FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1939
1939 - 1346.PDF
MAY 4, 1939 FLIGHT. 455 SERVICE AVIATION Royal Air Force and Official Announcements : Fleet Air Arm News : Military Aviation Abroad OLD SOLDIERS . . . "A" Flight of No. 27 (Bomber) Squadron, stationed at Kohat, N.W. Frontier Province, snap ped while on a bombing raid into Warizistan last February. The machines are Westland Wapitis. The Wapiti is one of the best-loved aircraft ever to be used by the R.A.F. Long-range Flight Rewards HIS MAJESTY THE KING, it is announced, has been graciously pleased to approve of the undermentioned rewards in recog nition of services rendered in connection with the Long-range Development Unit, which flew non-stop from Ismailia, Egypt, to Port Darwin, Australia, on November 5-7, 1938,' establishing a world's long-distance record: — (a) To members of the aircraft crews: — AIR FORCE CROSS.—Sqn. Ldr. R. Kellett; Sqn. Ldr. A. N. Combe; Sqn. Ldr. B. K. Burnett; Fit. Lt. R. T. Gething; P/O. M. L. Gaine. AIR FORCE MEDAL.—Sgt. H. B. Gray. (b) To the Royal Australian Air Force Liaison Officer attached whilst in Australia: — AIR FORCE CROSS.—Fit. Lt. P. G. Heffernan. The Long-range unit was officially formed in January, 1938, at Upper Heyford. In view of his previous specialised experience, Wing Cdr. O. R. Gayford, D.F.C., A.F.C., was placed in charge of the Unit. On July 7, 1938, four Wellesleys of the Unit com pleted a flight from Cranwell to Ismailia via the Persian Gulf, a distance of 4,300 miles, in approximately 32 hours. They returned direct to Upper Heyford on July 21, covering the distance of 2,300 miles in approximately 16 hours. The Unit returned to Ismailia on October 25. Three Wellesleys of the Unit left Lsmailia (Egypt) at dawn on November 5, and, following the Great Circle Route to the East, The new Fleet Air Arm pilot's badge (left) and R.N. and R.N.V.R. Air Branch badge (below) referred to in the adjacent, column reached Koepang (Timor) on November 7, covering the distance ot 6,658 miles and thus breaking the world's non-stop flight record. No. 2 aircraft was forced to descend at Koepang owing to shortage of fuel but the others reached Darwin (Australia) having covered a total distance of 7,158 miles non-stop. The flight was recently homologated by the F.A.I, as a world record. The Unit was disbanded last January. Empire Air Day Programme THE Secretary of State for Air, Viscount Trenchard, Air Chief Marshal Sir Cyril Newall; A.V-M. C. F. A. Portal; Lt. Col. Sir Francis C. Shelmerdine; and the High Commissioners of the Dominions; these are among the distinguished contributors to this year's programme for Empire Air Day. The magazine section has been enlarged to commemorate the coming-of-age of the R.A.F. At sixpence the programme gives a very fair outline of the work and importance of the Service. The Lysander II THE Bristol Perseus XH 9-cyl. sleeve-valve engine is the standard power plant of the Westland Lysander II army co-operatiOii monoplane now in service in the R.A.F. This unit is rated at 745 h.p. at 6,500ft. and gives a maximum power for all-out level flight (5 min.) of 905 h.p. For take-off 830 h.p. is available. The performance of the Lysander II approximates to that of the Mark I version fitted with a Mercury XII poppet valve engine. In comparison with the earlier type, the Mark II machines will be much easier to maintain thanks to the simplicity of the sleeve-valve unit. F.A.A. and Air Branch Badges HIS MAJESTY THE KING has been pleased to approve the design of badges for officers qualified as Fleet Air Arm pilots and for Air Branch officers of the Royal Navy and Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. The former badge is to be worn by all officers (whether of the Executive, Engineer, or Air Branch, and by Royal Marine Officers) who have qualified as F.A.A. pilots. The latter liadge is to be worn by all officers of the Air Branch, R.N. and R.N.V.R. The pilot's badge, which consists of wings of gold embroidery having in their centre a silver anchor, surrounded by a wreath and surmounted by a crown, is to be worn by officers as soon as they have qualified for " wings " at their F.T.S. It is to be worn—in the case of blue uniform or khaki Service dress—on the sleeve in the case of naval officers, and on the breast by Marine officers. The Air Branch badge is a capital letter " A " in gold embroidery, to be worn inside the circle on the uppermost ring of the distinction lace, or in a corresponding position in the case of officers who do not wear the circle. It is worn on both sleeves and on both shoulder straps.
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
