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Aviation History
1944
1944 - 1698.PDF
i8o FLIGHT AUGUST IJTH, I944 AVRO YORK are attached to the tubular elevator '' spar'' which is, of course, the torque tube. One cannot help feeling, after inspecting the York, that a great deal of careful thought and very real ingenuity has gone into its design. The use of Lancaster components wherever they could be used was, after all, only logical— it would have been rank silliness not to have done so—and this factor undoubtedly contributes largely to the general all-round excellence of the aircraft. Any aircraft with a percentage structure weight of 30 per cent, can hardly fail to be efficient. There appear to be mixed opinions on the various internal layouts of the York, and some interesting views were expressed on a different arrangement which is being made in Canada to Avro's design, by Victory Aircraft, for Trans- Canada Airlines. This particular design appears to be an exceedingly useful one—probably the most practical layout for the York that has yet been devised. Briefly, the central entrance and twin toilet rooms have been retained, but the wardrobe has been discarded. From this " entrance hall " the fore and aft passenger cabins are FLIGHT LIEUTENANT HO-RNELL was captain and first pilot of a twin-engined amphibian aircraft on an anti submarine patrol in northern waters, The patrol had lasted for some hours when a fully-surfaced U-boat was sighted travelling at high speed on the port beam. Fit. Lt. Hornell at once turned to the attack. The U-boat altered course. The aircraft had been seen and there could be no surprise. The U-boat opened up with anti-aircraft fire which became increasingly fierce and accurate. The front guns of the aircraft replied; then its starboard gun jammed, leaving only one gun effective. Hits were obtained on and around the conning- tower of the U-boat, but the aircraft was itself hit, two large holes appearing in the starboard wing. Ignoring the enemy's fire, Fit. Lt. Hornell carelully manoeuvred for the attack. Oil was pouring from his star board engine which was, by this time, on fire; as was the starboard wing; and the petrol tanks were endangered. Mean while, the aircraft was hit again and again by the U-boat's guns. Holed in many places, it was vibrating violently and very difficult to control. Nevertheless, the captain decided to press home his attack, knowing that with every moment the chances of escape for him and his gallant crew would grow more slender. He brought his aircraft down very low and released his depth charges in a perfect straddle. 'The bows of the U-boat were lifted out of the water; it sank and the crew were seen in the sea, Fit, Lt. Hornell contrived, by superhuman efforts at the con trols, to gain a little height. The fire in the starboard wing had grown more intense and the vibration had increased. Then the burning engine fell off. lhe plight of aircraft and crew was now desperate. With the utmost coolness, the captain took his aircraft into wind, and, despite the manifold dangers, brought it safely down on the heavy swell. Badly damaged and blazing furiously, the aircraft rapidly settled. After ordeal by fire came ordeal by water. There was only one ejrviceable dinghy and this could not hold all the crew. So they took turns in the water, holding on to the sides. Once, the dinghy capsized in the rough seas NEW ZEALAND WANTS BRITISH NEW ZEALAND'S desire for the establishment of a British Commonwealth air route across the Pacific was emphasised by Mr. Peter Fraser, the Prime Minister, when he addressed Parliament on the work of the Prime Ministers' Conference in London. He said he had strongly advocated that it would be possible for New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom to participate in the joint ownership and operation of a trans pacific air service. "While we do not want lo enter into antagonism with our reached up two steps each side of the entry platform this being necessary as the cabin floors have been raised to a position parallel with the thrust line. Windows have like-_j wise been raised, and the galley discarded, the space made available enabling a total of 27 passengers to be carried, 18 in the rear and nine in the front cabins. In addition, the front cabin has been shortened by 4ft., making the crew's compartment that much more roomy and allowing the provision of locker and wardrobe space for them. This raising of the cabin floor has necessitated raising the front cabin roof, and the hydraulic plumbing and various controls are instead run beneath the floor. In the space made available beneath the floor, air mail can be carried, either solely or together with light express freight. There would appear to be good, common-sense grounds for doubting that the provision of a hot-meal service is necessary on runs other than those of reaHy long range made by specific types, and the arrangement now being made for T.C.A. may well prove to be a far more useful one for general use than those rather special types so far made. A further point was made which has rather impor tant implications; the opinion was given that the T.C.A. version of the York was a sound civil-purpose aircraft, the operation of which will be commercially acceptable. and was righted only with great difficulty. Two of the crew succumbed from exposure. An airborne lifeboat was dropped to them but fell some 500 yards down wind. The men struggled vainly to reach it and Fit Lt. Hornell, who throughout had encouraged them by his cheerfulness and inspiring leadership, proposed to swim to it, though he was nearly exhausted. He was with difficulty restrained. The survivors were finally rescued after they had been in the water for 2r hours. By this time Fit. Lt. Hornell was blinded and completely exhausted. He died shortly after being picked up. Fit. Lt. Hornell had completed 60 operational missions, involving 600 hours' flying. He knew well the danger and difficulties attending attacks on submarines. By pressing home a skilful and successful attack against fierce opposition, with his aircraft in a precarious condition, and by fortifying and encouraging ids comrades in the subsequent ordeal, this officer displayed valour and devotion to duty oi the highest order. The following awardf- have also been made to these officers and airmen of his crew : — •*> DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER F/O Bernard Charles Denomy. DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS F/O. Graham Campbell. F/O. Sidney Edward Matheson. • ' DISTINGUISHED FLYING MEDAL Fit. Sgt. Irael Joseph Bodnoff. Fit. Sgt. Sidney Reginald Cole. The official citation reads: — In the engagement, they displayed a high degree of courage, discipline and devotion to duty, co-operating splendidly with their captain in his determination to destroy the enemy sub marine. Subsequently, they suffered great hardships whilst adrift on the sea. During this long period each member of the crew assisted the other to the utmost extent, unmindful of his own distress. COMMONWEALTH AIR ROUTE friends, I represented to the authorities in Washington that we were asking for the right to establish a British air route from New Zealand to Canada with landing rights in Honolulu, in return for landing rights for the American service operating to New Zealand," he added. Mr. Fraser believed that reciprocal rights to be established*?1 with the U.S air line across the Pacific to Panama could be considered, but that it was not oi snch immediate and import ant urgency as the route via Canada and thence to the United Kingdom. UC. for Canadian Pilot The King has been graciously pleased to confer the Victoria Cross on Fit. Lt David Ernest Hornell, Royal Canadian Air Force, No. 162 (R.C.A.F.) Squadron.
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