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Aviation History
1943
1943 - 0568.PDF
228 FLIGHT MARCH 4TH, 1943 THE FUTURE. OF AIR COMMERCE on the subject, we must assume the policy persists, and, indeed, it is true that individual shipping companies who have offered to establish air services and thus contribute their share to a great national effort in the air, have received replies from the Department of Civil Aviation wholly dis- couraging in tone. For my part, I have no strongi feelings on the principle of monopoly as such. I merely do not believe that statu- tory monopolies of great expanding undertakings are a policy to be encouraged in any democracy, least of all an JEnglish democracy. In an English democracy, a monopoly, to approach efficiency at all, must first surmount our great besetting sin of complacency, described by us—but not, you observe, by anyone else—as our sense of humour. If that obstacle proves, as it aimost inevitably must, insur- mountable, then the resulting inefficiency will be effectively shielded from refarm by our Parliamentary institutions and our own national tolerance. Meanwhile, in the United States you have no such policy of monopoly. The internal air-lines of the Union are con- ducted by no fewer than 18 separate and independent enterprises. True, they operate under licence, but the licences are so granted as to leave ample, scope for com- petitive services. True, too, that in the early pioneering stage their external services were almost wholly confined to one Corporation. But monopoly has never been the declared policy. Already there are two American air-lines on the North Atlantic, and there is no reason whatever to suppose- that the tendency will not develop similarly in oth^r directions. The Americans then possess, in contrast to our tiny island, a vast home market for air transport. Its develop- ment is in the hands of a highly competitive industrv, whose managers have already shown a splendid combina- tion of scientific thoroughness and commercial 2est, which fully entitles them to their present and any future successes. This industry, in turn, provides admirable opportunities for the recruitment, training and ultimate selection of first-grade technical and administrative por^ sonnel. The expansion of American overseas air service, after the war will be rapid and extensive, but its rapidity will be derived not so much from the mere possession of a large fleet of transport aircraft (we may have plenty, too) as from the strong springboard of technique and experience already gained and the confidence, derived therefrom, with which they will go about their work. An International Industry However it may be conducted, overseas air transport, like ocean shipping, is an international industry, by which I mean that the highest standard of efficiency set by one participant must be attained, or at least nearly approached, by all others who wish to avoid gradual elimination. As a country we can claim no right whatever to a substantial share of this great new development of world transport unless we are ready to subscribe fully to this duty of equal- ling the best. In this case it is, as I have explained, a fine and very stimulating best. If we are to rise to it, you may feel that, so far from putting all our money on one horse, we shall need to mobilise on the broadest possible front all the assets, all the experience and all the initiative that we can, and to ensure that, within the framework of a national plan, there shall be ample scope for variation of method and for competitive standards of efficiency. ROADS TO FREEDOM PRIDE of place on the walls oi a Polish squadron's crowroom at a North of England bomber station is occupied by a map which illustrates the history of the squadron's flying men. It shows the devious routes by which they escaped from Poland after the Germans overran their country. It also shows the routes to German and Italian targets taken by the bomber crews on their trips from the station in Wellington aircraft. It is a large map, taking in Europe, Eastern Eussia, the Medi- terranean and part of North Africa. Two flying men made jt in their spare time. They cut out the countries in plywood, coloured them, and fixed them to a base of plaster-board. Important places which the Polish airmen reached on their way from Poland to France and Britain are marked by short nails, and the routes between these points are joined up with blue twine. They show that men passed through Rumania, Jugo-Slavia, Greece and Italy to leach Prance. Others escaped from internment in Russia. Some went to Syria and then sailed to Marseilles. Others touched at ports in North Africa. From France lines radiate to Britain. There is one blue string from the Atlantic to Britain', marking the route of three American Poles who volunteered to light with the squadron. Yellow strings run straight from North England to Milan, Turin, Lorient, the Rhine, the Ruhr and all the important German towns tombed many times by the Poles. Whenever the squadron hits a new target another yellow route string is added. ETHIOPIAN EMPEROR'S GIFT HPIIE Emperor of Ethiopia has sent to the Secretary of State -»- for Air a present of fifty-eight golden rings, weighing in all 100 ounces, and worth, at the present price of gold, /700. In a personal letter to Sir Archibald Sinclair accompanying the gift the Emperor wrote: — "I have been follq»ving with special interest the gallant actions which the Royal Air Force accomplish daily, I have the highest admiration for them. It is within my recollection that the brave soldiers of the British Air and other Forces have sacrificed themselves in this amazing contest of aerial warfare, and have, as a result thereof, been wounded and disabled. My deep sympathy is directed to them and to their families. " As a token of my great admiration and sincere sympathy to those members of the R.A.F. who are either wounded or disabled consequent to the carrying out of their duties and who deserve foremost consideration IU the crowning of victory, it gives me great pleasure to send herewith 100 ounces of gold, which I wish to be utilised for the benefit of the wounded and disabled." Sir Archibald Sinclair has handed over this gift to the R.A.F. Benevolent Fund. AN AMBASSADOR FLIES HIS Excellency the Brazilian Ambassador, Dr. Moniz D<-Aragal, recently paid a visit to a unit of Coastal Command in South-West England. Accompanied by his military attache and a supporting officer from the Air Ministry, the Ambassador flew from London, and on arrival was welcomed by the Air Officer Commanding. His Excellency spent a long time at an area combined head- quarters, where he was very interested in the operational and intelligence organisation. Later, at a flying-boat station, he saw four-engined Suiiderlands which have taken leading parts in the anti-submarine activities, and had a flight in one. The squadron has been on active service with Coastal Command since the outbreak of war, and the Ambassador was keenly interested in hearing something of its many achievements. At lunch the. Ambassador was the guest of the Naval Officer Commaiiding-in-Chief, and later lie dined with the Air Officer Commanding. Next morning his Excellency made a tour of areas of a nearby city which have suffered in air raids. DISTINGUISHED VISITOR SIR JOHN COLVILLE, Governor Designate of Bombay,recently visited the Bombay Spitfire squadron at a front line Fighter Command station. He there met Sqn. Ldr. D. E. Kingaby, D.F.M. and two b'ars, the Squadron Commander, who has destroyed 21 air- craft, and talked to pilots and members of the ground staff. Later, Sir Tohn saw films of actual combat in which the pilots had been engaged and which had been photographed by cameras installed in their Spitfire aircraft. He also attended -a briefing during which the pilots received their instructions for an opera- tion in which the squadron was about to take part. INDUSTRIAL MANAGEMENT MR. S. J. NOEL BROWN, for many years secretary ofGeneral Aircraft, Ltd., has severed his connection with that firm and has established offices at 29, Palace Gate. London, W.8, where he will act as industrial management consultant There can be- few aspects of this subject with which Mr. >*oei Brown has not come into contact during his long experience.
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