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Aviation History
1932
1932 - 0444.PDF
FLIGHT. MAY 18, 1932 justitia ruat coelum " (" Let jus tice be done though the heavens fall "), seems very appropriate for a bomber squadron. What Geneva would think of it we can only surmise. One prized posses sion of the squadron is a trophy for inter-flight bombing at Cat- foss. It takes the form of a silver model of a " Gordon," and the pedestal is inscribed, " Presented to the Officers of No. 40 (Bomber) Squadron, R.A.F., by C. R. Fairey, Esq., M.B.E., in memory of those officers who lost their lives whilst serving in the Great War." Mr. J. D. Siddeley is giving another trophy, for inter- flight gunnery, and Col. Robert Lorraine, the first CO. of the squadron, has also promised to present a trophy. Sqd. Ldr. Malcolm Taylor, who commanded No. 29 (Fighter) Squadron at Duxford and North Weald before he was appointed to re-form No. 40, on April 1, 1931, has succeeded a line of famous squadron commanders, and the squadron which he com mands and which they com manded has a very fine war re cord. No complete history of the squadron has been compiled, but some facts about its achievements have been gleaned from various sources. The squadron was formed in February, 1916, by Maj. Robert Lorraine at Gosport, and moved overseas in August of that year, "A" Flight on the 1st and "B" and " C " Flights on the 23rd. It was formed as a fighter squadron (" Scout " was the word used in those days), and was equipped with the F.E.8, a single-seater pusher with a 100-h.p. Monosoupape Gnome engine. The squadron kept this type until March, 1917, when it re ceived the Nieuport Scout, and in October, 1917, it changed to the S.E.5A., which it kept until the end of the war. No. 40 soon got busy on the front. On September 25, 1916, one F.E.8 escorted two machines of No. 25 Squadron which bombed some enemy aerodromes. Two days later a pilot of No. 40 saw a German balloon drifting loose over our lines, with the observer hanging below the basket. The pilot signed to the German to drop, but his parachute was entangled, and he could not do so. The F.E.8 kept near the balloon, but a machine of No. 29 Squadron flew up, and, not realising the situation, shot the balloon down Instructing air gunners in the Lewis gun. (FLIGHT Photo.) in flames. The German observer was fortunate, for he was not killed, but was taken prisoner. In February, 1917, Maj. L. A. Tilney took over com mand of the squadron, and next month the Nieuport Scouts were received. In April a new flying officer joined the squadron, Lt. E. Mannock. Probably at first the squadron hardly realised what a great acquisition he was, but he soon showed his ability and was noted as a leader. In September of the same year he was promoted to Capt. and given command of a flight. While with No. 40 he destroyed six enemy aircraft, and when he was transferred to No. 74 he was in possession of the Military Cross and bar. Subsequently he gained the D.S.O. and two bars, and after his death was awarded the Victoria Cross. Those who knew Mannock believed that he was the greatest air fighter, and particularly the greatest air leader, in the war, despite the great achievements of Baron von Richthoven. Mannock would train every pilot in his flight in correct methods of air fighting, and would take the greatest pains to ensure that each of them " got a Hun." As a patrol leader he was a master of tactics, and would manoeuvre Pilots of No. 40 B.S. (left to right) : Sgts. Emly, Harris, Pattenden, Sowden, Evans ; F/O. D. G. Morris ; Fit. Lts. J. E. L. Drabble, C. C. Edwards, R. J. H. Holland ; (behind) F/O. N. C. M. Styche ; Sqd. Ldr. M. L. Taylor, /V.F.C. ; (behind) P/O. O. P. E. Williams ; F/O. H. V. L'Amy ; P/O. A. Taylor; F/O's. H. P. Wilson, G. Calvert ; Sgt. Christian ; PO. G. W. Montagu ; Sgt. O'Brien ; P/O. R. H. Page ; Sgt. Avent ; F/O. L. F. H. Orr ; P/O. W. H. N. Turner. (FLIGHT Photo.) 412
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