the port bow andat 10.37 Cape Leveque was sighted dead ahead. The wind varied between N., N.E., and E. 8 to 10 knots till 08.00, it then changed to E.S.E. and diedaway. On passing C. Leveque at 10.55 the wind was S.W. 8 knots, and this con-tinued to the end of the flight. At 11.40, when near C. Baskervilie, the R.A.A.F. amphibian " Widgeon " II was sighted flying up the coast about1,000 ft. above and to seaward of the formation. The Australian coast consisted of sandy beaches with a few patches of redsandstone. The land was low and flat to the horizon, covered with brush and scrub. Two small sheep or cattle stations were passed, but otherwisethere was no sign of life till Broome was reached. After circling Broome, the Might landed in formation at 12.40 and securedto the moorings there. The Flight was met by Squadron-Leader Delarue who was in charge of the ground organization for the Flight in Australia.Wing Commander Wackett, the pilot of the " Widgeon " II, came on board the nyingboats during the afternoon to welcome the Flight; he had landedthe " Widgeon " at the Aerodrome and secured her there for the night. After completing the work in the flying-boats, the officers and airmen offduty went ashore as soon as the tide was sufficiently high to get a skiff to the pier. The local school children had been given a holiday and two expe-ditions of prospectors who were exploring the interior had also come into Broome to meet the Flight. One of these expeditions, under Mr. Terry wasequipped with Morris 6-wheelers, similar to those used in the R.A.F. ; thr other, the MacRobertson Round Australia Expedition, under Mr. Dunkerley,was using Carriier six-wheelers. The Flight stayed at Broome on Saturday, June 2.From the experience gained at Broome it is considered unsuitable for a seaplane base, except in emergency. The rise and fall of the tide was 28 ft. ;this leaves a long expanse of soft mud between the shore and the sea at low tide, and prevents moorings for seaplanes being laid in the small area ofsheltered water available. The tide at the moorings was about 2 knots. 52
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