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Aviation History
1935
1935 - 0404.PDF
202 FLIGHT. FEBRUARY 21, *935. THE ESHER TROPHY Won for the Fifth Time by No. 605 [County of Warwick) Bomber) Squadron, A.A.F. FOR the fifth time No. 605 (Comity of Warwick) (Bomber) Squadron, A.A.F., has won the Esher Trophy. This trophy is awarded each year to the Auxiliary squadron which attains the greatest proficiency. Marks are given for practically all the functions which a bomber squadron is called upon to perform, such as bomb aiming, air navigation, photography, air gunnery, etc. There is not one examination, but at various times officers from the headquarters of No. I Air Defence Group visit the various squadrons and test each one, now iu one subject, now in another. These examinations are really a searching test of the capa bilities of a squadron, and there is no doubt that the institu tion of this competition by Lord Esher has done much to pro duce the very high standard which all the squadrons have attained. That No. 605 B.S. should have won the trophy five times in the nine years since the competition was first instituted speaks volumes for the keenness and abilities of the men of Birmingham and the County of Warwick. It is also a great tribute to the leadership of the commanding officer, Sqn. Ldr. J. A. C. Wright, A.F.C., T.D., D.L., who has com manded the squadron since its formation. Last Thursdav, February 14, the Esher Trophy was pre sented to the squadron by Hon. Air. Comdre. Sir Philip Sassoon, Under-Secretary of State for Air. lhe ceremony took place at 6.30 p.m., and Air Chief Marshal Sir Robert Brooke-Pophanf, A.O.C.-in-C. Air Defence of Great Britain, had invited a large number of guests to be present. In addi tion to the Under-Secretary of State and the C.-in-C., there were present on the platform the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Brig.-Gen. Sir Fairfax Lucy, President of the County of War wick Territorial Association, Air Comdre. J. E. A. Baldwin, D.S.O., O.B.E., A.O.C. No. 1 Air Defence Group, and other notabilities. Several officers from other A.A.F. squadrons were also among the guests. On the arrival of Sir Philip Sassoon a very smart guard of honour presented arms. In the front rank alone there were over half a dozen men wearing war medals, and Sir Philip spoke to all these veterans as he inspected the guard. Sir Fairfax Lucy then addressed the assembly. He said that this was the fifth time that No. 605 B.S. had won the Esher Trophy under the command of Sqn. Ldr. Wright and he recalled that in the R.A.F. Display of 1933, while Sqn.'Ldr Wright was leading his squadron at Hendon, his son was pilot! ing one of the large flying boats which flew over as part of the display. He thought that that must be a unique record. Turning to Sir Philip Sassoou, he said that they all we] corned him as an airman. The country's future was wrapped un in the air, and a country which did not maintain its Air Force was not likely to have any future. He rejoiced at the increase of the R.A.F. which was taking place, and he asked Sir Philm if there were any chance of an increase of the A.A.F. If so the City of Birmingham could, and would, raist another squadron. Sir Philip Sassoon made a very happy speech. He said that this squadron was so used to receiving congratulations on van ning the trophy that it had become a habit with them. "Alter the rules as we may," he said, " you still go on winning it." On behalf of the Air Council and as Under-Secretary of State for Air, he congratulated them, "but as Honorary Air Com modore of No. 601 Squadron I am filled with hatred and envy." He hoped that it was not true that Sqn. Ldr. Wright would soon be leaving the squadron; if he did everyone would be very sorry. He himself had a great sympathy and admira tion for the A.A.F., which was doing very valuable work for the Air Force and inestimable work for the nation. He held out hopes of an increase. Sir Pinlio then presented the trophy to Sqn. Ddr. Wright, and then the meeting broke up. The guests were entertained in the officers' mess and the sergeants' mess, and a very jollv time followed. The following is the record of Esher Trophy winners: — 1926 1927 1928 1929 1030 1931 1932 1933 1934 Xo. Coi (County ,, 605 (County ,, 601 (County , 602 (City of , <K>5 (County ,, 605 (County ,, 604 (County ., 605 (County ., 605 (County of London) R.S. of Warwick) B.S. of London) B.S. Glasgow) B.S. of Warwick) B.S. of Warwick) B.S. of Middlesex) B.S. of Warwick) U.S. of Warwick) B.S. THE TWO LEAGUES LAST Saturday the following open letter was sent by Air Comdre. J. A. Chamier, Secretary-General of the Air League of the British Empire, to Lord Rothermere and the Editor of the Daily Mail. Copies have also been sent to the 4,000 members of the Air League: — Gentlemen,—The aspirations of the recently-formed National League of Airmen to create an air-minded nation meet with nothing but welcome from The Air League of the British Empire, which has been striving for the same objective for the past twenty-five years. It now seems that the original League and your organi sation are to travel on parallel courses. Thus, propa ganda to create air-mindedness is the common aim of both. Your team of lecturers, when it comes into being, has its forerunner in the lecturers who have been active on our League's behalf for years past. Your suggestion for training young pilots has its earlier and greater counter part in the ^10,000 scholarship scheme which was pro moted by us for a like objective, and for which funds have been, and are still being, collected. There are other likenesses in policy and practice which I need not detail. We regret therefore (1) that you should speak of your newly-formed organisation as "The Air League," as though The Air League of the British Empire did not exist; (2) that by the use of such terms as "hotch-potch of civilians" you should have disparaged the constitu tion and efforts of other organisations than your own who are engaged in like work; and (3) that you should give the impression that you and your new organisation have a monopoly of anxiety for the safety and progress of our nation in air matters and of the ability to further their advancement. That both The Air League of the British Empire and your organisation should be working and striving for a common goal is, to our mind, all for the national good; we both think that there is much leeway to be made up. But that either of us, we or you, should arrogate to ourselves a dictator's rights in air matters seems to us to be out of time and out of tune with the spirit and temper of our nation. On Monday, Mr. Collin Brooks, chairman of the Advisory Committee of the National League of Airmen, issued a reply, in which he disclaimed any clash of aims between The Ait League of the British Empire and the N.L.A. On the con trary, he said, he regarded the two leagues as complementary. "Flight" Index and Binding The index to Volume XXVI of Flight, covering the issues from January to December, 1934, is now ready, price 6cL, or by post, 7d. With a binding case in blue cloth the price is 4s. 4d. by post. The charge for supplying the case and index and binding the copies is 9s. Gd., plus is. for return carnage- Communications should be addressed to the publishers 0 Flight, Dorset House, Stamford Street, London S.E.r. Installation of Q.A.P.A.N. Master Capt. the Hon. F. E. Guest, was installed as Master of* Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators of the British EmF ' at a meeting held at Haberdashers' Hall. London, last Monew* New members of the Court of the Guild also installed on occasion were Mr. C. W. A. Scott, Mr. E. W. Perctval, Fit. Lt. H. M. Schofield. . b)e Capt. Guest, in a speech, said that the present was a soira time for launching an appeal for funds with which to S insurance scheme for air pilots.
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