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Aviation History
1941
1941 - 0469.PDF
FEBRUARY 2OTH, 1941. 157 ATTACK AGAINST BRITAIN (Continued) Germany during the period under review used large concentrations of aircraft against a succession of targets' in industrial and commercial areas. It indicates (to me, at any rate) that this policy was forced upon Germany because the German staff were unable to obtain accurate intelligence reports and had therefore to resort to quantity raids in an effort to achieve by weight of attack what they were uncertain of achieving and confirming by any other means. By the adoption of this policy the German Air Force has caused a con- siderable amount of damage which has no direct bearing upo/a Britain's war effort. It is a negation of the adage <$the employment of the concentration of force in vmr, for, to achieve the effect desired upon one or a small group of targets, the Luftwaffe was sent to plaster the whole area around these targets; the German staff thus did something entirely new in air war, namely, Qiey dispersed their force by over-concentration. "This tactical handling of an air force is necessary under appropriate conditions, as, for example, when enemy forces are concentrated for attack. But physically, materially and psychologically it does not achieve the purpose which the Germans apparently expected it would achieve when it is applied at the wrong time. The Germans always were poor psycholo- gists. In the spring of 1918 they dispersed their ground power in a similar way. In his employment of the Luftwaffe in the autumn of 1940 Goring became the aerial successor to Ludendorff, the ground general who confused concentration of effect with concentration of the employment of tlie force at his disposal. Concentra- tion of force means the use of all the power at one's disposal. In air war it does not mean the interpreta- tion which the German air staff placed upon it when they planned their night attacks against Britain after their day attacks had failed. Tactically, the R.A.F. flyweight was far more effectively handled than Goring's heavyweight; one showed clever sparring, the other failed to land a knock-out. (Next week: Greece and Albania.) Rapid Growth of the A.T.C. NO fewer than 138 schools in Great Britain are included inthe second list to be issued of units, registered under the new Air Training Scheme, which have received authority toraise squadrons or flights. A third list of new units contains an additional 27 school and local squadrons, 23 of which arein England, three in Wales and one in Scotland. The first list contained the names of 91 registered localunits, so the total approved so far is 256. Of those on the second list, 111 are schools situated in more than 20 Englishcounties in addition to Greater London, 16 are in Wales, 10 in Scotland and one in the Isle of Man. Incidentally, England's smallest county,• Rutland, is repre-sented by Uppingnam, whose head master, Mr. J. F. Wolfenden, is Director of Pre-entry Training at the Ministry.Appropriately enough, this was one of the very first school units to be registered. Scotland's smallest county, Clack-mannan, which has a population of just over 30,000 in its 55 square miles, hopes to raise no fewer than eight flights,for it is anticipated that out of 600 boys between the ages of iG and 18 years, one in every three will join the A.T.C. The Air Ministry has just issued a pamphlet entitled "TheRoyal Road to the Royal Air Force," which explains how the A.T.C. scheme will work and how those interested canplay their part in it. Copies of this pamphlet, which has an lityictive coloured cover, can be had on application to TheJapiTnation Bureau, The Air Ministry, Adastral House, mngsway, VV.C.2. S S.B.A.C. Scholarships TDARENTS are reminded that boys between the ages of 16'•*• and 18 years who wish to become qualified aircraft engineers with a view to taking up professional careers in the industry,but who are unable, for financial reasons, to undergo the neces- sary course of education, have a splendid opportunity toachieve their ambition through the scholarship scheme instituted in 1936 by the Royal Aeronautical Society in conjunction withthe Society of British Aircraft Constructors. , This scheme, which in no way clashes with the new Air Train-Ing Corps designed purely to feed the ranks of the R.A.F., grants a minimum number of four scholarships each year.these are normally tenable for four years and to a maximum value of £100 each. Since the scheme was begun, 30 such scholarships have already been granted and local educationauthorities are invited to bring the scheme to the notice of teadniasters of those secondary schools which are consideredsuiiable for this purpose. ihe actual value of the scholarship depends upon the circum-stances of the holder, the intention of the society being to saPple:nent the boy's means up to an amount sufficient to enable him to maintain himself during his training. To this•!!!. tl!e amount of the award to each holder is subject to • • - review. Appointments to the scholarships are made by• ion committee from among candidates who have obtained ••uiised schools' certificate or its equivalent. All candi- dates must be British subjects and between the ages of 16 and18 years on September 1st in the year of the award, which is normally made in March or April. Scholarships are tenable with certain selected firms and,whenever possible, the candidate is allowed to choose the firm with which he prefers to undergo his training. The holder ofthe scholarship is elected in the first instance for one year, but the tenure will ordinarily be prolonged to four years, contingentupon satisfactory work being done by the holder. All holders of S.B.A.C. scholarships are expected to qualify for a technicalgrade in the Royal Aeronautical Society and any boy who wishes to apply for a scholarship should make application fora form direct to the society, at 4, Hamilton Place, London, W.I, and return it, filled in, not later than February 28th. London Scientific Film SocietyT HE next show of the London Scientific Film Society will beheld on March 1st at the Polytechnic Theatre, Regent Street, but the subject has not yet been announced. At thefirst show for the season, held on February 8th, the subject was aviation, and the Society put on a very good selection of films.The first naif of the programme depicted the development of the aeroplane from the early years of this century up to 1939.Some amusing glimpses were seen of the stout-hearted pioneers of the days of Santos Dumont, Wright, Bleriot, and Farman intheir uncertain contrivances. Then followed a pageant of British Empire communications, right up to the time of theGolden Hind, which was seen under construction in Short's factory, but, sadly enough, was destined never to carry itsmessage of peace across the world's oceans. The second half was as interesting as it was varied. The AirMinistry film of work at Farnborough showed the huge twenty- four-foot tunnel, the spinning tunnel, and the series of " airflow made visible " by the Schlieren method. The G.P.O. Film Unit's "London Can Take It" and our old friend Popeye inan "aeronautical" subject were also on the programme. Finally came " Airscrew," showing the diversified effort whichgoes to the making of even one component of the aeroplane. To those who like science, the programme was fascinating. Bombers Across the Atlantic COL. JOHN JOUEIT, president of the AeronauticalChamber of Commerce of U S.A., has made the statement that 400 bombers have been flown across the Atlantic toBritain. This seems a large number, and as this traffic has only been going on for about four months, it implies a largenumber of crews at work, for one crew can deliver machines at the rate of about one per month. The flight over takes onlya few hours, ten or so, but the return has to be made by ship, a slow business, since there are bound to be delays inleaving England. Perhaps it will be possible to return the pilots by air soon, which will speed things up considerably.American Aviation informs us that there are forty U.S. aviators engaged on this work. This number is in addi-tion to the British air crews engaged. If the 40 are all pilots (which is not stated) they could deliver at the rate of 40per month; but if air crew generally, 13 per month.
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