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Aviation History
1945
1945 - 0651.PDF
APRIL 5TH, 1945 FLIGHT 3S3 Unusual features are the single tail fin and the waist- gun blisters. formed, are power operated and appeaFTxTiravtra fore and aft traverse. This particular arrangement is rather un- usual, and we presume elevation is permitted by rotating the blister about its major axis. The Privateer can by no means lay claim to being a "clean" aircraft, for there are protuberances of various kinds and shapes sticking out almost all over it. These, in the main, are items of the special equipment which fit the aircraft for its particular job. However, the extension of the fuselage for seven feet necessitated a compensating increase in fin area, and to provide this whilst at the same time keeping drag down the single fin and rudder arrangement was adopted. All control surfaces incident- ally are fabric-covered, but the flaps are metal surfaced and retract into the inner wing panels' trailing edges. Pratt and Whitney Twin Wasp engines of an improved type are used to power the Privateer, and, somewhat naturally in view of the fact that naval aircraft are scarcely ever high-altitude types, turbo superchargers have been dispensed with on the. new engines—probably in favour of two-speed geared blowers. It is stated that the new units were designed for low fuel consumption and to give considerably more power at take-off. Consolidated-Vultee's own hot-air system is employed for cabin heating and anti-icing. This system uses exhaust heat to warm, via heat exchangers, air which is distributed through ducts to all parts of the machine. Production of the Privateer was preceded by the building of three prototypes, the purpose of which was to develop what is claimed to be one of the most unusual assembly tooling programmes ever undertaken in an American aircraft factory. Virtually every recent innova- tion for the mass production of aircraft was incorporated and, consequently, it is said that Privateer production is at the moment considered to be the most efficient aircraft manufacturing project in the world. ROYAL AIR FORCE'S 23rd ID.C THE KING has been graciously pleased to confer the awardof the Victoria Cross on Act. Sqn. Ldr. Robert Anthony Maurice Palmer, D.F.C., R.A.F.V.R., 109 Squadron (missing) in recognition of most conspicuous bravery. This is the 23rd V.C. to be awarded in the R.A.F. during the present war. The citation reads: "This officer has completed no bomb- ing missions Most of them involved deep penetration of heavilyv defended territory; many were low-level marking operations against vital targets; all were executed with tenacity, high courage and great accuracy. He first went on operations in January, 1941. He took part in the first 1,000 bomber raid against Cologne in 1942. He was one of the first pilots to drop a 4,000 1b. bomb on the Reich. It was known that he could be relied on to press home his attack whatever the opposition and to bomb with great accuracy. He was always selected, therefore, to take part in special operations against vital targets. "The finest example of his courage and determination was on December 23rd, 1944, when he led a formation of Kancas- ters to attack the marshalling yards at Cologne in daylight. He had the task of marking the target, and his formation had been ordered to bomb as soon as the bombs had gone from his, the leading aircraft. The leader's duties during the final bomb- LORD SWINTON'S WARNING WHEN Lord Swinton's attention was drawn, during an inter-view in Capetown recently, to a statement made in theCommons that only 1,000 Service airmen would be needed at the start for air crew duty on Britain's civil lines after the war, he said he could not give detailed figures, but people should not be too optimistic about the number that would find employ- ment in civil flying after the war. ing run were exacting and demanded coolness and resolution. To achieve accuracy he would have to fly at an exact height and air speed on a steady course, regardless of opposition. Some minutes before the target was reached, his aircraft came under heavv anti-aircraft f.re, shells burst all around, two engines were set on fire and there were flames and smoke in the nose and in the bomb bay.» • "Enemy fighters now attacked in force. Sqn. Ldr. Palmer disdained the possibility of taking avoiding action. He knew that if he diverged the least bit from his course, he would t>e unable to utilise the special equipment to the best advantage. He was determined to complete the run and provide an accu- rate and easily seen aiming-point for the other bombers, lie ignored the double risk of fire and explosion in his aircraft and kept on. - With his engines developing unequal power, an immense effort was needed to keep the damaged aircraft on a straight course. Nevertheless, he made a perfect approach and his bombs hit the target. " His aircraft was last seen spiralling to earth in flames. Such was the strength of the opposition that more than half of his formation failed to return. Sqn. Ldr. Palmer was an outstanding pilot. He displayed conspicuous bravery. His record of prolonged and heroic endeavour is beyond praise." "It must be remembered," he said, "that although air services will be run with great frequency, the number of air- craft required would be relatively small—those needed to serve the Empire will be numbered in hundreds, not thousands. " The British Government is giving every opportunity to men in the R.A.F. and the Fleet Air Arm to find places in civil aviation. I am afraid, however, that the numbers that c&a be absorbed will be small."
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