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Aviation History
1949
1949 - 0547.PDF
MARCH 24TH, 1949 FLIGHT 351 Two D.H. Gipsy Majors power ths T.H.K. 5. design—the T.H.K.5 light ambulance with accommoda- tion for two.pilots, two stretcher cases and a medical atten- dant, and the T.H.K.5A six-seat light transport. Both are all-wood low-wing nSonoplanes^ with main undercarriage retracting backward into the two Gipsy Major nacelles. Now unifier construction is the T.H.K.n high-wing twin- boom three-seat light monoplane, powered by a Gipsy Major in a pusher installation in the fuselage. A fixed tri- cycle undercarriage will be fitted. Estimated weight ard performance figure of the T.H.K.11 are all-up weight, 2,530 lbs; max. speed, 124 m.p.h.; cruising speed, 102 m.p.h. ; landing speed, 50 m.p.h. ; initial rate of climb, 590 ft/min.; ceiling, 11,500ft; and range, 500 miles. Indicative of the advanced lines along which the fac- tory's design team are thinking is the T.H.K. 13 single- seat tailless wood and fabric glider for aerodynamic research. It is planned to produce a Gipsy-powered version when the glider has successfully completed stability trials. The undercarriage consists of a single main wheel under the nacelle, and small castering stabilizing wheels attached to the vertical fins. Wing span of the T.H.K.13 is 65ft 7in, height 6ft 6£in, and wing area 431 sq ft. Loaded weight is 1,014 lbs. Various types of training glider and sailplane are pro- duced for the Tiirkkusu and, during the war, a prototype of a 12-seat troop-carrying glider was built. The Miles Magister adapted for spraying DDT. Designed for aercbatic training, the T.H.K. 2. The nucleus of-Turkish Air Force pilots and ground per- sonnel have been trained in Great Britain and the U.S.A., and their high standard, the influence of the Air League and the steady intake of modern equipment have resulted in the establishment of a well-organized air arm of sub- stantial strength. W. G. Inquiry Sequel to the Loss of Five R.A.F. Aircraft THE findings of an R.A.F. inquiry into the destruction offive fighters near the Egypt-Palestine border have now been published. It will be remembered that Air Ministrystatements that the aircraft had been shot down over Egypt Ly Jewish fighters were contested by the Israeli authorities,who claimed that our machines had been firing on Jewish ground positions in Palestine. Fresh confusion was added bya report that one of the British pilots, then in Jewish hands, had admitted that the frontier had been crossed. A summary of the evidence and findings of the court statesthat four Spitfire 18s of No. 208 Squadron were making a tactical reconnaissance inside the Egyptian frontier on January7th when the aircraft flown by Pit. II Close was hit by ground fire, forcing him to bale out. While attempting topin-point his position, the remaining three pilots were attacked by Jewish Spitfires. F/O. Cooper and F/O. McElhaw, al-though they were hit before realizing what had happened, managed to bale out. It is considered probable that Pit. IISayers, who was killed, was also taken by surprise. An R.A.F. officer who later inspected the scene testified thatall four Spitfires crashed ten or more miles within the Egyptian fiontier. He found the wreckage of two aircraft, which be-longed to Cooper and Sayers. Local Arabs gave evidence that McElhaw and Close had been taken away by Jewish forces,who had removed parts of their aircraft and buried the rest. The inspecting officer had found fragments of Spitfires in thearea, one of which had definitely belonged to Close's aircraft, and there were signs of many track and tyre vehicle move-ments. While a patient in an Israeli military hospital, PH. II Close " '0 was reported to have stated that the formation had crossedthe frontier, but before the court of inquiry he said that the operation had gone according to briefing instructions, and thefrontier had not been crossed. During his parachute descent he had suffered a broken jaw and concussion, and for the firstsix days he had been severely '' grilled.'' by intensive questioning, usually twice a day. Finding that his recollec-tion of happenings during this period was hazy, and that he was still under considerable mental and physical strain, thecourt did not feel it proper to press him. This opinion is confirmed by Service doctors. A fifth aircraft, a Tempest, was shot down during the after-noon of January 7th, and P/O. Tattersfield was killed. His aircraft was part of a forqp of one Mosquito and four Tempestsinvestigating the disappearance of the four Spitfires. The leader of the formation returned Jewish fire when attacked,but the effects of his action are not known. P/O. Tattersfields Tempest is believed to have crashed about four miles insidePalestine, but the court considered'that since it was shot down from a considerable height, it may have travelled several milesbefore hitting the ground. The court found that the orders given to our pilots wereclear and comprehensive: the frontier was not to be crossed; there were to be no attacks on ground forces, even if they firedon our aircraft; and no attacks were to be made on other air- craft except in self-defence. (All our aircraft carried loadedguns). These orders were fully understood and scrupulously observed. Absolute responsibility for a "deliberate and highlyskilled " attack is thus placed upon the Jewish Air Force authorities
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