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Aviation History
1944
1944 - 0431.PDF
&ARCH 2ND, 1944 FLIGHT 223 rnerly deluded population, but besides these air attacks there is no doubt that the Germans are preparing on the French shore new means of attack on this country, either by pilotless aircraft or possibly rockets, or both, o<3 a con siderable scale. We have long been watching this with the utmost vigilance. We are striking at all evidences of these preparations on occasions when the weather is suitable for such action, and to the maximum extent possible with out detracting from the strategic offensive against Germany. An elaborate scheme of bombing priorities, upon which a large band of highly skilled American and British officers are constantly at work in accordance with the directions given by the combined Chiefs of Staff in Washington, has governed our action for some time past, and is continually kept up to date and in relation to our strategic needs and aims. I do not believe that a better machinery could be devised. "It is always flexible enough to allow us to turn aside for some particularly tempting objective, as, for instance, Sofia, the capital of caitiff Bulgaria. The weather, of course, remains the final factor in the decision where our day or night activities shall be employed. That leaves very great responsibility in the hands of the officers who actually i handle these great masses, enormous masses, of aircraft. 1- '' The use of our air power also affects the general war situation by the toll which it takes of the enemy's fighter aircraft both by day and night, but especially by the Americans by day, because they have very great actions with their formations of Flying Fortresses with enemy fighter aircraft. Already we have seen the German air pro gramme concentrated mainly on fighters, thus indicating how much they have been thrown on to the defensive in the air. "Now this new German fighter strength is being re- morsely borne down both in the air and in the factories, ELECTRICITY IN AIRCRAFT A PLEA for more extensive use of electricity in the operation of various aircraft services was put forward by Mr. C. G. A. Woodford, of the M.A.P., in an informal discussion at the Institution of Electrical Engineers on February 21st. It was pointed out that at the beginning of this war British aircraft had one or two 500-watf generators, while German aircraft had two of about the same size but giving 1,500 watts each. We now commonly had three or four of 1,500 watts each, and American aircraft now coming into service had seven generators of 5,000 watts each. In this country 3,000-watt generators were coming into use. These were of 25-30 volts. A change-over from low-pressure d.c. to medium-pressure a.c. was to be expected. The advantages would be in the direction of saving of weight and space, since higher speeds ; >i could be adopted. A high degree of reliability was also to be *xpected. MOSQUITO DEVELOPMENT THE Ministry of Aircraft Production have permitted public release of the fact that the fighter version of the Mosquito in current production can carry a 5001b. bomb under each wing, in addition to i,ooolb. bomb load within the fuselage. Thus the fighter version with four 30 mm. cannon and four 0.303m. machine guns, now carries twice the bomb load for which the Mosquito bomber (without cannons and guns) was originally designed in 1940. A photograph of the fighter- bomber Mosquito, with a bomb under each wing, headed the "Service Aviation" pages of Flight, February 24th. The story of this development, briefly, is as follows. The conception of the Mosquito as an unarmed bomber with fighter speed was advanced by Sir Geoffrey de Havilland to the Air -Ministry in September, 1939, as a twin-Merlin wooden aircraft with two crew, carrying i,ooolb. bomb load at fighter speed, with a range of 1,500 miles, and, after discussion, was accepted on that basis in Christmas week, 1939. Prototype trials made clear that the all-up weight could lie increased and de Havillands put forward the suggestion that by shortening the vanes on the standard 5001b. bomb, Tsur of these could just be accommodated in the fuselage space in place of four 2501b. bombs, thus doubling the destructive load. Meanwhile the fighter version was separately developed to counteract the night blitz. Then two 2501b. bombs and later two 5oolb. bombs were mounted behind the cannons. Then long-range drop tanks were mounted beneath the wings. Then racks for two 2501b. bombs were fitted, interchangeable which are the objectives of the continuous attack. Every opportunity is and will be sought by us to force the enemy to expend and exhaust his fighter aircraft strength. Our production of aircraft—fighters and bombers—judged by every possible test, already far exceeds the Germans'. The Russian production is about equal to ours. The American production is double Or treble the German production. When I speak of production I mean not only that of aircraft, not only that of the machines, but of all that vast organisation of training schools and ancillary services which minister to air power, and without whose efficiency air power could not manifest itself. What the experiences of Germany will be when her fighter defence has been almost completely eliminated and aircraft can go all over the country, by day or night, with nothing to fear but the Flak—the anti-aircraft—has yet to be seen. "The same is true of the air power of Japan. That also is now being over-matched and worn down, and the pro duction is incomparably small compared with that of the great Powers whom Japan has assailed. Whereas on former occasions when I have addressed the House and tried to give a general picture of the war in its scale and propor tion, its structure and proportion, I have always set the war against the U-boat menace in the forefront. I deliberately, on this occasion, give the primacy to the great developments in air power which have been achieved and are to be expected. This air power was the weapon which both the marauding States selected as their main tool of conquest. This was the sphere in which they were to triumph. This was the method by which the nations were to be subjugated to their rule. I shall not moralise further than to say that there is a strange, stern justice in the long swing of events." The Prime Minister concluded his speech with an exam ination of the present situation in various Allied and sub jugated nations. with the drop tanks, and then these were substituted by two 5ooIb. bombs. The secret has been kept for a long time, and its release explains the remarkable usefulness of the basic fighter version which, by the quick changeover between bomb racks and extra tanks, is able to serve as a long-range fighter or as a fighting and bombing intruder of range and destructive load accurately adjustable to individual sorties. SIR STAFFORD CRIPPS AND A.I.D. THE Minister of Aircraft Production and Lt. Col. H. W. S. Outram addressed a remarkable gathering of over 1,000 A.I.D. staff from all parts of the country at the Kingsway Hal! recently. Sir Stafford Cripps expressed great appreciation of the service of A.I.D., particularly as guardians of the quality of produc tion as distinct from quantity. The Minister stressed the fact that we have relied on quality rather than quantity for our supremacy in the air, which we have achieved through the good work of our industrial managers, technicians, and skilled work men in the aircraft industry. The Minister commended A.I.D. on firmly insisting that the second best would not do. It could be fairly claimed that the quality of our engines, aircraft and instruments has actually improved, and Sir Stafford added that he hoped the good service A.I.D. were doing for the industry would be realised by contractors and recognised by their- whole hearted co-operation. Lt. Col. Outram, Director-General, in expressing regret for the absence of the Chief Executive, Air Chief Marshal Sir Wilfred Freeman, stated he was proud of the contribution of A.I.D. to the aircraft industry, and expressed determination that the department would make greater contribution still in the future; he was sure he could rely upon the co-operation of his staff. POLISH "V.C." FOR SPITFIRE PILOT FOR the first time since the Polish Order of the Virtuti Mili-tari was instituted, the Gold Cross of the Order was recently awarded to an officer of the Polish Air Force. The Order was founded nearly 300 years ago. Wing Cdr. A. Gabsziewicz, D.S.O., D.F.C., who for the past six months has led a Polish Spitfire wing on offensive operations over France and the Low Countries, received the Gold Cross at a fighter station near London from General K. Sosnkowski, Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Armed Forces. Wing Cdr. Gabsziewicz already held the Virtuti Militari (5th class).
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