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Aviation History
1942
1942 - 1986.PDF
32« FLIGHT SEPTEMBER 24TH, 1942 The Eagle Squadrons T HE three Eagle squadrons of the Royal Air Force are following the example of the Escadrille La fayette in the last great war. That squadron was formed as a unit of the French Army (there was then no separate Armee de I'Air), the pilots being Americans who were living in France. The '' Ace'' of the squadron was Lufbery, who finally jumped out of his burning fighter.—there were no parachutes in those days except for balloon observers. When the United States entered the war, the Escadrille Lafayette was transferred from the French to the American Army. Now the Eagle squadrons have been transferred from the Royal Air Force to the United States Army Air Force. The people of Britain, we feel assured, are full of grati tude to the members of those squadrons who came to fight for Britain and the cause of freedom while their own country was in the position of a benevolent neutral. They could not be classed (in Biblical phrase) as un profitable servants who had only done their duty. They have done more. Now they naturally join up with their own forces, and all other American citizens who have joined the R.A.F. or the Royal Canadian Air Force are free to do likewise if they so desire. They all carry with them a warm feeling of gratitude from the British, with whom and for whom they have fought, and Flight wishes them all good luck in their new career. A Patriotic Duty W HEN David was King of Israel there was a dispute in his army between the troops who did the fighting and those who guarded the baggage in any battle, the fighting men claiming that the booty taken was rightfully theirs. In consequence, nobody wanted to be detailed for baggage guard. The King settled it by deciding that all should share alike. CONTENTS The Outlook ----- War in the Air - Here and There - - - - Interchangeable Power Plants - Can Kaiser Do It ? - Fleet Airmen Take a Rest In Parliament - - - Aircraft Characteristics Empire Central Flying School Behind the Lines - Plastics and Aircraft - Guarding the Northern Routes - Correspondence - - - Service Aviation - - - - - - - 325 327. 3 330 33i 334 335 33<5 336 a and b - - - - - — 337 34i 342 345 346 -T* An analogous position has recently arisen in the R.A.F., not about booty, for aircraft bring none home with them, but about honour and glory^, the desire to face the fire of the enemy and to have a chance of winning a decoration for gallantry. Every pilot wants to get into a fight and in consequence a difficulty has arisen in finding enough flying instructors. This tendency, natural and creditable as it is, might have very unfortunate consequences if it went too far. The Air Force must have flying instructors, and very good ones, too, if it is to maintain its ascendency in the air. Of course, every pilot is not suited by temperament to be an instructor, but those who are ought to regard it as a duty to their country and their Service to under take that work. In fact, men who believe themselves suitable ought to volunteer for training as instructors. Mainly, we think, pilots who have already been in action against the enemy ought to be asked to volunteer, but every man ought to do the work by which he can best help the country. DAY AND NIGHT FIGHTERS : A formation of four-camjpa-an3 eight-gun Hurri/anes of the United ProvinStes^of India Squadron. The squadron's score to date is194% enemy aircraft destroyed, 4p probables and 42 damaged.
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