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Aviation History
1939
1939 - 1512.PDF
FLIGHT, May 18, 1939 k " Flight " photograph. Westland Lysander army co-operation monoplanes about to dive through the clouds. The R.A.F. To-day; ARMY CO-OPERATION LIKE most difficult jobs the work of army co-operation is exceptionally interesting. It is a highly specialised J task, and airmanship represents only a small fraction of the skill demanded. Turning again to our somewhat dated, but only avail able, guide—the March issue of the Air Force List—we find that apart from two Auxiliary " A.C." units—Nos. 602 and 614—there are twelve squadrons listed—Nos. 2, 4, 5, 13, 16, 20, 26, 28, 31, 39, 53 and 208, of which Nos. 5, 20, 28, 31 and 208 are stationed abroad. An outline of the work of a typical army co-operation squadron takes in the duties of tactical reconnaissance, spotting for the artillery, attacking ground targets with bombs and machine guns, dropping supplies by parachute, and providing transport for Army staff officers. The squadrons in wartime would probably have to operate from advanced aerodromes; in fact, it is considered that they would have to change their operational bases so often that they are made more or less self-contained, having quite an elaborate collection of road transports. For operation from confined spaces a specialised type of aircraft is desirable, and the standard single-engined army co-operation machine of the R.A.F.—the Westland Lysander—is particularly apt at getting in and out of small aerodromes. The Lysander is a high-wing monoplane of entirely unorthodox design. The pilot (who does all the spotting and observing in addition to operating the camera) and the rear gunner (who is a sort of aerial sentry) are accommodated under a delightfully comfortable transparent cock pit enclosure from which they can obtain an almost unrestricted view in essential directions. The Lysander's remarkable take-off and landing characteristics are largely due to the Handley Page leading-edge slots and slotted flaps, though another contributory factor to its quick get-away is the high power (over Message picking-up, as demonstrated by this Lysander, is usually referred to in the Service as " M.P.U." The hook is nor mally stowed in the bottom of the fuselage. " Flight " photograph. 800 h.p.) delivered by the Bristol Mercury XII or Perseus XII engine for take-off. Incidentally, army co-operation units are among the first to receive the new sleeve-valve Bristols, the easy maintenance of which will be a boon when the squadrons are operating far afield. Equipment of the Lysander includes two fixed machine guns (mounted in the "spats" of the undercarriage, the ammunition being fed down the legs of the unique fixed "horseshoe" undercarriage), bomb racks (fitted on small stub wings which can be fixed to the undercarriage), the latest type of Service camera, two-way wireless, night- flying equipment, a free gun in the rear cockpit, and a retractable hook for picking up messages from ground troops. When supplies are to be dropped they are put in cylindrical containers with parachutes attached. These are suspended from the bomb racks, and are fitted with readily replaceable percussion heads of duralumin. They can carry 124 lb. of food apiece. In certain cases pack- type containers would be used instead. Despite its heavy load the Lysander can take off or land on a football pitch, but let us explain for the benefit of visitors who will see Lysanders on Empire Air Day that a formation take-off may be deliberately protracted. The Lysanders are not " aerobatted " by squadron
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