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Aviation History
1950
1950 - 1298.PDF
An R.E.8 Corps-reconnaissance aircraft, with 160 h.p. R.A.F.4A engine. The butt of many jokes, the " Harry Tate " did a fine job. FIGHTING STOCK . . . OTHER CLASSES A RTICLES in this issue emphasize the importance of r\ many classes of Service aircraft other than fighters *• -^ and bombers. A well-balanced air force—such as the R.A.F. after its post-war " run-down " now aspires to become—must have reconnaissance aircraft for land and over-water operation; suitable machines for locating and attacking shipping—especially submarines—transports, communications aircraft, and, of course, trainers. That reconnaissance was among the first applications of British military aircraft has already been noted. The work of such types as the B.E.2C, R.E.8 and Bristol Fighter, as the eyes of the Army and Air Force in the 1914-18 war, is less known than the exploits of the fighters and the bombers of those days; but it had a profound effect on the conduct of the great campaigns and was often nothing short of heroic. Between the wars a special class erf two-seater "army co-operation" aircraft came into being and is represented by the Armstrong Whitworth Atlas and Hawker Audax and Hector biplanes, and—last of the line—the Westland Lysander monoplane. The Second World War showed that for tactical reconnaissance a fast single-seater of fighter type was preferable. For long-range (strategical) reconnaissance the Service still depends largely on the Supermarine Spitfire and de Havilland Mosquito. The Mosquito P.R.34 achieves a still-air range, at 20,000ft, of 3,000 miles, and is capable of Blackburn Iris flying boat, with three Rolls-Royce Condor engines. Armstrong Whitworth Atlas army co-operation aircraft (Jaguar) picking up a message. Later "AX." types were Hector and Lysander. operating at heights far above 30,000ft. It may be that the P.R. Mosquito will be superseded by a version of the jet-propelled Canberra bomber. For locating and attacking shipping and for open-sea patrol. Coastal Command is equipped with Avro Lancaster landplanes and Short Sunderland 5 flying boats. The Lan- caster is due to be superseded by the Shackleton G.R.i— another Avro product—powered with four Rolls-Royce Griffon engines, equipped with the latest radar equipment, and armed with the most effective- anti-shipping— especially anti-submarine—weapons. Since 1917 excellent use has been made of flying boats for reconnaissance and anti-shipping work. In the con- struction of this class of aircraft our country has always excelled. The wooden-hulled F.2A of 1917 was built by Short Brothers, had a five-hour endurance, and carried a crew of four. It gave wonderful service on operations Vickers Vildebeest torpedo bomber, powered with a Bristol Pegasus. (Below) F.3 flying boat, with two Rolls-Royce Eagle engines. V Sunderiand 5 (four Pratt and Whitney Twin Wasp engines).
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