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Aviation History
1943
1943 - 0016.PDF
FLIGHT JANUARY 7TH, I943 the slump years came, the English Electric Company closed down its aviation department, thus ending, but only for a period, its aviation history. A new chapter was opened when the expansion scheme came into being, and now the company is to devote its attention to large- sized power units which are so much needed for war ser- vice and after war use in large civil types. Aircraft and U-boats IN the weekly record of the '' War in the Air,'' Flighthas often remarked that there is no way in whichBomber Command can make a more useful contri- bution to victory than by destroying U-boats in their bases or their factories and by smashing up related industries such as the diesel engine works at Augsburg. It is therefore rather disturbing to read an article by Lord Hankey in the Sunday Times of January 3rd, in which he says that'' sporadic bombing'' of those targets has not produced " appreciable results." Lord Hankey is seriously disturbed by the present position of the Battle of the Atlantic and the menace to our shipping. He says that during the war, despite a record shipping output, our losses are more than double their replacement. He does not make it clear whether that statement includes American losses and building. It may also be the case that the present posi- tion has altered so much from that in the early stages of the war that an argument based on figures for the whole war may be misleading. Without doubt sea power is the basis of our strength *in our struggle with the Axis, and again it is disquieting to read Lord Hankey's opinion that "on any calcula- CONTENTS The Outlook - - - - - War in the Air - Here and There - On H.M.S. Victorious ... Modern French Designs - Aircraft Characteristics - Rubber ----- Aircraft of the Anglo-American Forces New Year Honours - - - - Correspondence - ... Service Aviation 1 3 7 8 10 12, a and b 13 19 23 24 25 tion '' our striking power in the present year will exceed our capacity to transport it. It is certainly true that it is more important to destroy and frustrate U-boats than to replace the ships which they sink, and last Saturday's American raid on St. Nazaire was one piece of good work. Lord Hankey believes that the true solution of the problem lies in making more use of long-range aircraft equipped with special scientific apparatus, which, of course, is not to be described in print. All aggressive devices certainly ought to be employed with full vigour, and it is to be hoped that the urgings of Field Marshal Smuts are bear- ing fruit in this matter; in fact, there are signs that they are doing so. For a long period last year British bombing policy was to prevent German war material being sent to Russia. It is now a question whether Russia and all the United Nations would not be most benefited by concentration on the U-boats' nests. Any Advance? IN A WORLD OF SPACE by F. Gordon-Crosby 'TiHIS magnificent coloured picture by our artist, F. Gordon-Crosby, has been presented by "Flight" to the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, and is now in the hands of the Honorary Secretary, to be put up for sale to the highest bidder. The painting depicts a Hurricane pilot following down a comrade's attack upon a defeated two- engined enemy plane, the port engine of which is emitting a thick curving column of smoke high up into the blue and white alto-cumulus, for all the world as if about to administer the coup de grace. The initial attacking craft, with its faint vapour trail, can be seen sheering off into the blue. Reproductions of the painting have been seen by hun- dreds of thousands of the general public (to say nothing of readers of "Flight"). Thus, specially executed by our artist, the painting has already a history. It was utilised on Christmas cards and calendars sold in aid of the R.A.F. Benevolent Fund by Raphael Tuck &• Sons, Ltd., during the past three Christmas seasons. Also it was H.M. the King's choice of Christmas card to the R.A.F. in 1939. It is not without interest also that the artist's first original was destroyed when Raphael Tuck's premises were gutted in the memorable German incendiary air attack on the City of London just over two years ago. Entitled, "In a world of Space," the framed picture measures 391*1. x32m., and "Flight" sincerely hopes the bidding will be high and spirited; not alone for the worthy cause to benefit from its sale, but because the painting, well known as it has become, is the work of an artist unexcelled in the pictorial delineation of the mechanistic element of modern days. " Flight " will be happy to report any bids received by post lo the proper quarter, and has already one of 50 guineas. GOING AT 50 GUINEAS ?
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