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Aviation History
1933
1933 - 1038.PDF
FLIGHT, NOVEMBER 23, 1933 charge of civil aviation . . . would in our geo graphical situation be not only madness but criminality." Not only FLIGHT, but every sensible person will applaud that declaration on the part of the Prime Minister. The operations of a disciplined and highly- trained Air Force must be far less of a menace to civilian life than would be the efforts of untrained bombers in converted civilian aeroplanes. The former would usually hit their marks, which would be places of military importance: the latter would almost invariably miss them and scatter their bombs among the civilian population. Of course we may reflect that if we retained a force of regular fighter squadrons, the amateur bombers of the enemy would fall an easy prey to them, while regular, trained, bombing formations would be a tougher nut to crack; but Geneva is not considering a pro position to allow fighters to survive when bombers are abolished, and so the above reflections are mainly academic. Great Britain, as the Prime Minister reported in his speech, has asked for an immediate conference to draw up a scheme for the international control of civil aircraft, so as to ensure that they could never be misused for warlike purposes. Some time, ago Lord Londonderry made it very clear to the Dis armament Conference that such a scheme must be intensely practical, and must make it quite im possible for civil aircraft to be misused for warlike purposes in any circumstances whatever, if it was to be accepted by Great Britain as a reason for dis banding her air forces. No such scheme has yet been evolved. We cannot imagine anyone drawing up a scheme which would fulfil the conditions laid down by the British Government through Lord Londonderry. We very much dislike the idea of international inspection and control of civil aircraft, but until the practical scheme has made its appear ance we may let that pass. Apparently other nations also dislike the idea, not least of them being the United States, a Power which shows great enthusiasm for disarmament by everyone except itself. So it appears that the Royal Air Force is not in imminent danger of being disbanded. It should not be forgotten that Lord Londonderry laid down one other condition for air disarmament by this country. That was that every other Power should also disarm in the; air. If Japan, the United States, and above all, Soviet Russia, do not dis band their air forces, the plan of Great Britain becomes null and void. Again we say that the existence of the Royal Air Force is in very little danger. Yet, despite all the difficulties which have to be overcome before disarmament can be called a possibility, the Government goes on trying to produce an effect at Geneva. The charge of lack of zeal brought forward by the Opposition is surely the most unfounded charge ever made. No wonder the vote of censure failed! Rumours are current in the Press of South Africa that the Union Government is proposing a re organisation of the South African Air Force. At present that Force is concentrated at Roberts Heights, near Pretoria, and it is sug- S h Af " gested that in the future one squadron Air Force shall be stationed at Capetown, one at Durban, and one at Bloemfontein. At the same time it has been suggested that Robin Island, off Capetown, which was once a leper settle ment, shall be made into a seaplane base. Before Imperial Airways opened the through ser vice to Capetown, the Royal Air Force used to send a formation flight from Egypt to the Cape every year, and usually the South African Air Force used to meet this formation on the way and accompany it for the rest of the trip. That brought the S.A. Air Force into prominence; and, in addition, every now and then it was called upon to take part in quelling some native trouble in some part of South Africa. One smart and thirsty little campaign in the man dated territory of South West Africa took place in the last few years. Apart from these incidents, not very much has been heard of this Force in the outside world, and not much is known of its organisation. The Force, despite its name, is not an independent Service like the Royal Air Force in Great Britain and the Royal Air Forces of Canada and Australia. It is, like that of New Zealand, a branch, or arm, of the military forces of the Dominion. The eminent pilot, Sir Pierre Van Ryneveld, who has done so much to make the Force efficient, now holds the rank of Brigadier General, and has been appointed Chief of the General Staff of the Union forces. The S.A. Air Force is organised on the same lines as the Royal Australian Air Force and also the Cadre squadrons of the R.A.F., with a regular and a citizen element. It consists of a Headquarters, an aircraft depot, a flying training school capable of dealing with 20 pupils, Service Squadrons, Special Reserve pilots, and a General Reserve of Officers. Citizens under training as pilots or airmen are known as Cadets. According to the latest official report on the Defence Force, there was at the beginning of 1932 only one Service Squadron fully established. Twenty-four Special Reserve pilots are allocated to each active aeroplane flight. Naturally, when the strength of the Force depends so largely on recruiting citizen pilots and airmen, there are drawbacks in the system of massing the whole force near Pretoria. No doubt the Transvaal provides the greatest number of young men suitable to join the Force, but the other provinces would like to play their part. It will certainly be easier for the young men of the Cape, Natal, and the Orange Free State to join the Force if a squadron is stationed at each of the capital cities. The scheme has not yet been approved by the Government, but, on the face of it, it seems a desirable reform. TO OUR READERS OVERSEAS who will receive this issue on or about December 25, FLIGHT offers its best wishes for a happy Christmas and a very successful and fortunate New Year. 1164
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