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Aviation History
1939
1939 - 1232.PDF
APRIL 27, 1939 FLIGHT. 423 SERVICE AVIATION Royal Air Force and Official Announcements : The Blackburn Roc I T is now permissible to publish some details of the Blackburn Roc, which may he described as a version of the Skua adapted as a two-seater fighter for the Fleet Air Arm and designed to take either a retractable wheel undercarriage or a fixed float under carriage. The engine is a Bristol Perseus sleeve-valve. ~- Like the Skua, the Roc is of monocoque stresscd-skin construc- fion, and water-tight compartments are provided in the fuselage and wings. It also has the distinctive tail unit o£ the Skua, with the fin and rudder set forward of the horizontal surfaces. A pilot and an observer-gunner-radio-operator are accommodated in a long enclosed cockpit, at the rear end of which is a power- operated turret There are hinged fairings fore and aft of the turret. The retractable undercarriage folds outwards and upwards into recesses in the wings. When floats are fitted, water rudders are operated by the same pneumatic system which would operate the brakes when a wheel undercarriage was fitted. The Roc is of 46ft. span, 35ft. 7m. length, and 12ft. iin. overall height. A photograph appears on p. 414. The Defiant 1 T HE version of the Boulton Paul Defiant two-seater fighter adopted as the standard machine in this class in succession to the Hawker Demon will, according to an official announcement, be known as the Defiant I. It is powered with a Rolls-Rcyce .Merlin engine and carries its armament in a power-driven turret. Rolls-Royce Engine Types T HE Hurricane I and Spitfire I eight-gun fighters and the Battle I single-engined bomber types may be fitted with a Merlin III engine in place of the usual Merlin II. The Merlin III is similar to the earlier model but embodies a drive from the front half of the crankcase for a Pesco pump and has a constant-speed unit for a Rotol airscrew. The Kestrel XXX, installed in the Miles Master two-seater ad vanced trainer, has been developed from earliest Kestrel parts with a number of modifications. Civilian Wireless Personnel A .NEW scheme whereby civilian radio enthusiasts may make their contribution to National Defence and at the same time obtain valuable experience in aeronautical communications and in the operation and maintenance of the most modern radio apparatus has been introduced by the Air Ministry. To meet the immediate requirements for large numbers of trained wireless operators and wireless electrical mechanics in the expanded R.A.F., is has been decided to augment the supply of personnel by the employment of a number of civilians. Applications are accordingly invited from candidates with a practical experience of wireless, including those who have gained their knowledge and experience as amateurs. The selected candi dates will be employed as civilians at Royal Air Force Stations at home, as near as possible to the districts which they choose. The applications should be addressed to the Under-Secretary of State (S.5.f), Air Ministry, London, W.C.2. Fleet Air Arm News: Military Aviation Abroad Applicants must be capable of sending and receiving accurately ni the Morse code at 20 words per minute and should have hail experience of VV/T. communication. It is also necessary to have a general knowledge of electricity, radio receivers and their prin ciples of operation and tuning. The rate of pay for this trade is from 60s. per week, with an annual increase of 3s. per week up to a rate of 75s. per week. Civilian wireless and electrical mechanics must be qualified as wireless operators, and must also be capable of installing, maintain ing and repairing wireless and electrical equipment both for aircraft and ground stations. The duties involve testing and servicing -air craft transmitters and receivers and their associated equipment such as batteries, generators, etc. The rate of pay for this trade is from 75s. per week with an annual increase of 3s. per week up to a rate of 90s. per week. Neither operators nor mechanics will be required to carry out flying duties. Operators normally undertake radio watchkeeping and communications with aircraft and ground stations. The appointments will be on a temporary basis, although a pro portion of suitable applicants are likely to be retained for some years. The rates of pay are inclusive and men engaged will, as in other civil employments, find their own lodging, food and clothing. Civilians employed in the Royal Air Force may use their Station canteen and make purchases at their Station Institute grocery shop. They are also eligible to avail themselves of the Station recreational facilities. R.N.V.R. Air Branch Officers IN future the period of full-time training for officers of the Air Branch of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve who are appointed for observer duties will be reduced from is to 10 months. Addi tional vacancies for observer officers in this branch will shortly be available; full details may be obtained from the Secretary of the Admiralty (C.W. Branch) or from the Commanding Officer of any R.N.V.R. Division. Qolf IT has been found necessary to alter the dates of the Spring Meet ing of the R.A.F. Officers' Golfing Association. According to the new arrangements the meeting will be held at the Ashridge Golf Club, Little Gaddesden, Berkhamsted, Herts, on May 1, 2 and 3. Particulars may be obtained from the Honorary Secretary, Sqn. Ldr C. H. Hayward (retd.), 127, Chatsworth Court, London, W.8. Flying Accidents THE Air Ministry regrets to announce the following accidents: — F/O. (A.Flt. Lt.) Dennis Thomas Collins and A.P/O. Frank Brian Stiven (both flying solo) lost their lives in a collision in the air which occurred at Caterham-on-the-Hill on April iS between two aircraft of No. 3 Squadron. P/O. Charles Edward Jones (flying solo) lost his life in an acci dent which occurred near Hull on April 20 to an aircraft of No. 144 Squadron. . . . - F/O. Charles Auston Rotherham (flying•solo) lost his life in an accident which occurred near Chichester, Sussex, on April 22, 1939, to an aircraft of No. 43 Squadron. Royal Air Force Qazette Royal Air Force General Duties Branch T. J. Edwards (from Reserve) is granted a short-service commission as Pilot Officer on probation (April 3). The following are granted short-service commissions as Acting Pilot Officers on probation (April 1):—W. Armstrong, G. W. Ashby, R. H. Ashton, H. F. Auger, A. C. Bartlev, G. F. A. Barwell, R. E. Bary, R. P. Beaumont, L. W. Bennett, F. A. Bishop, R. C. Brown T- Bryson, N. N. Campbell, J. C. Carriere, P. S. Charles, K. B. Chiazzari. D. G. Clift, D. H. E. Coker, J. E. If. Collins P. W. Comely, F. H. Craig, E. E. Crompton, H. K. A. Drummond, M. V. Dugdale, H. P. M. Edridge, H. D. Edwards, N. Ewart. P. C. Fraser, P. J. Gard, J. R. Gard'ner, J. H. Gilling, J. T. Glover, C. F. Gray, R. G. M. Harmston, D. S. R. Harriman, H. P. Hill, P. H. Hugo, W. J. Jarvis, J. R. Kemp, S. C. Ladyman, R. G. Lewis, P. F. N. Loraax, K. R. Lucas, H. M. MacGregor, R. B. Macgregor, G. Massey-Sharpe, T. C. Mc'Gillivray, A. C. Meigh, A. G. W. Merewether, A. W. Millson, J. G. Mitchell. C. J. M. Mon tagu, R. T. Mulligan. E. R. Mullins, J. D. Mundy, M. A. Newling, V. F. B. Pike, P. H, O'C. Rainier, C. A. S. Ring, J. R. Ritchie, R. A. Sanders, L. D. M. Scott, R. W. Shrewsbury, P. J. Simpson, K. D. Small, K. R. K. Smettem, E. A. Snow, B. G. Stapleton, K. T. H. Stoney, J. E. Storrar, J. G. Topham, E. C. J. Wakeham, T. J. Warner, G. E. Weston, P. L. Whitaker, A. D. White, J. A. Whitecross, R. J. Whitmarsh, D. G. Williams, D. F. Wilson, H. G. Yelland. The following Pilot Officers on probation are confirmed in their appointments on the dates stated:—D. L. Cartridge, R. J. B. Renison (March 26); C. R. Hattersley, R. Stevenson (April 4). The following Acting Pilot Officers on probation are confirmed in their appointments and graded as Pilot Officers (April 4): —W. B. Adamson, D. R. Bagnall, P. A. S. Baker, F. N. Barber, G. H. Bellamy, R. Bicknell, P. K. Bone, M. P. Brown, A. E. Bull, J. R. Canham, T. F. C. Churcher, A. M. Cooper-Key, J. W. Cutts, W. D. David, A. G. Davies, H. D. Dixon, f. F. Drummond, B. O. Egan- Wver, D. A. R. Elliott, K. H. A. Ellis, J. A. Ferguson, P. R. A. Ford, J. E. A. Friend, J. P. Gilliard, M. J. C. Harwood. V. Hill, G. Hoflowav, P. R. Johnson, B. S. Jones, D. A. C. Keating, W.'E. V. Malins, D. P. Massev, R. H. Moore, T A. Newington, J R. Noble, J. J. O'Meara, T. R. Pierre, A. D. Pilcher, F. M. G. Scotter, M. K. Sewell, M. J. A. Shaw, R. D. Shepherd, I. B. Small, P. G. Sooby, J. T. Strang, H. Thompson, J. A. Turner, J. Wadding- ham, T- Wallace. F. A. Walton, P. W. M. West, H. E. White, B. Wi'lloughby, M. S. J. Wilton. Acting Pilot Officer on probation R. W. A. Gibbs is graded as Pilot Officer on probation (December 20, T03S). The following Flying Officers are promoted to the rank of Flight
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