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Aviation History
1932
1932 - 0834.PDF
FLIGHT, AUGUST 19, 1932 These six pictures from a cinematograph film show stages in the discharge of a torpedo. (R.A.F. Official : Crown copy right reserved.) " Horsleys " and receive in exchange the Vickers " Vildebeest " with Bristol " Pegasus " engine. The new machine will have a much better performance, and will be an improvement in every way. Pilots who have been flying '' Horsleys '' for some time get very fond of that machine, which is really a very fine aeroplane, and are sorry when they have to give it up. The change-over to an air-cooled engine is a very radical change, too, and the pilots will have to get accustomed to the absence of a long stretch of something in front of them. Pilots, how ever, are adaptable people. Donibristle, despite the shortcomings of the actual landing ground, is an ideal situation for this squadron, as it offers every facility for training pilots in bombing and torpedo work. The squadron has made its own ranges for bombing practice in Largo Bay and Kircauldy Bay. In the vicinity is Haystack Island, which is kept white by the birds all the year round and makes a fine landmark. It would also be a good target for bombing practice. A light railway runs from the torpedo workshops on the aerodrome to the bay, where the Marine Section lives, and so it is a simple matter to bring the retrieved torpedoes back from the shore. The Marine Section consists of one trawler, one speedboat, one new twin-engined speedboat, and two or three motor-boats. The trawler acts as safety ship and can recover discharged torpedoes. The speedboats can also collect torpedoes (and, if necessary, pilots), and also pull the tow- target. This consists of a length of cable representing a ship, with splashes to mark the position of the bow and stern. The motor-boats are generally useful. No. 100 Squadron had a fine war record as a night-bombing squadron. Its annals have been compiled by one of its late commanding officers, Sqd. Ldr. C. G. Burge. A resum6 of its doings will doubtless be of interest, but first it will be more convenient to outline its history since the war. In 1919 the squadron re-formed at Baldonnel, Co. Dublin, under the command of Major (afterwards Squadron Leader) F. Sowrey, who had won fame by shooting down the Zeppelin L.32 (Commander Peterson) over Billericay. In place of the Handley Page 0/400 machines, with which it had been equipped at the time of the Armis tice, it received Bristol Fighters. In 1922 the squadron flew to Spittle- gate (now known as Grantham), and was re-equipped with the D.H.9A. The squadron was then used as a training unit, and its chief work was to instruct officers who had been " axed " from the Army and Navy and who had been selected for short service commissions in the Royal Air Force. In 1924 the machines were again changed, and the squadron received " Fawns." It moved again, this time to East- church. In the Hendon Display of 1925 No. 100 Squadron led the formation of four bomber squadrons which so greatly impressed all spectators. In 1928 it moved to Bicester, then a new aerodrome, and on November 3, 1930, it went to its present station of Donibristle and took up torpedo work. The Squadron's War Record No. 100 Squadron was the first complete night-flying squadron that was sent to the Western Front in the great war. It was also the first squadron in the Independent Air Force. It was formed at South Farnborough in February, 1917, out of the Home Defence Wing, and its first commanding officer was Maj. M. G. Christie—now Group Cap tain on the retired list, with the initials C.M.G., D.S.O., M.C., after his name. The machines were F.E.2B. and F.E.2E.'s. The squadron crossed to France at once, and on April 5-6 it made a night raid on Douai aerodrome. Baron Manfred von Richtofen was there at the time, and he has written a vivid account of this raid in his memoirs. In May, 1917, the squadron was stationed at Trezennes aerodrome, near Aire. While there it took part in the battles of Vimy Ridge, Arras, Messines, and the third battle of Ypres. This was strenuous work, and the squadron won a high reputation for its energy and general efficiency. In October, 1917, the squadron was detached from the Army and became part of the Independent Air Force under General Trenchard. It moved to Ochey aerodrome, in the neighbourhood of Neufchateau. Maj. Christie was the first pilot to land on the area of the Indepen dent Air Force. Ochey aerodrome had been constructed by the French, and they had to share it with a French squadron. It proved to be an easy target for the German bombers. No. 100 were consider ably harrassed by them, but it was realised in time that a move was necessary. So, before any great loss had been sustained, the squadron made a camp in the wood, and derived some satisfaction from watch ing the enemy bomb the deserted hangars. In December, 1917, Maj. Christie gave over command of the squadron to Maj. W. J. Tempest, D.S.O., M.C. Like Maj. Sowrey, who took over the command in 1919, Maj. Tempest came from No. 39 Home Defence Squadron, and was the destroyer of a Zeppelin. His exploit was particularly useful, because the airship which he shot down was the L.31, one of the very latest type of Zeppelin, and her commander was the famous Mathy, the most skilful and resolute of all the Zeppelin 778
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