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Aviation History
1945
1945 - 1774.PDF
SEPTEMBER 6TH, 1945 FLIGHT were formed with Oxfords as bombers and Harvards as \ dive bombers, while Hawker Hinds were formed into Army Co-operation squadrons. Despite all these hazards the training of pilots was carried on without let-up, and many hundreds of aircrew sailed for England and Canada every few months. In May, 1942, the first fighter squadrons were estab- lished, flying Kittyhawks, and. based at strategic points around the coasts and at Tonga Island. With nine G.R. squadrons now in operation, New Caledonia became the next Pacific base for the R.N.Z.A.F., and as the U.S. forces gradually halted th'e Japanese advance, the Air Force flag and roundels appeared in the New Hebrides, further to the north. Base for Attack The big convoy carrying the force of U.S. marines destined for the first definite hit back at Guadalcanal sailed from Wellington, New Zealand, in July, 1942, closely escorted by cruisers and destroyers of the United States and Royal Australian Navies, and covered by Hudsons of the R N.Z.A.F. The arduous Solomon Islands campaign was commenced in August, 1942, and Royal New Zealand Air Force bomber ^8 reconnaissance squadrons played an active part from the time that the famous Henderson Field on Guadalcanal be- came operational. With the tide of war slowly starting to . ebb to the north, the immediate threat to New Zealand was removed to the extent that it now became possible to send fighter squadrons to the combat zone. R.N.Z.A.F. Kittyhawks and Warhawks, flying in con- junction-with United States Navy and Marine fighter wings, created a reputation for themselves which stands second to none in the stories of fighter pilots the world over. From Guadalcanal to Rabaul—the grimly strong Japanese base in New Britain—the British Air Force roundel was to be seen continually in "the skies. By June, 1943, the Hudsons of the G.K. squadrons, which, had done magnificent service on patrol, anti-sub- marine, convoy and reconnaissance operations throughout the Solomons and South Pacific, were replaced by the new Lockheed Ventuia PV-I. Larger, faster, and more heavily armed, these aircraft were able to take a more aggressive part in the fighting, and the gradual breaking of Japanese power in these areas. . It was natural, since it was operating under the supreme American command, and working in close and complete liaison with American squadrons, that the R.N Z.A.F. should be entirely equipped with American aircraft By the time the major air battle for complete mastery was raging over the Northern Solomons and New Britain, the R.N.Z.A.F. was operating from a variety of bases, and flying oft squadrons of Ventura medium bombers. War hawk and Corsaii fighters. Avenger torpedo bombers, Dauntless dive bombers, and Catalma flying boats 1 he forward bases were fed by Nos. 40 and 41 (Transport) Squadrons who flew Douglas Dakotas and Lockheed Lodestars on 5,000 mile round trips between New Zealand and the Islands. Behind this organisation, again, the R.N.Z.A.F. Pacific Ferry Squadron, with detached head- quarters at Honolulu; flew new aircraft out from the U.S. The brilliantly conceived and executed American by- passing strategy, resulting in neutralisation of strongly de- fended enemy bases throughout the Pacific, has defeated and outwitted the Japanese to an extent never believed possible. It is a far cry back to the days when New Zea- land's operational air strength was represented by two general reconnaissance squadrons, but for nearly six years of war the R.N.Z.A.F has fulfilled a r61e worthy of the best traditions of the British Royal Air Forces,. The A New French Six-bank In-line Engine of 4,000-5,000 h.p. FRENCH engine firms do not seem to believe that thedays of the reciprocating piston engine are ever,judging from details of a new type which have just reached us. The engine is a Mathis, with the type desig- nation 42 E 00. It is of unusual arrangement iri that it has The Mathis 42E00 on show in Paris. six banks of seven cylinders each, or the impressive total of 42 cylinders. An aircraft with four of these engines would be the plug manufacturers' ideal! Advantages which the makers claim for this cylinder arrangement include the following: high power with good reliability, due to the low mechanical iiiu thermal stresses; small cross sectional area for the power -developed ; low weight per horse power; uniform cyclic distribution and therefore smooth torque; perfect dynamic balance. The Mathis engine is said to incorpor ate many patented features, and develop ment work on various sub-assemblies wan begun in 1937, to terminate now in the 42-cyl. prototype engine shown in the picture. This has a bore of 125 mm. and a stroke of 115 mm., giving a total capa- city of 59.3 litres. The capacity of single cylinders is 1.41 litres. Maximum power is 2,300 b.h.p. and normal power 2,000 b.h.p. Crankshaft speed is 3,150 r.p.m. and airscrew speed 1,320 r.p.m. Cross- sectional area is 0.87 sq. m. So promising are the preliminary test runs of this prototype regarded that already a larger engine is contemplated, generally similar to this but with a bore of 158 mm. and a stroke of 145 rum. From this larger engine a normal power of 4,000 b.h.p. is expected and a maxi- mum power of 5,000 b.h.p. If this some- what optimistic figure is realised, the power per unit of cross-sectional area will be 3,800 b.h.p. per sq. m.
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