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Aviation History
1943
1943 - 0355.PDF
anJ AIRCRAFT ENGINEER FIRST AERONAUTICAL WEEKLY IN THE W6RLD .• FOUNDED WO9 Editor C. M. POULSEN Managing Editor G. GEOFFREY SMITH, M.B.E. Chief Photographer JOHN YOXALL Editorial, Advertising and Publishing Offices: DORSET HOUSE, STAMFORD STREET, LONDON, S.E.I Telegrams : Truditur, Sedist, London COVENTRY : 8-10, CORPORATION v ST. Telegrams: Autocar, Coventry. Telephone: Coventry 52 10. BIRMINGHAM, 2 : GUI LDHALL BUILDINGS, NAVIGATION ST. Telegrams: Autopress, Birmingham. Telephone: Midland 297 1 (5 lines). Telephone: Waterloo 3333 (35 lines). MANCHESTER, 2 : GLASGOW, C.2 : 260, dEANSGATE. 26B, RENflELDSt. Telegrams : Iliffe, Manchester. Telegrams : llifte, Glasgow. Telephone : Blackfriars 4412. Telephone : Central 4857. Registered ot the G.P.O. os a Newspaper. No. 1781. Vol. XUII. February , 1943. Thursdays, One Shilling. "We Outlook Aii Air OdysseyI T is a moot point whether the Prime Minister or Field Marshal Wavell has travelled the greater number of miles by air since this war began. H.E. the Commander-in-Chief in India had a good start, but by now Mr. Churchill must be catching him up, if he has not already passed him. Both fly for very serious purposes, but there is something distinctly romantic about the way in which Mr. Churchill descends from the skies in the most unexpected places at the most unexpected times. His dramatic meeting with his old regiment, the 4th Hussars, in Cyprus recalls a story told by the late Lord Baden Powell in one of his books of Indian memories, which we may be excused for quoting heir. After a polo match Lt. Churchill was getting a bit obstreperous in mess, so his Colonel told two other subalterns to take him away and sit on him. It was done, but Churchill shortly reappeared, somewhat crumpled, and said to the ' CO., "It's no use, sir, you can't keep me down." The meeting with the Turks at Adana recalls no frivo- lous incidents. One does remember, however, that for a long time past the Turks have shown great interest in British aircraft. They sent a mission, including a splendid pilot, over here in the days when Lord Swinton was Air Minister, and when Gauntlets were the latest thing. The pilot flew one in a most accomplished manner, praised it, but declared that they would wait until Lord Swinton could afford to let them buy some Gladiators, as they only wanted the best. Since then the Turks have acquired Hurricanes, but only (so far as has been published) of fee Mark I variety; Blenheims, also Mark I; Battles, Lysanders, Southampton and Wal- ruses, in addition to Heinkel Ills and some American types. More modern equipment will be needed to face the Luftwaffe if Germany should invade Turkey. With the German armies retreating with all speed from the Caucasus, and unlikely to escape, the danger to Turkey seems more remote than at any time in the last two years. But a martial people like the Turks naturally wish to feel that they can defend themselves if attacked, and one never knows to what follies Hitler may not be driven by the Furies which he calls "Intuitions." Britain and America can now afford to spare aircraft and weapons for their friends and allies, and the promises which Churchill made at Adana will greatly strengthen the bonds between Turkey and Britain. Sackcloth and AshesW HEN one casts one's mind back tp all the boast- ing by Hitler and other leaders of the Nazis and the Fascists, the order that Germans shall mourn three days for their Sixth Army, lost at Stalin- grad through Hitler's folly, fills one with amazement. Hitler has always been -a puzzling psychological study, but this order of his is the most amazing of all his per- formances. Not in that spirit did the British peoples face the loss of Hong Kong and Singapore, and all th« other trials which have afflicted them since September, 1939. At such a time as this one would have expected a great leader to call upon his people to set a stiff upper lip. and to have said and done everything pos- sible to cheer them. The donning of sackcloth is no way to encourage drooping spirits in the hour ot catas- trophe. Perhaps a few Germans may feel a distorted satisfac- tion at the order for the mourning, namely, thos<j Generals who warned Hitler (for some of those highly trained professional soldiers must have warned him) to be cautious about the assault on Stalingrad, and who got dismissed for their pains. "Intuitions" will not for ever compensate for" lack of professional training.
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