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Aviation History
1949
1949 - 0883.PDF
576 FLIGHT MAY 12TH, 1949 CORRESPONDENCE The Editor does not hold himself responsible for the views expressed by correspondents. The names and addresses of the writers, not necessarily for publication, must in all cases accompany letters. "CITY OF LONDON" Thames'visiting Solent Recalls Memories ofIn stone Air Line (From dipt. Alfred Instonc J.P. oiu- of the founders of Instate Air Line) I WAS very interested in your announcement of the LordMayor's intention to name a Short Solent Flying Boat City of London while it is moored in the Thames. When you add, however, that this is "thus reviving the old Imperial Airways custom of naming certain aircraft after towns," perhaps in the interests of historical accuracy you might like to recall what happened in the pioneer days of aviation It was the Instone Air Line which was the first company to name its aircraft after cities. Starting in- 19,19, every aero- plane in its fleet was named after a city. These included the famous Vickers Vimy G-EASI, which carried 12 passengers and pilot. This was the first aircraft to be named City of London ; it gained universal popularity with the public at Croydon and became a favourite cross-channel machine in those days. We also had aircraft named after the cities of New York, Paris, Glasgow, Cardiff, Newcastle, Chicago, Antwerp, etc. London E.C.3. ALFRED INSTONE. RE-JOINING THE R.A.F. A Question of being "Reduced to the Ranks " tpNCLOSED is a copy of an item of news which was published •*-* by a South African newspaper [see footnote—Ed.]. We are all fully aware that many changes have taken and must take place with regard to. the policy to be adopted towards the Royal Air Force, but this particular policy is surely hitting very much below the belt. That the pundits and soothsayers in the Air Box should have the nerve to expect a wing com- mander to leave the officers' Mess and join the sergeants' Mess only one month after release must seem astounding, even to the most ignorant. A squadron leader who has had command of his own squadron for anything up to three years is expected to return to the Service as an N.C.O. and start taking orders from some sprog flying officer who has possibly seen two or three years' service. If this is supposed to be a vote-catching move to keep the present Government in power, it is my suggestion that the persons responsible for issuing this information to the public (and in particular to the Royal Air Force) should receive psychological treatment. I, as an ex-squadron leader with over ten years' service, view this policy with alarm and despondency, and assume that other released officers must feel much the same. In any case, why stop at wing commanders? Why not group captains and all the other higher ranks ? : : These are very trying days for any released officer and jobs are often hard to come by. Is it to be assumed that this brainstorm by the Air Ministry is a scheme .to get experienced men who can't find jobs back into the Service at cheap rates of pay? If there are too many officers and not enough N.C.Qs. then by all means release the officers as they become due for release, but for heaven's sake don't kick a man when he is down by asking him to volunteer to be " reduced to the ranks." Durban. L. M. O'LEARY. [Our correspondent quotes the newspaper report as readingas follow* :— " .Regulars of-the Royal Air Force who served during the waryears are to be offered the rank of non-coinniissioncd officer if they rejoin the regular Air Force within one month of the end oftheir release leave, the Air Ministry announces. " For the assessment of their new N.C.O. rank and seniority,each year as an officer up to flight lieutenant will count as one and a half years' N.C.O. sen-ice, each year as squadron leaderwill count as one-and-three quarters years' service and each year as wing commander as two years' service."Use in this re]X)rt of the word "served" instead of "were commissioned " tends to give a misleading impression. Invited to comment, the Air Ministry 1ms replied to the effect that these conditions were adopted in order to provide a means of accelerated promotion for emergency-commissioned Regular airmen who were considered ineligible for either permanent or extended-service commissions when the war ended.—Ed.] A NATIONAL AERONAUTICAL MUSEUM? An Appeal for Co-operationT ItE date of Man's first powered flight is too recent to be" historic," but the subsequent development of aircraft has' been—and continues to be—so rapid that much of value to usand to future generations is being irretrievably lost in the flood. Although there are a few enthusiasts engaged in rescuingrelics as and when they see them, no large-scale attempt has been made anywhere in the'world to preserve items relating tothe history and development of aeronautics. Many of the existing collections will eventually be dispersed at sales, dueto the lack of an organization with the same relationship to the cause of aviation as some of our large museums have to theirown specialized subjects. '•: I feel that a genuine effort should be made now to try andremedy this omission As a beginning I am appealing for as . many people as possible in the following categories to contactme: — ;' (1) All those who consider that active steps should be takentowards the formation of a national centre where items and records relating to the history of flight can beassembled. Suggestions to this end will be welcomed. (2) Those who possess items of any size, number or worthwhich have a bearing on aeronautical history. This applies to even-thing from personal trinkets up to com-plete aircraft. All catalogues and lists which I am permitted to copywill be returned within a few days. In this way it is hoped that a national-wide dossier can be built up whichwill pinpoint every article relating to the subject, irre- spective of its country of origin. (3) Those who have knowledge of complete or partly disin-tegrated aircraft "of any vintage or nationality. Numerous reports have appeared in our aviationjournals giviug details of veteran aircraft or odd com- ponents which lie in fields or are tucked away in sheds.Reports on the type, condition and exact location of .. these relics will be most useful. (4) Those who own books, plans, documents, prints, picturesand models of historical interest. 2 (5) Those possessing or having knowledge of R.F.C., R.A.jj;or R.N.A.S. squadron histories, etc. Once the details above have been supplied and sifted it shouldbe possible to gauge the feasibility of the scheme and enable me to make a further report. The ultimate success of thisventure may well depend upon the measure of public support forthcoming. Will readers please send all correspondence tothe undersigned at the address below? 50, Lovett Road, D. S. GRIFFIN. ,Coprior, Portsmouth. ^", FORTHCOMING EVENTS May 12th.—R.As.S. (Graduates and Students' Section) : " Pressure ^ Cabins," D. Cardwell, B.Sc, A.C.G.I., A.F.R.Ae.S. * May 18th.—R.Ae.S. (Weybridge) : Branch Members' Junior Prize Lecture. May 18th.—Aircraft Recognition Society : Talk by C. G. Grey. May 21st.—Northamptonshire Aero Club : 2lsc Anniversary Air Display. May 21st.—Aero Golfing Society : Summer meeting and " Flight " Trophy. Ashridge Course. May 26th and 27th.—National Physical Laboratory: "Open Days" May 26th for representatives of industrial organizations and May 27th for members of university staffs and govern- ment departments. May 28th.—Wolverhamoton Aero Club : " At Home " and Air Display. . May 29th.—Ultra Light Aircraft Association : Air Rally Derby Airport. ; (Cancelled). .-•" May 29th.—Leicestershire Aero Club : Air Day a,nd " At Home," Racciiffe ,- airfield. Just 1st.—R.Ae.S. (Luton) : Discussion evening. * : June 1st.—R.Ac.S. (Weybridge) : Annual General Meetings * June 4th to 6th.—Bembridge and Sandown Aero Club : Flying Week-end. : June 4th-6th.—Aero Club d'Epernay : Third Internationa! Air Rally. (Private invitations.) June llth and 12th.—Royal Air Forces Association : Annual Conference' Margate. June llth to 17th.—•R.A.F. Small Arms Association: the 23rd Annual Championship Meeting. June I Ith.—Darlington and District Aero Club : Air Display, Croft airfield June llth to 13th.—Yorkshire Aeroplane Club : International and Club Invitation Rally. June 18th.—R.Ae.S. (Brough) : Flying meeting and Cirrus Trophy race, Brough. June 19th.—Air League of the British Empire (Portsmouth) : Garden Party, . The Airport, Portsmouth. June 22nd to 24th.—Institute of Transport : Congress at Buxton B
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