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Aviation History
1933
1933 - 0165.PDF
FLIGHT, JULY 20, 1933 bomber aircraft within three miles of any of the targets. Presumably this rule n-ieans that the authorities want the bombers to be undisturbed while taking aim at the target. They have a fair amount to do at that critical moment, for they have not merely to signal the dropping of the bombs, but they have to make sure that the camera obscura is paying attention to their proceedings and has received their signals of identity, height, etc. It might be rather distracting to have a " Bulldog " diving at one at such a busy time. It appears that the bombers are to be practised in find ing their way to a target and taking aim at it, and they are not really concerned at all with the doings of the fighters, though doubtless the gunners will get their guns on to the fighters and go through the motions of shooting them down. In the great war, anything over 100 yards was considered a long shot in the air, and few men were likely to score a hit at such a range. The object of the fighters is merely to intercept. Once they have launched their attack there must be no question of fighting it out. The Observers Corps, so far as it is in action, will get good practice and, when the weather is not too bad, will have a very interesting time. Perhaps the most important part of the Exercises will be the practice which the various staffs will get in conducting operations, and the Fighting Area in particular will have to make the best use of all the information which it gets, and to act very quickly on that information. The whole scheme of air defence depends on rapid information and communications more than on anything else. It is certainly necessary to practise everyone1 in these points at least once a year. On Monday evening a bank of low clouds was reported ti be moving slowly in from the south-west of England, and they were expected to cover the hill tops. None the less, soon after 6 p.m., the Observers' posts reported nine raids coming in through the corridors. The fighter squadrons were sgon up on patrol. Two of the raids did not reach their objectives, but of the other seven, five squadrons got in and out without being molested. No. 35 (Bomber) Squadron was attacked three times. The Auxiliary Squadron from Glasgow, No. 602, led by Lord Clydesdale, was intercepted by No. 23 (Fighter) Squadron over Marlow. It is interesting to speculate whether the " Wapitis " would have been able to hold their own against the attack of the " Demons." Then night came on, and so did the cloud bank. Never theless six night bombers set out one by one, four " Hinaidis " from No. 99 B.S. at Manston and two " Virginias " of No. 502 (Ulster) (Bomber) Squadron from the same aerodrome. But the weather got worse, and ic soon was realised that they could not reach their objectives, so they were recalled by wireless, and the night operations thus came to an end with no blood spilt. Dawn revealed low clouds covering the whole area of the operations, and in many cases right down to the surface of the ground. Nevertheless No. 12 (Bomber) Squadron did a fine piece of work by making two successive raids. One can always count on No. 12 B.S. to make the most of any circumstances. Nos. 33, 101, and 602 also made raids, but all had to fight their way in. Doubtless the communications were getting into smoother working order than on the previous night. One of the reconnaissance squadrons reported No. 33 B.S. over Maidstone. Another interesting incident is reported. The " Sidestrands " of No. 101 B.S. were to attack Halton, which lies high on the western slope of the Chiltern hills, and probably the clouds came down very low over this objective. No. 101 got there, but was so low above the ground that it was not possible to drop bombs, the machines might have suffered themselves from the blast of the explosion. The bombs are imaginary, but the squadrons have to act as if they were real ones. The weather showed signs of improvement during the day, though there remained a possibility of low clouds over the coast. TH E ROYv IR FORCE London Gazette, July 11, 1933. General Duties Branch The undermentioned Pilot Officers are promoted to the rank of Flying Ottcer (June 19) :—L. N. Eisner, A. W. Geoghegan, M. B. Hamilton, R. H. A. "igh, F. H. Tyson, J. N. H. Whitworth, M. F. D. Williams. Gazette May 2, rancermng Wing Commander Vivian Gaskell-Blackburn, D.S.C., A.F.C., is iSn61 ,d- F'°- G- B- Musson is transferred to Reserve, Class A, April 28, '»«. (Substituted for Gazette, May 9.) The short-service commns. of the undermentioned Acting Pilot Officers on probation are terminated on cessation of duty (July 5) :-E. C. Clark, G. A. Kelly. Stores Branch Flt.-Lt. G. J. Maygothling is placed on retired list (July 7). Medical Branch Sqdn.-Ldr. (Quartermaster) W. P. Conolly is placed on retired list (July 12). Dental Branch '/0. R. Scoggins, L.D.S., is promoted to the rank of Fit. Lt. (July 6). Memoranda 179028 Cadet B. G. H. Cox is granted an hon. commn. as a Sec. Lt. with effect from the date of demobilisation. The permission granted to Sec. Lt. G. W. Yallop to retain his rank is withdrawn on his enlistment in the Terri torial Army. ROYAL AIR FORCE RESERVE RESERVE OF AIR FORCE OFFICERS General Duties Branch The undermentioned are granted commns. as Pilot Officers on probation in Class AA (i) :—C. A. Penberthy (June 16) ; A. Reid (June 28). The undermentioned are granted commns. as Pilot Officers on probation in Class AA (ii) :—R. H. Adams, K. G. Beauchamp, N. C. Beck, P. H. Macmillan, K. W. McQueen, W. L. M. Merrett, H. Perring, B. C. R. Powell, J. E. D. Scott, T. C. M. Wigg (June 26) ; G. M. Adams (June 27) ; F. H. Vivian (July 1). Flt.-Lt. C. Clarkson is transferred from Class A to Class C (June 30). F./O. A. G. P. Way is transferred from Class C to Class AA (ii) (July 2). F/O. A. N. Francombe relinquishes his commn. on completion of service (March 15). Medical Branch F/O. G. Williams, M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., relinquishes his common, on com pletion of service (June 15). ROYAL AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE 'tiiieel ,__rn*n^s'—The following appointments in the Royal Air Force notifi General Duties Branch (D.(JSi)?TS J' B- Bowen. O.B.E., to Air Ministry, Dept. of C.A.S. Warring" >» ' ioT duty as Head of Signals Branch, vice A/Cdre. A. D. 1 V«„ ot?.D"MoiT,B. CM.G.;iO.B.E. Uibridm. <?5^.*<far F- Sowrey, D.S.O., M.C., A.F.C., to R.A.F. Depot, D.Fc., A'.DC t0 Command viet G/Capt. F. L. Robinson, D.S.O., M.C., dmi>rl'°'*i,fd,wT- °. Clogstoun, to H.M.S. Courageous, 7.7.33, for Engineer FUsht U , Lt- F- H. Whitmure, M.B.E., D.S.C. Dow,; i i-;/u«"«n(s : J. D. Breakev, D.F.C., to No. 7 (B) Sqdn., Worthy D F 'A, r'i» • S- Horry, D.F.C., A.F.C., to Station H.Q., Duxford, 4.7.33. 6.7.33 ; ,^0tU D-F-C-. A.F.C.. to No. 22 (B) Sqdn., Martlesham Heath, D - J. WWi, Ba™s, A.F.C., to Central Flying School, Wittering, 7.7.33. Aer oplane .J1'. to Central Flying School, Wittering, 5.7.33. A. Allen, to G . I. 1 q*?d Armament Experimental Estabt., Martlesham Heath, 3.7.33. Ko '9(BlS,!f' \FX-' to R-A.F. Base, Calshot, 4.6.33. K. E. Ward, to * ' b*in., Boscombe Down, 3.7.33. Flying Officers: W. T. F. Wigbtman, to R.A.F. College, Cranwcll, 11.6.33. E. C. Bates, to Station Flight, Abingdon, 19.6.33. R. Cleland, to No. 3 Flying Training School, Grantham, 10.6.33. G. B. Keily, to R.A.F. College, Cranwell, 10.6.33. W. M. L. MacDonald, to No. 3 Flying Training School, Grantham, 10.6.33. M. V. Ridgeway, to No. 24 (Commn.) Sqdn., Northolt, 21.6.33. N. C. Singer, to No. 607 (Co. of Durham) (B) Sqdn., Usworth, 10.6.33. F. A. Wardell, to No. 3 Flying Training School, Grantham, 10.6.33. H. R. Dale, to No. 45 (B) Sqdn., Helwan, Egypt, 21.6.33. Stores Branch Flying Officer P. Dennehy, to No. 26 (A.C.) Sqdn., Catterick, 28.6.33. Medical Branch Squadron Leaders : P. A. Hall, to Princess Mary's R.A.F. Hospital, Halton, 1.7.33, for duty as Med. Officer. T. McClurkin, to H.Q., Inland Area, Stanmore, 1.7.33, for duty as Deputy Principal Med. Officer (Hygiene). Flight Lieutenants : C. W. Cofiey, to R.A.F. Base, Calshot, 3.7.33. B. W. Cross to H.Q., Air Defence of Gt. Britain, Uxbridge, 1.7.33. J. Kemp, to H.Q., No. 21 Group, West Drayton, 3.7.33. 741
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