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Aviation History
1934
1934 - 0261.PDF
FLIGHT, MAKCH 15, 1934 points in London, and suggested that our interceptors should be detailed toguard those vital points. MR. VYVYAN ADAMS said that we should all be standing on the edgeof risk so long as air forces were nationally owned, and any nation which joined in the Gadarene adventure of rearmament was merely accelerating the generalstampede over the precipice. CAPT. H. BALFOUR asked about long-term planning. We had buildinesat present to accommodate three mort squadrons, and bricks and mortar took a long time to put together. MR. MORGAN JONES said that Mr. Baldwin's announcement would begiven very careful consideration on his side of the House. SIR PHILIP SASSOON replied to the debate. As regards ImperialAirways and the railways, there was nothing new in principle in the under- standings which had been reached. That they might m certain cases lead toabuses was undeniable, but it should not be "assumed that that was certain to happen. If the new machinery were used to stifle the development of inter-nal air transport the Air Ministry would take appropriate steps to remedy the situation. THE FLEET AIR ARM INTRODUCING the Naval Estimates in the House of Commons on MondayMarch 12, the First Lord of the Admiralty, Sir Bolton Eyres-Monsell made the following allusions to the Fleet Air Arm, and to the relations 'of theNavy and the Air Force. We quote the report from The Times : " He was sure that the House realised that the Royal Air Force wasalongside the Royal Navy, our first line of defence. The Navy had realised that for a long time, and he deplored the growing tendencyto indulge incontroversy on the respective merits of the Navy and the Air Force for the protection of the Empire. (Hear, hear.) Such a controversy was whollymischievous, and must do great harm, not only to the two Services, but to the country. Both Services were vitally necessary. The Navy and AirForce were complementary to each other, and he was sure that as time went on they would become more so. " The Fleet depended more and more upon its Naval Air Arm. The Admiralty regarded it as the spear-head of the Fleet, and were pro uder of itthan of any arm of the Service. It was equally true that the Air Force depended on the Navy, for without the Navy its fuel supply, as well aseverything else that came oversea, would be in jeopardy. The Air Force was going to help more and more in protecting our commerce in narrow waters,but we must remember that of the large number of British ships at sea all over the world about 85 per cent, were at present out of reach of land-basedaeroplanes. It would be impossible to do away with surface ships altogether until commerce took to the air. " It was perfectly true that the Navy could do nothing to prevent an airattack on London, but a blow on the heart was not the only way of killing a country, and this country could be as surely, if more slowly, killed bystriking at her extremities and sinking her merchandise and provender ail over the world. The death by 1,000 cuts was just as sure as death by aknock-out blow." AIR MINISTRY CONTRACTSe ONCERN at the large number of contracts issuedby the Air Ministry without competition is ex- pressed by the Comptroller and Auditor-General inhis report on the Air Services Appropriation Account for the year ended March 31, 1933. The greatbulk of aeroplane and engine contracts placed in 1932, to a total value of £5,350,000, was placed as the result ofsingle tenders, it is stated. When the matter was submitted to the Air Council they replied that the indirect effect of such competition as had obtained had been considerable. Their letter indicated, however, that any large extension of competition in the near future was not deemed practicable. " Technical efficiency is, of course, the very life blood of the air service," the letter added. " The Council are determined to make it their first objective to maintain this efficiency, while simultaneously ensuring that the price paid for it is not excessive. Since the level of the vote for the purchase of technical equipment is to-day actually lower than in 1925, despite an increase of 63 per cent, in the number of regular A link with the past broken WE much regret to record the death of Sir Alexander Bannerman, Bart., at George, Cape Province, S.A., at the age of 63. It seems ancient history—almost like " 1066 and all that "—to carry one's mind back to the Air Batta- lion of the Royal Engineers, which was the direct ancestor of the Royal Air Force. It hardly seems credible that Sir Arthur Bannerman, then a Major, was the first comman- dant of that battalion. Of course, it is not so very long ago really, for that battalion came into existence in 1911. Sir Alexander was then a balloon expert. He learnt to fly, and took R.Ae.C. certificate No. 213 on April 30, 1912. Death of Lieut.-Col. H. C. Brinsmead, O.B.E., M.C. THE death in Melbourne of Lt. Col. Brinsmead, O.B.E.,M.C., is especially pathetic, as it has occurred nearly two and a half years after he was seriously injured in an aero-plane crash, which presumably was the cause of his death. He will always be remembered as the man who made civilflying in Australia, and started it so soundly on its path that for years the Commonwealth led the whole world mthe length and efficiency of its inland air services. Col. Brinsmead was born in Hampstead in 1883, the son of themanaging director of the famous piano firm. He served in the Australian forces during the war, and though hedid not learn to fly, he made such a name for himself as Staff Officer of the Australian Flying Corps, that at theend of the war the "Defence Department of the Common- wealth thought itself lucky to secure his services as thefirst Controller of Civil Aviation. In that capacity he arranged for the mail contracts with West Australian Air-ways and with Qantas, both of which firms have done such sterling work in the " outback." In November 1931, hewas flying to England in the Avro 10, Southern Sun, when it crashed in Malaya, and he was slightly injured. In noway dismayed, he transferred to a K.L.M. machine, but squadrons maintained, the Council feel that the policy they have pursued in' this regard has, whilst maintaining effi- ciency, satisfactorily subserved the no less important end of economy." Iraq Irregularities Various irregularities in connection with works contracts in Iraq had been under the consideration of the Air Ministry. They included the rejection of the lowest tender without sufficient reason, purchases without competition, and the failure, after contracts had been placed, to trans- mit the tenders to the Air Ministry for review. The Air Ministry had stated that it was considered that the late chief engineer committed an error pf judgment in passing over the lowest tender, and that the contract had now been terminated at the end of the minimum period of one year. The excess' cost to public funds appeared to have been in the neighbourhood of £1,700. The gross expenditure for the year was £19,338,104 5s. lid., a saving on the estimate of £364,595 14s. Id. that, too, crashed when taking off from the aerodrome at Donmuang, and Col. Brinsmead was severely injured. From these injuries he never recovered, and was obliged to resign his post as Controller of Civil Aviation. Few men have done more good work for civil flying, and still fewer can point to such a record of practical achievement. Major Mealing's marriage MAJ. R. H. S. MEALING, Chief Technical Assistant to the Director of Civil Aviation, was married to Miss M. Cournede on March 7. It will be recalled that Maj. Mealing fell from a ladder while inspecting his new home, and sus- tained injuries to his spine. For his wedding Maj. Mealing was taken to the registry office on a stretcher. All his many friends will, in addition to wishing him all possible happiness in the future, join us in wishing Maj. Mealing a speedy recovery from his injury. Good news of Mr. Shackleton SOME weeks ago we informed our readers that Mr. W. S. Shackleton had had to enter a nursing home to undergo an operation. We are very pleased to be able to record that the operation was entirely successful, and that Mr. Shackleton is now well on the way to complete re- covery. In fact, when we visited him at the London Clinic, 20, Devonshire Place, he looked better than he has done for very many years. Mr. Shackleton tells us that the operation has completely cured an ailment of ten years' standing, and that it now but remains for him to wait until the wound is healed before getting into harness again. Already he is able to receive callers and to attend to busi- ness, should any FLIGHT reader wish to get in touch with him. To commemorate Col. Richmond IN memory of Col. V. C. Richmond, the designer of RAO I, Mrs. V. C. Richmond has had electric light installed in the parish church at Odell, Bedfordshire. 261
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