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Aviation History
1943
1943 - 0220.PDF
FLIGHT JANUARY 28TH, 1943 Where Were the Balloons?O NE feature of the day raid on the London area on Wednesday last week was the low flying and machine-gunning by the raiders in a number of places. Even during the height of the Battle of Britain the London area was immune from such attacks, thanks to the dread with which the cables inspired the German pilots. Yet last week several cases were reported in which the fighter-bombers flew low and machine-gunned people in the streets. The Germans themselves said in their official announcement that the barrage balloons only went up at the beginning of the raid. The loss of a few balloons does not matter, but it does matter that the cables should not give the people of London the protection from low flying and machine- gunning which is the whole object of the barrage. The Balloon Command works under the orders of Fighter Command, and if there is a case for blame, as there seems to be, the responsibility must rest on Fighter Command. The crews which work the balloons only obey orders from above, and cannot be held responsible. An official investigation certainly seems to be required, and Parliament is rightly interesting itself in the matter. Naval Air ServicesW HEN Rear-Admiral (now Vice-Admiral) Lyster was Fifth Sea Lord, before he was given com- mand of carriers in the Anglo-American expedi- tion to French Africa, he was also Chief of Naval Air Services. A reorganisation has now taken place at the Admiralty (see page 88), which should make for im- provement in the Fleet Air Arm. CONTENTS The Outlook - - - - War in the Air - ... The Hawker Typhoon - Fighter Design - - - - International Air Police Force Aircraft Characteristics - - - Behind the Lines - - - The Night Mail Run - - - - Here and There - - - Focke-Wulf 190A-3 - - - - Aircraft of the Anglo-American Forces - Correspondence - Service Aviation - * 83 85 88 89 93 94, a and b 95 96 98 99 IOI 104 105 The interests of the air side of the Royal Navy should certainly be better cared for under this new arrangement, and it is particularly welcome to know that the Fifth Sea Lord will have equipment as his special care. The Fleet Air Arm has done wonders in this war with the equipment provided for it, but it has been the general belief that this has not been as suitable as it ought to have been. The pilots, observers, and, in fact, all the personnel, have been splendid, but few of the types of aircraft provided have been specially designed for work- ing from carriers, and some which were so designed have not given universal satisfaction. Adaptations of shore- based types have given good service, but it surely should be possible for something better to be produced. TWO MORE MILES : All operational and training aircraft are flown by pilots ot the Empire Central Flying Schools in orderthat their flying characteristics may be assessed and passed on to those who have to fly them. Training machines get particular attention, and above is shown the prototype Miles M28 and the Miles 18. The M 28 (nearest the camera) is a cabin monoplane designed to fulfil two functions. One version is a two-seater ab initio inter-mediate trainer and the other a four-seater communications aircraft. Both models have exceptionally large windscreens and are fitted with low-drag auxiliary aerofoil flaps combined with fuselage air. brakes and drooping ailerons. The undercarriage is re-tractable. For power there is a wide choice of engines. The Gipsy Major IC, II, III and Cirrus Major are all suitable. The M 18 is a Magister replacement ; the most obvious modification is to the fin and rudder wh'ch have been completely redesigned. It has a Cirrus Major engine.
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