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Aviation History
1936
1936 - 1784.PDF
JULY 2, 1936. FLIGHT. 1 TheO, A /a Hatfield T1T HOEVIiR had the idea of suggesting Hatfield instead YY of Hendon as the venue for this year's S.B.A.C. Display and Exhibition deserves thanks from the British aircraft industry and the foreign visitors alike. A certain amount of '' red tape '' was inevitable at Hendon ; there was the difficulty of getting the aerodrome cleared up in readiness for the Monday's show, and finally, although most important of all, the surroundings of Hendon are not the best possible in the unlikely event of a forced landing, whereas Hatfield is situated in very pleasant country, with open space nearly all around. Hatfield is a little farther out than Hendon, but that is just about the only criticism that could be levelled against it. In all other respects, it is far to be preferred to Hendon, and the S.B.A.C. exhibition does not interfere with the work of the R.A.F. Of the Display and Exhibition this year it must be said that they were undoubtedly a success. The Clerk of the Weather did his best to interfere with the programme, but by-letting guests visit the "static" exhibition during the morning, and holding the flying in the afternoon, the programme was carried through, in reversed order. Flight has previously expressed the view that one day is not really sufficient for the S.B.A.C. Display. A walk through the "static" show intended to strengthen that view. For those visitors who come to England for the purpose of seeing one particular engine, piece of equipment or new material, the one day is ample, but there must be a very large percentage who are interested in a good many items, probably of widely differing characteristics, and to them the one day is not sufficient. A great improvement was made this year by holding the show at Hatfield. It only requires the extension of the period to two or three days to make the affair even more useful than it undoubtedly already is. That would give visitors an opportunity to see both the "static" and the "dynamic" show. The first day could be devoted to demonstration flights and the second to passenger flights. Exhibitors in the hangar had spent a good deal of money on attractive stands, and they deserved the benefit of every visitor having time to inspect thoroughly the articles on every stand. The Ostrich / T is difficult to believe, although it is a fact, that in the second quarter of the twentieth century there should be people who have either never heard the fable of the ostrich hiding its head in the sand on the approach of danger or who cannot see that they are behaving in just the same way as that legendary bird. Yet in England there are twelve, and in Scotland there are two, local authorities which do not propose to co-operate with the Government in the matter of air-raid precautions. In much the same spirit the present Socialistic L.C.C. would not let its school children go to see the rehearsal for the R.A.F. Display ; while other parties try to discourage recruiting for the regular and Territorial Armies. How shocked suc^ people must be if they ever go on board ship and see a lifebelt! And, presumably, there would be no danger of drowning if one never learnt to swim. It is worse than childish to imagine that if one declines to think about a danger, then that danger will not over take one. The folly is so obvious that it needs no labour ing. It is intensified in the case of a peace-loving people like the British. Squadron Heraldry rT1HE staff of Flight does not include an expert in _/ heraldry, but, with all timidity, we should like to ask : Is it correct to describe the crown with which each of the newly approved squadron badges (reproduced on p. 20) is " ensigned " as the "Imperial Crown"? Should it not be '' Royal Crown '' ? The crown in question is sur mounted by two complete arches. Now among the regalia on view at the Tower of London there are at least two crowns of that description; and there is also the newest of our Sovereign's crowns, that which King George V wore at the Delhi Durbar in 1911. There, King George appeared always as Emperor of India, and the crown, which was specially made for the occasion, is surmounted by four com plete arches. It is natural for the layman to conclude that an emperor's crown must have four arches and that of a king only two. Still, of course, the Chester Herald ought to know. The language of heraldry requires an interpreter, but it is understood that the " Seax " of the County of Middlesex Squadron (a sword of quaint design) is supposed to have been the typical weapon of the Middle Saxons. The arms of the county have three such weapons on the shield, but the squadron is allowed only one. Several squadrons have adopted as badges emblems of the types of aeroplane with which they have been equipped at some time. Among the nine specimens shown on page 20 it will be noticed that No. 33 B. Squadron has a stag's head, and we recall that that squadron was the first to be equipped with the Hart. No. 15 B. Squadron has a hind's head. Among other squadrons whose badges have not yet been officially approved, No. 12 B. Squadron has chosen the head of a fox, and No. 19 F. Squadron a dolphin. No. 40 B. Squadron was the first to receive the Gordon, and it shows a bomb against a background of Gordon tartan. We wonder what Chester Herald will make of that. Whom the King Delights to Honour O NE result of the recent reorganisation ©f R.A.F. Com mands is that there are now fewer posts appropriate for officers of the rank of Air Vice-Marshal and up wards. There used to be eight such commands, and now there are only four. Air Vice-Marshal Joubert de la Ferte has now no Fighting Area to command, and it is therefore pleasant to see that his good services have received recogni tion in the Birthday Honours. Doubtless other posts of great responsibility await him. All whose names appear in the Birthday Honours deserve mention, but it is only natural that some should be more familiar than others. A great crowd of flying enthusiasts will congratulate Lt. Comdr. H. E. Perrin ("Harold the Hearty") on his C.B.E. What Mr. J. M. Spaight does inside the Air Ministry is known to his col leagues, but his books on the air weapon in relation to international law have done public service by inducing clear thought on a complicated subject. For daring flying Miss Jean Batten and Flight Lieut. D. F. Mclntyre (one of the Mount Everest pilots) have deserved their honours as well as any woman and man have ever done. Flight is also glad to see the name of Flight Lieut. Jack, M.C.! of the City of Edinburgh Squadron, in the list. Perhaps it is invidious to pick out these names, but personal acquaint ance is not a thing which can' be disregarded. To those mentioned and to all others we offer our respectful con gratulations B
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