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Aviation History
1945
1945 - 1269.PDF
JUNE 28TH, 1945 FLIGHT 689 M. A. P. E X H I B I Tl O N and be sure that none has been overlooked. The Air/Sea Rescue (Section 14) for instance, is tucked away in a more or less hidden corner to which access is gained by a narrow opening between the torn remains of blitzed walls and could quite easily be overlooked by the average visitor. Patently, some part of the exhibition had to be placed here, and since it already provided a miniature lake (irre- spective of the weather) in which to float the Walrus and the perfect little model of a high-speed rescue launch, it was a natural spot for this section, which also shows, afloat, the large lifeboat dropped by the Warwick, and a model of the same lifeboat on its way down, i.e., sus- pended beneath its cluster of parachutes. Tucked away in the same corner is the experimental Whittle / Gloster jet-propelled aircraft, the E28/39, together with a cut-away model showing the essential sim- plicity of Whittle's successful unit. The actual aircraft is of such historic importance that one feels it deserved a more prominent display, especially as it has been very nicely finished for the exhibition. Perhaps it is intended to erect a large sign pointing to the " hidden cave," amid the ruins, in which this important exhibit is buried, but no such guide was in evidence on opening day. Among the full-scale aircraft on show—most of which are already quite familiar, such as the Halifax, Mosquito, Tempest, Beaufighter, Firefly, Auster, etc.—one in par- ticular merits special attention. This is the partly stripped Lancaster with a transparent top to the fuselage and so Part of the excellent relief mural depicting production on the group system from raw material to take-off. lUe picture has been "upended" mtenbonally. The veteran airline pilot, Capt. O. P. Jones (with beard) and Capt. E. F. Palmer, who flew the first B.O.A.C. Lan- castrian to Karachi, inspect the Gloster jet-propelled fighter. arranged that, from a gallery running alongside, visitors can see practically all its interior equipment. Bomb doors and undercarriage—looking gigantic in that confined space —are demonstrated opening and closing, and there is, along an adjoining wall, a diagrammatic representation of the hydraulic system for their operation. It is, of course, quite impossible here to catalogue the entire exhibition, which covers almost every phase of Ser- vice aviation down to the clothing and equipment of the aircrews themselves, and embraces engines (Merlin, Sabre and Centaurus) sectioned and in real peacetime show finish, airscrews (revolving), armament, bombs (includ- ing the towering "Grand Slam"), fuels, repair and main- tenance, instruments (including "George" at work), wood, plastics, and numerous diagrammatic exhibits (including a splendid one showing group production from the arrival of raw materials at the docks to the ultimate test flight). Finally, for those who want to know what Back-room Boys look like, there is a row of large portraits of some oi our most famous designers. The provisional run of the exhibition is six weeks, but it is expected to prove of such appeal that it may be even longer. At the Luncheon After the opening ceremony there was a Government luncheon at Claridges, at which the Rt. Hon. Ernest Brown, Minister of Aircraft Production, presided and in- troduced five speakers and mentioned that every former Minister of Aircraft Production was present. Sir Stafford Cripps recorded that the aircraft industry was at one time the biggest of all industries. During bombing and black-out it never wavered, and despite dilution the customer was never let down, especially on quality. He gave A.I.D. its due credit and also praised Lord Beaverbrook for his efforts at a crucial period of the war. Civil aviation had been held back by the war, he said, but they looked to the industry to send British air- craft into every sky. We led the world in both recipro- cating and jet engines. Marshal of the R.A.F. Sir Charles Portal said the British aircraft industry had been the mainstay of the R.A.F. In the vital matter of quality they were fortunate in being provided with such superlative machines; the later type of bomber carried double the bomb-load six times as far as the original war types. The R.A.F. had flown 7,^00,000,000 miles during the war. Rear-Admiral Thomas Troubridge observed that sea- power could not operate alone, and that there was a great future lor ship-borne aircraft. Lord Swinton, Minister of Civil Aviation, said that civil aviation in this country would hold its own in friendly competition with the world, and Major H. R. Kilner, who thanked the speakers on behalf of the industry, remarked that in this war we had always managed to keep one jump ahead and retain mas- tery, and he paid tribute to the workers in the factories.
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