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Aviation History
1934
1934 - 0597.PDF
FLIGHT, JUNE 14, 1934 SERVICE NOTES Formation of No. 142 (Bomber) Squadron No. 142 (BOMBER; SQUADRON will form at Netheravonon June 1, 1934, and will come under the command of the Air Officer Commanding Central Area. The R.A.F.Station, Netheravon, will remain under the command of the Air Officer Commanding, Inland Area. No. 142(Bomber) Squadron is the first of the new units provided for in the Air Estimates to be raised, or rather to be re-formed. It is to be stationed at Netheravon, the home of No. 13 (Army Co-operation) Squadron and of certain unitsof the Fleet Air Arm when ashore. No. 142 B.S. will be equipped with the Hawker " Hart " day bomber (R.R." Kestrel " engine), and Sqd. Ldr. A. O. Lewis-Roberts has been appointed to the command. He has recently beenon the H.Q. Staff of the Middle East Command. This squadron succeeds to the traditions, of No. 142 Squadron(later re-designated No. 55 Squadron), which was raised at Ismailia in February, 1918. It spent the whole of its shortwar existence in Egypt and Palestine, and was equipped with an assortment of aeroplanes which had beensuperannuated from the Western Front, B.E.'s (2E, 2D and 12A), Martinsyde " Scouts," R.E. 8, and ArmstrongWhitworths. Among its commanding officers was Capt. A. J. G. Styran, who afterwards won fame as a civil pilotand was killed quite recently in a flying accident. Everyone will hope that the new career of this squadron will belonger than its previous existence and quite as honourable. R.A.F- Staff College, Andover THE following officers have been selected for the 13thcourse at the R.A.F. Staff College, beginning January'. 1935:—Fit. Lt. E. D. Barnes, A.F.C., L. K." Barnes,T. N. Boothman, A.F.C., G. P. H. Carter, R. H. Carter, C. J. Collingwood, D.F.C., W.. A. D. Collingwood (Storesbranch), A. D. Davies, E. S. C. Davis, A.F.C., G. Harcourt- Smith, J. D. I. Hardman, D.F.C., V. Harris, E. A. Healy,F. W. Long, S. D. Macdonald, D.F.C., G. H. Mills, G. E. Nicholetts, A.F.C., L. F. Pendred, M.B.E., D.F.C.,N. A. P. Pritchett, J. W. Turton Jones, T. M. Williams, M.C., D.F.C., F/O. H. W. Penney (Stores branch). Officers who qualified at the 1933 and 1934 examina-tions, but have not been selected for the 1935 course, will be considered for the 1936 course. Separate orders will beissued regarding transfer to home establishment of those officers selected for the 13th course who are at presentserving in oversea commands. The names of officers nominated by the Dominions to attend the 13th coursewill be published at a later date. Portsmouth—Isle of Wight Area AN officially recognised air traffic route between Ports-mouth Airport and the Isle of Wight has been declared in Notice to Airmen No. 38/1934. Service aircraft are toavoid flying over the route, but when forced to do so should cross at right-angles and at an altitude of not lessthan 2,000 ft. Attention is also drawn to Part B of the above Notice to Airmen. As aircraft will be engaged intowing drogues and carrying out exercises in co-operation with shore-based guns, pilots are to avoid flying over thearea laid down until further notice. The Royal Air Force Dinner Club THE 12th annual Dinner of the Royal Air Force Dinner Club will be held at the Connaught Rooms, W.C.2, at 8.15 p.m., on June 29th, when Air Chief Marshal Sir Edward W. Ellington, Chief of the Air Staff, will preside, and Lord Londonderry, Secretary of State for Air, will be the principal guest. Blackburn T.S.R. THE new Blackburn Fleet Torpedo Spotter Recon- naissance biplane (750-h.p. Siddeley " Tiger ") has recently been tested, under service conditions, on an aircraft carrier. This machine was illustrated and described briefly in FLIGHT for May 17. Australian "Seagulls" THE Supermarine Aviation Works (Vickers), Ltd., has now received instructions to proceed with the order for 24 " Seagull V " amphibian machines (Bristol " Pegasus ") for the Australian Government. Move of No. 15 (Bomber) Squadron toAbingdon No. 15 (BOMBER) SQUADRON was to move to Abingdonon June 1, 1934, and to be transferred from Inland Area to Central Area with effect from that date. No. 8OO (F.F.) SquadronNo. 800 (F.F.) SQUADRON embarked in H.M.S.Courageous from the R.A.F. Station, Netheravon, on May 14, 1934. Fencing at the Royal TournamentIN the Inter-Services Foil Championships at the Royal Tournament, Olympia, the Royal Air Force gained first,third and seventh places. Sgt. W. R. Hancock gained first place, AC. G. A. Daniel was third and Cpl. D. Grundyseventh. The R.A.F. at BisleyTHE rifle championship of the Royal Air Force, which carries with it the Duke of Sutherland Challenge Cup, waswon on June 6 by AC. G. Gaskell, of Andover, who is 21 years old. Fit. Lt. G. F. Stainforth won the revolverchampionship, and F/O. Tindal-Carill-Worsley the pistol championship. R.A.F. Cricket AssociationIN a cricket match against the Civil Service at Chis- wick, on June 4 and 5, the Royal Air Force won by7 wickets. The Civil Service made. 173 and 233, and the R.A.F. 249 and 160 for three. The best score of the match-was 91 by P/O. Louden in, the first innings. The Royal Air Force Benevolent FundA COUNCIL Meeting was held at the offices of the Fundon May 23. Sir Charles McLeod, Bt., Chairman and Hon. Treasurer, was in the chair. The usual financial resolutionswere carried. The Council were informed that grants to the amount of £1,793 18s. 3d. had been disbursed sincethe previous meeting on March 13, 1934. He also- reported that the total expenditure on grants for the yearup to date was approximately the same as in 1933, though the total number of applications dealt with, amounting to-945, exceeded that for the same period last year by over 100. A very generous response to the urgent need of theFund by the Council of the Society of British Aircraft Con- structors, and by various member firms of the aircraftindustry, had resulted in the receipt of donations amount- ing to over £1,000, and the very prompt and valuableassistance thus given is very much appreciated. The R.A.F. Display AT Hendon Aerodrome an explosive magazine is being- rapidly built to play the central part in the chief spectacu- lar event at the R.A.F. Display on Saturday, June 30. The area in which the magazine is situated is defended by anti-aircraft guns and a balloon " apron," one of the balloons and some of the guns being visible. The " enemy " system of defence also includes fighting aero- planes based at neighbouring aerodromes. In the opening scene the balloon apron is raised and the magazine is a hive of industry. Suddenly the blowing of sirens indicates that hostile aircraft are approaching the neighbourhood ; motor transport hurries away and the anti-aircraft guns are manned, while the officers and men at the magazine hastily seek refuge at a safe distance. Overhead passes No. 54 (Fighter) Squadron, equipped with Bristol " Bulldogs," one of the many units ordered up to engage and drive off the attacking British aircraft. The engagement begins by an attack of fast two-seater fighters on the balloons of the apron to clear the way for the bombers. The one balloon visible falls in flames. The attacking fighters rally to their leader and to the assistance of the bombers, which are now approaching, hotly engaged by anti-aircraft fire from the ground and by the " enemy " fighter aircraft. But, despite casualties, the British formations remain un- broken, their superior marksmanship and carefully con- trolled fire causing many casualties amongst the " enemy " fighting aeroplanes. Remnants of the " enemy " forma- tions are driven off, and the bombers approach the maga- zine, the adjacent guns opening fire. Bombs begin to fall, buildings blow up, and the furiously burning magazine is soon reduced to a heap of smoking ruins. The British attacking force will consist of two squadrons of day bombers (Fairey " Gordons " and Westland " Wallaces "), Handley Page " Heyford " twin-engined heavy bombers, and some single-seater fighters. 597
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