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Aviation History
1947
1947 - 0029.PDF
OSCOMBE An impromptu formation by A Squadron, A. and A.E.E. The Meteor III with zero-length R.P. rails is J. R. Baldwin, D.S.O. D.F.C. ; the Vampire I by Sqn. Ldr. J. Zurakowski and the Spitfire 24 by Sqn. I " Flight " photograph. lown by Wing Cdr. R. J. B. RS •" Work and Organization of the Aircraft and Armament Experimental Establishment By H. F. KING, M.B.E. ON September gth, 1939, because of the vulnerabilityand inadequacy of Martlesham Heath, the Aircraftand Armament Experimental Establishment was transferred to Boscombe Down on the Plain north of Salis- bury. By this time " Martlesham " and "A. and A.E.E." had become synonymous and either title was accepted throughout the world as connoting veracity and thorough- ness in the testing of military and civil aircraft. Martlesham was sustained by a tradi- tion dating from 1917 when the station received an R.F.C. Squadron which had been testing aircraft at Upavon. This unit was the nucleus of the Aeroplane Experi- mental Station, supervised by Sir Bertram Hopkinson, commanded by Major Cooper and with Captain (now Sir Henry) Tizard as Chief Technical Officer. The reputation of the Aircraft and Arma- ment Experimental Establishment, as it came to be called, was not founded solely on unimpeachable pronouncements con- cerning aircraft and weapons; its annual Contractors' Guest Nights endowed it with catalytic propensities, gratefully acknow- ledged by Service and Industry alike. These historic functions and the equally renowned golf matches were suspended during the war, but with characteristic energy Air Commodore H. P. Fraser, C.B.E., A.F.C., the late Officer Commanding, revived the dinner on Novem- ber 8th last year, as already recorded. The golf matches have likewise been reinstituted. A short time ago Flight visited the A. and A.E.E., now of course under Ministry of Supply control, to describe for the first time in any detail its activities and organization. The stay was marred by dual depressions, one meteorologi- cal and the other—due to the imminent departure of Air Comdre. Fraser to an Air Ministry post—metaphysical. At a farewell party, which happened to coincide with our visit, the CO. spoke of his hopes and fears concerning the Establishment for which he has worked so tirelessly and to such good effect. Accommodation for men and machines is at present dis- mally inadequate, but within a year a real change should apparent. The rebuilding plan calls for a new barrack block to displace the Nissen huts of the lower camp, a Technical and Administra- tion Block instead of scattered huts, an Electrical and Instrument Laboratory, new hangars (including a 350-foot structure for the Brabazon I) with crew rooms and flight offices, and a recreational centre of the newly approved style. Particularly capa- cious and elaborate fuel storage is pro- posed. A new runway to supplement the present one of 3,000 yards and suitable for the " Brab. I," is another urgent requirement, and Air Comdre. Fraser hoped that this might begin to materialize when the new Filton east-west runway is finished. When large aircraft are operated at Boscombe from the present strip wind forces must be very carefully checked ; tests of the Tudors at high loadings have already been handi- capped by cross-winds. Deficiencies in accommodation and facilities at Boscombe are more marked than those of organization, though the present scheme, to be described, is not ideal. Before ex- amining this it is necessary to set down the major responsi- bilities of the A. and A.E.E.. The principal of these for which the Establishment is best known, is the determina- tion of the aerodynamic and armament characteristics of prototype aircraft and variants. Arising from trials, modifi-
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