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Aviation History
1947
1947 - 0220.PDF
152 FLIGHT FEBRUARY 6TH, 1947 Royal Air Force and Naval Avid* tion News and Announcements UNNATURAL ATTRACTION:Students of natural history will refute any suggestion of bene-ficial association between mer- lins and hornets, but amongstudents of aircraft design the climb of the R.-R. Merlin-powered D. H. Hornet is a ' 7-word. "~"*\ Flight" pKotograph.\ r tiuitii j»wt»iii it it 11. i SERVICE AVIATION Awards J T~*HE King has been graciously pleased -*• to approve the following award: — D.F.C.W/O. Edward John Betts, No. 97 Squadron. An extract from the citation reads: —"During an attack on a site at Pron- ville, his aircraft was coned by search-lights for at least 15 minutes and, during this time, sustained four attacks byenemy fighters. The aircraft was riddled by cannon fire. The starboard outerengine caught fire and was rendered use- less. The hydraulic j|ear was severedand the mid-upper turret put out of action. With great presence of mind andcourage La the face of danger W/O. Betts climbed back from the bombaimer's compartment and mana-ged to feather the starboard engine while theaircraft was taking defensive action, thus giving his pilot great assistance in a, moment of grave danger. During subse- quent operations, whilst engaged in tar-get marking, W/O. Betts displayed out- standing courage and devotion to duty." Campaign Stars J R.A.F. flying personnel who were em-ployed as aircrew on transport and ferrying duties, and medical officers andnursing orderlies employed in ambulance aircraft, are now eligible for theAtlantic, France and Germany, Pacific, Burma and Italy Stars, in addition tothe 1939-45 and the Africa Stars. For the 1939-45 Stars the list of routes andspecial operations by which a candidate can qualify has been enlarged. Appoi fol^ nntmentsT HE Air Ministry announces thelowing appointments:— Air Commodore George Stacey Hodsonto be Air Officer Commanding No. 205 Group, R.A.F. Mediterranean andMiddle East, with the acting rank of, Air Vice-Marshal. yAir Commodore Arthur Percy Ledger as Air Officer Commanding No. 23Group Flying Training Command, from February 3, 1947, with the acting rankof Air Vice-Marshal. Air Vice-Marshal Hodson has been Air Officer in Charge of Administration,Coastal Command, since last April, hav- ing previously commanded a base andbeen Air Officer in Charge of Training, Bomber Command. Air Vice-Marshal Ledger has been AirOfficer Commanding No. 28 Group, Technical Training Command, since Junelast year, and for five months previously he commanded No. 54 Group, FlyingTraining Command. PIPING ABOARD : The Admiral (Air)—Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Troubridge,K.C.B., D.S.O.—is piped aboard as he steps from a Fairey Firefly I in which he has landed on. H.M.S. Implacable, steaming off St. David's Head. Admiral Troubridgewatched an exercise in oreoaration for the part a carrier is to play in the Royal Escort. Naval Qas Turbines 'T HE Admiralty has lately ou±lme<§ itspolicy in the matter of gas turbine ..development and has indicated that thepossible advantages of' the gas turbine for ship propulsion have been realizedfor some time. Machinery of this- type is now being developed for warships andcoastal craft. It is pointed out that during the warall available facilities for research and development of gas turbines were neces-sarily devoted to jet propulsion units for aircraft as these were essential to ourdefence programme. Gas turbmes for warships, although desirable, were notvital. The information gained in the develop-ment of jet propulsion units has been made available by the Ministry of Sup-ply to the Admiralty, who have taken steps to interest firms, other than thoseengaged in the aircraft industry, in gas turbine work for warships. As well asthis, some aircraft firms, by with the Ministry of Supply, aremarine wings There are many problems: the longerlife required for naval machinery; the provision of suitable reversing arrange-ments; the need to burn heavy fuel oil and the good cruising economy required.Gas turbines and jet units developed for aircraft have a life of 300-500 hours,whereas the life required for naval machinery is measured in thousands oihours. High-powered, long-life units are to bedeveloped by well-known aircraft and other firms and by the association ofthirty marine firms known as Parsons and Marine Engineering Turbine Re-search and Development Association (P.A.M.E.T.R.A.D.A.).Although it is emphasized that marine
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