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Aviation History
1943
1943 - 0688.PDF
272 FLIGHT MARCH I8TH, 1943 The "Hurribuster"T HERE appears to be literally no limit to the pur- poses for which the amazing Hurricane can be used. It started life as an interceptor fighter, with a modest gross weight of about 6,000 lb. Since those early days—six or seven years ago—its loaded weight has on occasion reached nearly twice that figure, and its functions have included fighter-bombing, sea convoy work (in which the machine is "assisted" off the ship) and long-range work with extra tanks fitted under the wings. Armament has gradually increased from the original all-machine gun formula through a mixture of machine guns and cannon, until now it is officially disclosed that it has been scoring notable successes in the Western Desert while fitted with 'heavy calibre'' guns. This version of the Hurricane has been in use in North Africa for several months, and the squadron which it equips has wrought havoc among enemy vehicles. Every multi-gun fighter of an ' sort will drop its nose when all guns are fired simultaneously, and in the "Hurribuster" the recoil must be particularly pro- nounced. Attacking as they do at a low level,: the pilots are called upon to strike a balance between accurate scoring and hitting obstacles on the ground when the firing button is pressed. The fact that they have damaged so man)' enemy tanks and other vehicles with very small losses to themselves is proof that, once again, the Royal Air Force is equal to any demand. The Transport CommandT HE formation of a Transport Command in the R.A.F. had been expected, and will be welcomed.. A nucleus already existed in the Ferry Com- mand, which will be absorbed in the new formation. The Ferry Command has acquired much useful experi- ence in arranging the transference of suitable stores (not CONTENTS The Outlook - - - - - War in the Air • - - - P.E.zs and Stormoviks ... Here and There - - German Engine Projects - Glider Pick-up ... - Stowing Air Freight - Behind the Lines - ... Aircraft Characteristics - The MG 131 - Help in Malta Looking Around - ... Japan's Gliders ... - Air Estimates - Laminated Plastics - - - Correspondence - Service Aviation .... 271 273 276 278 279 280 282 284 284, a & b 285 287 288 289 290 291 293 295 counting people) from the American continent to Britain by air, and the co-operation of British Overseas Airways must have been of valuable aid. The new Command will have to undertake much more. In addition to providing regular services it will have to arrange the conveyance of the ground equipment and personnel of squadrons to wherever the squadrons are needed overseas. Air poiver has been rightly described as tactically mobile but strategically very immobile, because base equipment has been so slow in transit. This brake on the wheels should now be far less. One function of the new Command will have to be the provision of suitable types of 'transport aircraft, for which, to begin with, it will, presumably, have to depend in the main on American production. Before the war is over this new Command and its civil partner, British Overseas Airways, should have amassed much opera- tional knowledge which should be of use when the day comes to embark once more on civil air transport. * ENGLAND EXPECTS . .. : Beneath the outstretched wings of an Avro Lancaster in Trafalgar Square, Lord Kindersley inaugurated the " Wings for Victory " campaign. A total of £153,500,253 plus was"raised.
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