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Aviation History
1943
1943 - 0694.PDF
278 FLIGHT MARCH I8TH, 1943 T RescuedF OURTEEN people—new and pas-sengers—were safely lauded by pilot boat after a forced landing recently byan R.Ai.F. Sunderland off Leixoes, near Oporto, outside Portuguese territorialwaters. Dive-bombers for the F.A.A.I T has been disclosed that the Bar-racudas, now coming into service with the Fleet Air Arm, can also beutilised for dive-bombing. American Avenger torpedo-bombers will also beused by the Fleet Air Arm. Royal Air Force ClubT HE annual general meeting of the Royal Air Force Club will take place at 6.0 p.m. on Wednesday, March 24th, at the club's premises at 128, Piccadilly, London, W.i. More Workers for Willow Run npHIRTY THOUSAND more workers -L will be required by the great U.S. factory at Willow Run in order to pro- duce the numbers of aircraft needed for the war. Difficulty is said to have been experi- enced since the plant began work owing to the scarcity of suitable and convenient accommodation for employees. "Luftwaffe" Morale Lower A LTHOUGH Rommel now has bigA Luftwaffe formations available to support the Afrika Korps, it seems ,asthough the pilots have not the morale they had previously.- This was shown*when R.A.F. fighters intercepted 20 German fighter-bombers in front of theMareth Line. The Axis aircraft made no attempt to reach their target, butjHiisoned their bombs rind fled. Enemy's Inferior Weapon '"PHAT the new German aircraft-»- cannon (see pp. 2S5-286) is inferior to our own Hispano gun, is the opinion ofMr. Duncan Sandys, Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply. The M.G.151 has a lower muzzlevelocity and its shell is smaller and less destructhe, although the design is farmore complicated and must require many more man-hours in productionthan does the Hispano weapon. Aircraft versus U-boats A DMIRAL SIR PERCY NOBLE, head •**• of the British Admiralty delegation in the United States, has given a warn- ing about U-boats becoming even more menacing when the weather improves. Being fully appreciative of air power, he said: " The strength of nations will depend on sea power, but sea power needs air protection." Although aircraft might beat the U-boat in time, he thinks people should realise that the danger is still great. US. Air Force in China AN indication of the increase ofAmerican aid to China is given by the following announcement fromGeneral Stilwell's headquarters at Chung- king: " On the directions of the WarDepartment, the 14th Air Force to-day came under the control of the command-ing general of the United States Army Forces in China, Burma, and India.The 14th Air Force, commanded by Brigadier-General Chennault, takes theplace of the China Air Task Force." Delayed Delivery ALEXANDRIA'S threat by Rommel •**• compelled the diversion of the first flight of Spitfires destined for Australia. This was revealed by Dr. Evatt, Minister ANOTHER "FASTEST EVER " : The Consolidated 31, known to the U.S. Navy as the P4Y-I, is reported to be hailed by them as the speediest flying boat in ex;stence.. It is pevered by two 2,000 h.p. Wright 18-cylinder Duplex Cyclones, has a span of 110ft., a length of 74ft., stands more than 20ft. high and weighs about 25 tons. It is now to be mass-produced at a plant in New Orleans. TIMELY REMINDER : The placardbelow the Lancaster bomber in Trafal- gar Square stresses the fact that it isthe product of British brains and British workmanship—and there is nobetter guarantee of quality. for External Affairs, at Sydney recently.He said the defence of Australia did not suffer from the delay, and thearrangements originally made with Mr. Churchill have since been completed. Kaiser Buys FleetwingA NEW venture has been undertakenby Mr. Henry Kaiser, America's four-day shipbuilder, in acquiring Fleet-wing Aircraft, Inc., of Bristol, Penn- sylvania, a concern of 5,000 employeessupplying aircraft to the army. Included in the Fleetwing property isan old shipyard which could be utilised for the mass production of flying boats. Cautionary CoupletsT HE catering officer of a Fighter Com-mand station in the North-East of England concocts rhyming slogans in aidof National Savings, salvage efforts, and the crusade against careless talk, ex-amples of which appear in the station's Daily routine Orders. Here are a couple of neat samples : —Pence make pounds and pounds make guns, So lend your pence to pound the huns." " Silence is golden—be a millionaire,W7hen you talk in public always take care." H. and C. Laid On IN Iceland there are hot-water open-airbaths for the aircrews, and hot-air blowers for the aircraft. Newly arrived officers and men ofCoastal Command shudder when invited to take an open-air bath, but when atlast persuaded to take the plunge they find the outdoor swimming pool nearReykjavik is filled with hot geyser water. Not the five inches of geyser water youhave in the bath at home, but hot water from a natural spring—there are lots ofthem on the island. Some of the springs erupt almost atboiling point, but the water in the swim- ming pools and showers is controlled at alower temperature. The purpose of the hot-air blowers isto melt the ice that in winter forms 011 fh<- aircraft during the night. Theblowers are kept at work while the engines are revving up; otherwise icowould re-form, and the aircraft would be unable to take off.
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