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Aviation History
1947
1947 - 1301.PDF
August ytk, 1947 The type of kite balloon and car used for training parachutists. They were about twice the cubic capacity of a normal barrage balloon. to GLORY FOLLOWING a brief review we present the first instalment of Group r Captain Maurice Newnham's new book Prelude to Glory, which is to be published by Sampson Low, Marston and Co., Ltd. The fascinating and irjtimate story is that of the creation of Britain's parachute army as seen by the man who commanded the Parachute Training School. IF there is any formula for the successful fashioning of aBritish weapon it is a late start and early setbacks.Certainly these factors conditioned the evolution of mass parachuting and glider transport for muitary purposes in this country. ,, Like so many other arms and military techniques, parachuting and the use of gliders had their origin in foreign practice, but their sound development and glorious fruition sprang from British determination and courage. Of this G/C. Newnham's book eliminates all possibility of doubt. The creation, training and utilization of Britain's parachute army, with which his glowing story is concerned, called for men of supreme resolution, not only to fly the aircraft and to drop into battle from the air, but to wring the utmost benefit from meagre resources, to secure the means of ex- pansion, and to instil their spirit into others. This is admirably brought out by G/C. Newnham in his account of Mr. Churchill's visit to the parachute training school at Ringway on a bleak Saturday in April, 1941. The Prime Minister had come to see for himself what pro- gress had been made in the development of a policy which he had advocated, against strong opposition, nearly a year before. For this important occasion five Whitleys had been mustered, each fitted to take eight parachutists. Came the moment for take-off, and to the microphone W/C. Sir Nigel Norman addressed the enquiry, "Hallo, formation leader—are you ready to take off? " After a moment's pause the reply came back, loud enough for all to hear— "No, I am not ready to take off—five of the b s have fainted." The bodies having been removed, the formation duly took off for its historic demonstration. Meantime, writes G/C. Newnham, "Harvey, Norman, Strange and Rock lost no time in expounding their views, their confidences and their difficulties to a sympathetic CjC. Maurice Newnham.
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