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Aviation History
1933
1933 - 0639.PDF
FLIGHT, SEPTEMBER 28, 1933 DEFENDING THEIR NATIVE SHORES : The " Wapitis " of No. 603 (City of Edinburgh) (Bomber) Squadron (which had no flotation gear) 30 miles out to sea to bomb the invaders. (FLIGHT Photo.) in the least inclined to disagree with him. The blood of a man who has spent 12 years in India is somewhat thin. So I put on all the woollies which they gave me, and then struggled into a Sydcott. This was accomplished by my standing inside the boat with my head out of a rear cockpit, while a loudly amused airman on top of the hull grasped the Sydcott by the neck and pulled it up over my shoulders. A kindly flying officer fastened the fleece- lined boots on my feet, for at first I felt hardly able to move my arms in the Sydcott, but soon all was complete, and I felt like Tweedledum and Tweedledee when prepared to have a battle. The dinghy pushed off, taking the rigger and fitter, and a crew of four was left aboard with me. In addition to the flight lieutenant there was a second pilot, a navigator, and a wireless operator, all officers. Soon the " Lions " were started up, and the boats began to taxi about above the bridge. I saw a " 3F." seaplane on the water, and was told that the A.O.C. intended to come out in it .with the boats, but I did not see it again. We taxied round, warming the engines, for about half an hour, and then at 12.00 hours we headed into wind, which was blowing up-stream, and took off. It has always been one of my ambitions to fly down the Forth on a fine day, and it was gratified at last. Once before I had flown across from Midlothian to Fife, but the visibility was then very bad. Now, looking out of one of the rear cockpits, both of which were put at my disposal, I could thoroughly enjoy a really glorious view. Edin burgh, unfortunately, was justifying its title of Auld Reekie, though probably it was mist rather than smoke which hid it from view. I could see Arthur's Seat be hind it, and the mass of Pentland hills. Musselburgh was also invisible, and I was disappointed at this, as I wanted to try to distinguish my old school there. But Inchkeith and the other islands in the Forth looked very attractive from above. I do not mean that they looked desirable as places of residence, but they made a very effective picture. The wooded hills of Fife also made a fine view. Five of the nine " Southamptons " were out on this reconnais sance, but we were not flying in formation. Now and again we could see one of our consorts, and we seemed to be flying higher than the rest, though we were then under *2SliK' r*gam> AT THE CRACK OF DAWN : Haar, or sea mist, enveloped Turnhouse Aerodrome on Saturday morning when the " Harts " of No. 33 (Bomber) Squadron took off to bomb the attacking Fleet. (FLIGHT Photo.) 963 B
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