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Aviation History
1932
1932 - 1274.PDF
FLIGHT, DECEMBER 15, 1932 ROYAL AERO CLUB TRIBUTE TO LORD WAKEFIELD F EW men have done more for aviation in such a genuine way as has Lord Wakefield. His benefac tions have now been recognised for all time by the portrait which has been painted of him and hung in the Royal Aero Club. This portrait was formally unveiled by Lord London derry at the Club on December 7. Preceding the unveiling there was a House Dinner in the Club, at which Lord Gorell, the chairman of the Club, presided. After the dinner Lord Gorell first read messages of regret from many members who were unable to attend, and then announced the receipt of a message from the Prince of Wales, in which Admiral Sir Lionel Halsey said:—"His Royal Highness desires me to say how pleased he is to hear that the members of the Royal Aero Club will have in their house a permanent memorial to Lord Wakefield, who has done so much to help aviation in this country." LORD LONDONDERRY, when unveiling the portrait, which had been painted for the Club by Capt. Oswald Birley, recalled the occasion, as long ago as 1910, when Lord Wakefield had spoken at the Mansion House in favour of aviation. Ever since that time, he said, Lord Wakefield had done all he could do for aviation throughout the Empire, and to him, therefore, we owed a debt of gratitude. He thought that the members were performing their proper duty in hanging on their walls this portrait of so great a citizen, and he thanked the Club for the honour they had done him in asking him to unveil it. LORD WAKEFIELD, acknowledging the honour, was deeply touched, and especially so by the kind message from the Prince of Wales. He was always ready to help pioneers of aviation, he said, and to further the spirit of adventure. He was an optimist in these matters and proud to be an Englishman. He commented on the por trait by saying that the best and most satisfying thing about it was the fact that it pleased his wife. He was glad it was December 7 as that was his lucky number. LORD GORELL, in thanking Lord Londonderry for un veiling the portrait, expressed the views of all members when he said that they were proud to have it upon their walls. He stressed the fact that from the beginning, Lord Londonderry had insisted that he felt greatly honoured by being asked to unveil the portrait, and in conclusion he announced that the next time Lord Londonderry came to the Club it would be as a member—an announcement which was received with acclamation. s s s § s s THE JUNIOR AERO CLUB'S FIRST YEAR F ORMALLY constituted in March, 1931, the Junior Aero Club held its first Annual Dinner at the Ham Bone Club on December 6, 1932. The chairman was the President of the Club, Lt. Col. F. C. Shelmerdine, the Director of Civil Aviation, and the Guests of Honour were Messrs. C. W. A. Scott and A. C. M. Jackaman. COL. SHELMERDINE pointed out in his speech as chairman that the Club was originally founded by the late Sir Henry Segrave together with Wing Com. R. Marix and Mr. Rupert Preston, and since that time it had consistently followed its policy of entertaining those people who have made their name in aviation circles, but who, in many cases, have not been sufficient^ recognised by other bodies. Since its inception the Club has always attracted into its precincts all those who, as one might say, " carry most weight in civil aviation," and there can be few people of any importance who have not dined there at one time or another. On this occasion the Air Attaches, Lt. de Vaisseau P. A. Sala, of France, and Maj. Martin F. Scanlon, of the U.S.A., were both present. The former's visit was somewhat in the nature of a farewell, as he is leaving this country at the end of the year, and, while regretting his departure, we hope that he will carry with him many pleasant memories of his sojourn in our country. In introducing Mr. Scott, Col. Shelmerdine reminded those present of the magnificent flights made by their guest in April, 1931, when he broke the record for the trip to Australia, and also of his flight back again ; much of the flight being made through the worst of the monsoon period. Their other guest, Mr. Jackaman, he pointed out, was one of the foremost private owners, and one who had probably gained more prizes than any other private owner at meetings not only in this country but also on the Continent. It was largely due to his enterprise, said Col. Shelmerdine, that the Week-End Aerien came into being and was so successful. MR. SCOTT, in reply, after thanking the Chairman for his kind remarks, hoped that flights which, like his own, were somewhat spectacular, would later become quite com- § § § A New Royal Machine His ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES has again demonstrated his belief in aviation as the means of locomo tion, and his desire to be up to date, by ordering a " Fox Moth " to take the place of his " Puss Moth." The new machine will be delivered to the Prince next week, and, although the change will mean a loss of over 10 m.p.h. cruising speed, the extra accommodation provided in the new machine will be ample compensation. His Royal Highness still owns two " Gipsy Moths " and will shortly take possession of the Vickers " Viastra " which cruises at 120 m.p.h. These machines are all painted dark red and blue. monplace. He also hoped that the Australians would run some portion of the air mail line which is expected to be in operation to Australia before long. MR. JACKAMAN said that, while he appreciated the honour done to him by asking him to be a guest at this dinner, he felt that Col. Shelmerdine had hardly been accurate when he attributed the idea of the Week-end Aerien to him. The truth of the matter was that, after a meeting at Zagreb last year, it was Col. Shelmerdine himself who had made the suggestion that some reciprocal event ought to be organised in this country, and through out he had not only acted on the Committee, but helped the organisers in every way. Mr. Jackaman also men tioned many others, including in particular Mrs. Norman, who had worked so hard to make the meeting the astound ing success it was. In this connection he told a delight ful story of a Frenchman who was seen by his English flying marshal to alight in a field during the very foul weather on the way to Hooton. The marshal, who there upon landed alongside, asked what the trouble was, and was told that the Frenchman found " this pub crawling " too much for him! ... It was not until some time after wards that the marshal found out that the phrase intended was " hedge hopping." ! Among the other speakers were Mr. Geoffrey Dorman, Mr. Mealing, Mr. Courtney and Mr. Eric Teesdale, the energetic secretary, to whom not only the Junior Aero Club, but also the Ham Bone Club, both owe so much. Arranged around the walls of the Club were selections from the drawings of Messrs. Cavendish and Concord Morton. These two gifted brothers show an unusual flair for artistic depiction of aircraft and parts thereof. They have spent much time at R.A.F. stations, on board aircraft carriers and at aerodromes, and have undoubtedly brought out many hitherto unsuspected beautiful aspects of the aircraft they have seen. Holding an exhibition of their work on this occasion was yet another proof of the un failing originality to be found in the management of the Junior Aero Club. 5§ S SIS Japan's Disarmament Suggestions A FORECAST of the Japanese proposals for disarmament has been given by Vice-Admiral Osami Nagano to the Geneva correspondent of the Daily Telegraph. He said that these proposals would include the complete abolition of aircraft carriers, which the Japanese regard as offensive weapons, and the prohibition should apply to all landing decks on warships. The Admiral said: —'' We do not propose to interfere with the present system, whereby certain ships carry a seaplane for scouting purposes. These are weapons of protection rather than of offence." Incidentally it is reported that the Japanese Naval Department has decided to dismantle its only airship. 1190
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