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Aviation History
1933
1933 - 0323.PDF
FLIGHT, AUGUST 10, 1933 tiif i ampaign was just an enjoyable picnic for the squad ron In a war of rapid movement air units are perpetually harassed to find new aerodromes and move forward on to them. In such circumstances it is only with great diffi culty that machines can be kept serviceable. In August, 1916. it is recorded that only three machines were fit to rlv, all steel Henry Farmans. In May of that year the squadron had received a consignment of eight machines of this type with 140-h.p. Canton Unne engines, as they had proved in the South-West campaign that they were very reliable and suitable for work in the Tropics. All sorts of unexpected difficulties were encountered, and remedies had to be improvised on the spot. On the first arrival of the squadron with its eight B.E.'s, it was found that the propellers of the machines had not been sent on with the rest of the equipment. They had with them five other propellers not intended for use on the B.E.2C, and these had to be specially bored before they could be used. In Tune one °f the B.E.'s crashed in thick bush, and both pilot and observer were killed. Sickness in the unhealthy parts of the country troubled both the Europeans and also the natives who did the rough work for the squadron. On one advance there was no medical officer with the column, and the officers had to do the best they could for the sick airmen. Between April, 1916, and April, 1917, there were 346 other ranks on the strength of the squadron, but on April 30, 1917, only 125 were fit for duty. Eight had died, 33 were in hospital, and 180 had been invalided out. On one occasion petrol had to be brought by native porters over a pass 6,000 ft. high. The porters would un screw the caps of the eight-gallon drums, empty out some of the petrol, and when they had reached low ground again would fill up the tins with water. Consequently all the petrol had to be strained through chamois leather before it could be used. Another trouble was that the primers of the bombs which had been kept for some time in store deteriorated in the heat, and many bombs failed to ex plode. A mechanic found a method of treating them which made them serviceable again, but he was killed by an explosion, though not until he had put all the bombs in working order. Forced landings caused few casualties, but often meant great sufferings from thirst and heat before rescue. Once Lt. Garrood spent four days wandering through the bush. His clothing was stolen by baboons while he was drying it, and he also reported an escape from a crocodile when swimming a river (he was a very fortunate man), and a night in which he was treed by a leopard. One aerodrome was called " Daniel's Den " because of the number of lions which could be heard round it. No casualties, how ever, were caused by wild beasts. They merely added spice to African life. By November, 1917, the German forces were reduced to a remnant and were incapable of doing further harm. In January, 1918, No. 26 Squadron was sent from Dar-es- Salaam to Capetown, and finally reached Blandford in England, where it was disbanded in July, 1918. As stated above, it was re-formed at Catterick on October 11, 1927, under its present designation. Royal Air Force Squadrons Other descriptive articles concerning the work of various R.A.F. Squadrons, etc., have been published in FLIGHT as follow: — H.M. Aircraft Carrier Glorious. May 16, 1930. No. 4 (Army Co-operation), South Farnborough ; No. 17 (Fighter), Upavon, and No. 33 (Bomber), Eastchurch. June 27, 1930. No. 601 (County of London) (B#1 Sq., A.A.F. (at Lympne). August IS, 1930. No. 43 (Fighter) Sq. (Tangmere). September 19, 1930. No. 2 (Army Co-operation) Sq. (Manston). December 19, 1930. No. 101 (Bomber) Sq. (Andover). April 24, 1931. Nos. 204 and 209 (Flying-Boat) Sq. (Mount Batten). June 12, 1931, "1890-1912-1931," (An Outline of the Growth of the R.A.F.) June 26, 1931. Cambridge University Air Sq. (at Old Sarum). July 10, 1931. Central Flying School (Wittering). July 17, 1931. Submarine Aircraft Carrier " M 2." July 31, 1931. Oxford University Air Sq. (at Eastchurch). August 7, 1931. No. 600(City of London)(Bomber) Sq.,A.A.F. (at Tangmere). August 21, 1931, No. 605 (County of Warwick) (Bomber) Sq. (Cas. Bromwich). April 1, 1932. No. 40 (Bomber) Sq. (Upper Heyford). May 13, 1932. Nos. 7 and 58 (Bomber) Sq. (Worthy Down). June 10, 1932. A visit to H.M.S. Exeter of 2nd Cruiser Squadron, Home Fleet. June 17,1932. Oxford University Air Sq. (Eastchurch). July 22, 1932. Cambridge University Air Sq. (Netheravon). August 5, 1932. No. 1 Air Defence Group (A.A.F. and Cadre Sqs.). August 12,1982. No. 100 (Bomber) Sq. (Donibristle). August 19, 1932. Scotland's Auxiliaries ; No. 602 (City ol Glasgow) (Bomber) Sq. and No. 603 (City of Edinburgh) (Bomber) Sq. September 16, 1932. London's Auxiliaries; Nos. 600, 601, and 604 B. Sq. October 20, 1932. No. 25 (Fighter) Sq. (Hawkinge). December 8, 1932. No. 19 (Fighter) Sq. Duxford. January 5, 1933. Aircraft Carrier H.M.S Courageous. January 12, 1933. Lee-on-Solent. February 9, 1933. No. 23 (Fighter) Squadron, March 2, 1933. Gosport. The Fleet Air Arm Base. March 30, 1933. Larkhill. R.A.F. Balloon Centre. June 8,1933. The R. A.F. Staff College, Andover. July 20, 1933. No. 99 (Bomber) Sqn., Upper Heyford. August 3, 1933. Lord Londonderry's Visits to Lympne and Thornaby THE MARQUESS OF LONDONDERRY, Secretary of State ''"' Air, flew in a Service aircraft from Hendon to Lympne on July 31 and paid an informal visit to No. 601 (County of London) (Bomber) Squadron of the Auxiliary Air Force, which is holding its annual camp at Lympne" Aero drome. This squadron, of which Sir Philip Sassoon is Won^ Air Commodore, is commanded by Sqd. Ldr. H. N. =t. V. Norman. After lunching with the squadron, Lord ^ndonderry left by air for Hendon and returned to the Air Ministry. On August 1 Lord Londonderry flew from ''"don to Thornaby Aerodrome, Yorkshire, in order to Preside at the meeting of the Territorial Army and Air 'orce Association of the County of Durham, which was "eldin the Officers' Mess of the 8th Battalion of the Miiam Light Infantry at Marske Camp at 11.30 a.m. "c was present with Gen. Sir William Thwaites, Director- 'eneral of the Territorial Army at a march past of units !(Tf 151st (Durham Light Infantry) Brigade and later I 'sided at the annual luncheon of the Association at the v'f-iiand Hotel, Saltburn, at which Sir William Thwaites tii" H °hief Suest- After lunch Lord Londonderry re- % Thornaby Aerodrome and left by air for Alder- to-vVe' J Ireland. en route for Mt. "Stewart, New- v.;',,'" i,r • Co. Down, where he is spending his holiday ^< his family. F . r h? Control of Private Flying n 'pT Alr Ministry announces that Mr. W. A. Work- ^ssu • General Manager of the Legal & General Assoc^6 Society- and Chairman of the British Insurance Cornma++10n' has accePted nomination as a member of the "Tee recently appointed by the Secretary of State for Air to review, under the Chairmanship of Lord Gorell, a number of important issues of policy affecting the future development of civil aviation in this country. As was announced in the House of Commons on July 24. Lord Londonderry has, in addition to their original reference, decided to remit to this Commitee for examina tion the whole question of compulsory insurance against third party risks for civil aircraft. Busk Studentship in Aeronautics THE Trustees of this Studentship, founded in memory of Edward Teshmaker Busk, who lost his life in 1914 while flying an experimental aeroplane, have awarded the Studentship for the year 1933-34 to Leslie Howarth, B.A.(Cantab.), B.Sc.(Manch.), of Gonville and Caius Col lege, Cambridge. Air Touring AIR touring from this country in privately owned air craft has been steadily increasing during the past five years, and the International Aeronautical Federation has formed a special Committee, on which the Royal Aero Club is represented, with a view to standardising as far as pos sible the regulations by which aircraft are admitted into foreign countries, Customs formalities, etc. Lord Wake field of Hythe has again shown his practical interest in advancing the cause of aviation by a donation of £1,500 to the Royal Aero Club to assist in this work. B.G. Gliding and Soaring Competition THE Council has decided to hold a two-day competi tion on October 7 and 8. It is hoped that a site at Mal vern will be available, but a definite decision will be given as soon as possible. The competition has been arranged in the hope that better weather conditions will obtain than those existing at Huish. 811
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