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Aviation History
1953
1953 - 0324.PDF
522 % ,g|ipiiwi|gpf|p» 39 Wrm** OFF-SHORE SECUREMENT: Two views of the Polish Air Force Mig-15 at bornholm (see "A Present from Poland," below, in which various fea tures are discussed). The exaggeratedly fat appearance in the plan view is probably due to the angle from which the photograph—apparently a very-low-altitude aerial view—was taken, plus lens distortion. FROM ALL QUARTERS A Present from Poland THERE have been many instances in war-time of aircraft being captured intact because they have been landed, either acci dentally or intentionally, within the territory of a Power particu larly interested in securing a specimen. So far, the cold war has produced few incidents of this kind, though there have been two cases of Mig-15 pilots landing in poor visibility at Allied airfields in Germany (both realized their mistake in time to make a get away) and in August, 1951, a comparatively intact Mig-15 was taken by the Royal Navy from shallow water off the Korean coast. On March 5th, however, another Mig-15, the Polish pilot of which was said to be seeking asylum in a NATO country, put down on-the 1,300-yard strip at Roenne Airfield, on the Danish island of Bornholm, which is only about 60 miles distant from Polish territory. According to his own story, it is reported, he was on a flight from Poland to East Germany in company with another Mig-15 when, over the Baltic coast, he jettisoned his auxiliary tanks and dived away seaward. He heard his companion give the news to base by R/T., and also heard, in reply, orders that he should be intercepted and shot down; but within six minutes he had reached safety. The aircraft was at once placed under guard and the pilot, Franciszek Garecki, was later taken to Copenhagen for questioning. Senior Danish Air Force officers, accompanied by the British Air Attache, W/C. F. R. Jeffs, A.F.C., flew from the capital to Bom- holm. In view of the fact that the Mig belonged to the air force of a Soviet satellite it seems unlikely that it is of the latest type; never theless, the photographs do indicate a number of detail departures from the Mig-15 as illustrated and described in some detail—from all available sources of information—in Flight of July 25th last year. The two most noticeable departures revealed are the fitting of a more heavily framed canopy, resembling that of the Swift, and the cutting-away of the tailpipe-end, Sabre-fashion. There are also perforated wing-flaps; small mass-balances can be dis cerned on elevators and at the rudder-tip; the air brakes, near the tail, are of different shape; and the full-chord wing fences (two on each side) are considerably deeper. A very high degree of polish can be seen on the wings, and it is noticeable that the Polish Air Force insignia on the fin are in red only, the usual white panels being omitted. Armament is quoted in a news-agency report as consisting of two 20 mm cannon—in contrast (if the information is correct) to the usual Mig-15 equipment of two 23 mm guns to port and one 37 mm to starboard. The fact that the Bornholm machine carried live ammunition and a camera no doubt led the Danish Government to speak, last week-end, of "a serious violation of Danish territory" and to say that a thorough investigation would have to be made before the Mig-13 could be returned in compliance with a demand by the Polish Government. It was decided to take the aircraft to Copenhagen and, as it could not be flown out of Bornholm, it was dismantled last week end and taken in three lorry-loads to Roenne harbour. This immediately brought a new Note from the Poles, protesting that (a) the machine was being transported to Copenhagen, (b) it had been dismantled, and (c) the Danes had allowed "a foreign military attache" to examine and photograph it. Supersonic Swift SINCE the paragraph on the Swift in "Aircraft Intelligence" (page 331) went to press, an official announcement by Vickers- Armstrongs has stated that the aircraft has exceeded the speed of sound "on a number of occasions," and that Mike Lithgow and David Morgan were the pilots on these flights. For residents near the Supermarine airfields this comes as further confirmation of the news implied by the bangs they have been hearing recently. Listeners to the Western Regional B.B.C. services also received advance notice of the official statement; it came during a broadcast commentary of a recent football match at Swindon, wLsn the alleged boredom of a quiet match was relieved by supersonic barracking from a Swift overhead. A triple bang has been reported. Production Swifts have been flying for some months now and are expected to begin R.A.F. squadron service this summer. Prize-giving at Farnborough IN its comparatively short history the Technical College of the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough, has established itself as a most important source of training for engineers and craftsmen, and this was reflected in the distinguished array of aeronautical and Ministry of Supply personalities who attended the annual distribution of prizes last Friday. The proceedings were opened by Sir Frederick Handley Page, C.B.E., F.R.Ae.S., F.C.G.I., chairman of the board of governors, who, in a brief introduction, stressed the great importance of not forgetting the cultural side of education in such a predominantly technical institution. Mr. R. D. Peggs, M.A., M.I.Mech.E., A.F.R.Ae.S., the principal, then made his report—the tenth since fhe foundation of the college—in which he stated that the cultural side of life was in fact not neglected in the curriculum; and he then went on to enumerate the considerable number of academic successes gained by students during the past year. He was also able to mention the very favourable relationship which had grown up between college and local residents. The various awards were then presented by Mr. A. R. W. Low, C.B.E., D.S.O., Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Supply, deputizing at the last minute for the Minister himself,
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