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Aviation History
1934
1934 - 1227.PDF
NOVEMBER 15, 1934. FLIGHT. 1229 THE AIR FORCE Service Notes and News Air Ministry Announcements H.M.S. HERMES The carrier Hermes has been commissioned under Capt. the Hon. George Fraser, D.S.O., after completing large repairs. She will replace the Eagle on the China Station. ROYAL AIR FORCE FLYING CLUB The committee of the above-mentioned club have decided, as a special temporary provision, to waive the payment of an entrance fee for officers of the regular Air Force and Auxiliary Air Force. Details can be obtained from the Hon, Secretary, Royal Air Force Flying Club, Hatfield Aerodrome, Herts. ELECTRICAL AND WIRELESS SCHOOL OFFICERS' ANNUAL REUNION DINNER The annual reunion dinner of the officers of the Electrical and Wireless School will be held at the Royal Air Force Club, 128, Piccadilly, W.i, at 7 p.m. for 7.30 p.m., on Saturday, November 17, 1934. Particulars may be obtained from the honorary secretary, J. F. Herd, Esq., M.I.E.E., Ditton Corner, Datchet, Slough. AIR FORCE LIST The November issue of the Air Force List has now been published. It can be purchased (price 2s. 6d.) from H.M. Stationery Office at the following addresses : Adastral House, Kingsway, London, W.C.2; 120, George Street, Edinburgh; 2, York Street, Manchester; 1, St. Andrew's Crescent, Cardiff; 15, Donegall Square, Belfast; or through any bookseller. NAVAL AND AIR FORCE EXERCISES November 1st to yd (inclusive), 1934 The following summary of the air operations has been issued bythe Air Ministry: — The Home Fleet under the command of Admiral Lord Cork, andnine Squadrons of the Roj'al Air Force, commanded by Air Vice- Marshal A. M. Longmore, Air Officer Commanding Coastal Area,have been taking part in a joint training exercise which began at midnight, October 31. The Naval Units were known as the RedForce and their object was to attempt to pass from the North Sea via the Straits of Dover 11 Portland without being located orattacked in force. The Air Squadrons were named the Blue Force, and their aim was to endeavour to locate, shadow and attack theRed fleet during its passage. The Red force consisted of the following ships: —3 Capital Ships(Flagship H.M.S. Nelson), H.M.S. Courageous, 5 Cruisers, 16 Destroyers, and 6 Submarines. On board H.M.S. Courageous therewere 5 Squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm, namely:—800 (F.F.) Squad- ron, S02 (F.F.) Squadron, 810 (T.B.) Squadron, 821 (F.S.R.) Squad- ron, and S23 (F.S.R.) Squadron. The total number of aircraftembarked on H.M.S. Courageous was approximately 53, and in addition there were 7 other aircraft borne in Cruisers and CapitalShips. The Blue Force was comprised as follows, their operationalstations at the beginning of the exercise being as shown: —No. 201 (F.B.) Squadron and the Flying Boat Training Squadron, at Cal-shot; No. 204 (F.B.) Squadron, 209 (F.B.) Squadron, and No. 210 (F.B.) Squadron at Felixstowe; 3 Coast Deience Training Flightsand No. 801 (F.F.) Squadron at Gosport; part of No. 8ri (T.B.) Squadron and No. 822 (F.S.R.) Squadron at Mnnston; and part oiNo. 811 T.B.) Squadron at. Martlesha.ni Heath. The number of Flying Boats was 14, and other aircraft 38, making the strength ofthe Blue Force 52. The following summary outlines the air action taken by AirVice-Marshal Longmore. At 0515 hours November 1st, six Flying Boats left Calshot andexecuted a sweep of the English Channel between the Isle of Wight and the French Coast up to the Straits of Dover. At0715 hours, three destroyers were sighted, and though not con- nected with the exercise a practice diving bombing attack wascarried out when in a position 17 miles south of Selsey Bill. It should be noted that Blue forces are without surface craft, conse-quently any British war vessels seen in the area of the exercise were regarded as hostile. Continuous patrol was maintained during day-light hours by flying boats across the Straits of Dover. On the afternoon of November 1, five flying boats from Felixstowe carriedout a sweep from the Straits of Dover up the North Sea, which, owing to the excellent visibility, ensured that no enemy forceswere south of the line of the latitude erf Smiths Knoll Light Vessel. It therefore became plain that no Red ships at ordinary cruisingspeed of advance could reach the Straits of Dover before the early morning of November 2. Before daylight on the morning of November 2, flying boats fromCalshot undertook a similar sweep to that of the day before, again with a negative result. The Dover patrol was continued up to J400hours by one flying boat. During the forenoon, one flying boat from Felixstowe on patrol towards Smiths Knoll sighted two sub-marines at 1145 hours, 15 miles due east of Aldeburgh, thus giving indication of the probable approach of the Red Fleet. The sweepby the Felixstowe boats was repeated again during the afternoon in the same manner as the previous day. Between 1420 and 1500hours four submarines at various positions were reported, and at 1453 hours a cruiser in a position 39 miles E.N.E. of the Maas LightVessel was sighted. At 1450 hours three Red Fleet Capital Ships were reported in close proximity to the cruiser, and five minuteslater the aircraft carrier Courageous was seen. At 1510 hours a signal was made to No. 822 Squadron, already in the air, to attackthe enemy carrier. After this signal had been passed successfully to the Squadron and during the time it was en route to the target,it was recalled as a peace time precaution to avoid the 150 miles flight over the sea which would have been necessary before dusk. THE RETRACTILE FASHION SPREADS : A notable feature of the new Bristol Day and Night Fighter, apartfrom the cantilever low-wing construction, is the use of a retractile undercarriage. The engine is a Bristol "Mercury."
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