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Aviation History
1955
1955 - 0672.PDF
670 FLIGHT, 13 May 1955 CORRESPONDENCE . . . that "many members of the R.F.C. will guess his name" withoutactually quoting it. The first time I saw Armstrong loop straight off the grass at Fairlop and "flick roll" between the Bessoneauhangars I was horrified and incredulous; but seeing these and other equally frightening exploits repeated with exactitude leftonly respect and admiration for his complete mastery. In 1930, Oliver Stewart commented that "Before he died in France, thispilot set a standard in aerobatics which in artistry and spectacular effect has never since been surpassed." I believe that to be astrue today as it was then. Of the countless exhibitions I have seen in the ensuing years, only Udet remotely offered comparison. Finally, may I express the earnest hope that the entire seriesof J. M. Bruce's articles on the military aircraft of the 1914-1918 war will be published in book form. Ryde, Isle of Wight. F. A. KAPPEY. Westland History I FOUND your recent history of Westlands intensely interesting.There seemed to be no mention of the fact, but I believe one of the Pterodactyls (I forget which one) is still in existence—or wasnot long ago. I am almost certain that I saw it strung up to the roof of one of the hangars at Farnborough—or am I dreaming?Whilst in nostalgic mood, I often gaze on what I believe is the sole survivor of the Miles Martlets (G-AAYX) which still reposesin the corner of a hangar at Shoreham—minus engine but other- wise outwardly complete. I wonder if some enthusiast will ever push this most interestinglittle aeroplane into the sky again. As a youth I spent many hours watching the antics of these delightful little biplanes. Iseem to remember that one of its most doughty protagonists was one F/O. H. H. Leach, who flew with verve and skill.Jolly good luck to your admirable journal! Worthing, Sussex. DOUGLAS F. TAYLOR. THE AERONAUTICAL BOOKSHELF "Expedition to Earth," by Arthur C. Clarke. Sidgwick andJackson, Ltd., 1 Tavistock Chambers, Bloomsbury Way, London, W.C.I. Price 8s 6d. A NYONE who has read Arthur Clarke's previous science fiction**• novels will know what to expect in this collection of short stories. They were beautifully written, with plenty of suspense,an obvious basis of scientific knowledge and, in some cases, a moral. For those who like space-travel stories, there is a strugglefor survival between two men in a rocket, deep in space, with sufficient oxygen for only one to live. But the most thought-provoking and appealing little story of all concerns the scientists of Venus, many years in the future, who discover a unique recordof long-extinct life on Earth. How could they be expected to appreciate the real significance of the words that follow a film ofthe incredible adventures of colourful Earthlings with big mouths and enormous ears—"A Walt Disney Production"? "The First and the Last," by Adolf Galland, Methuen and Co.,Ltd., 16 Essex Street, London, W.C.2. Illustrated. Price 18s. "THIS is the story of one of Germany's outstanding fighter•*• leaders before and during World War II, and it is also yet another piece in the jig-saw puzzle which, when complete, willgive the full picture of the fantastic hierarchic card-house which was Nazi Germany. Galland was a part of German aviationfrom the time of the tremendous and genuine enthusiasm which marked the rise of Nazism and the rebirth of German self-respect,up to the incredible and cataclysmic military collapse which signalled the fall of Nazism, though not the demise of Germancourage and energy. It is difficult to gain a valid impression of the writer from atranslation of his work, and one cannot help feeling that this particular translation could have been helped with a little moretechnical knowledge, and perhaps a little more time and con- sideration. But the story rings true, and Galland seems to pullno punches. Galland first flew with the growing German gliding move-ment in the early Nazi days and, after leaving school, passed the extremely tough entrance tests for Lufthansa. With this companyhe was given secret military flying training, and joined the first squadrons of the new Luftwaffe. During the Spanish civil warhe was posted to die German Kondor Legion and established rather against his will, a reputation as a ground-attack pilot. Histrue bent was towards pure fighters. It was during and immediately after the Battle of Britain thathe began to see Goering regularly and to argue with him as few others dared; and he then began to realize that the whole basisof the strategic and tactical employment of the air force was founded on wrong or outmoded concepts. Galland was chief of the fighters for several years and saw thewhole fantastic sequence of orders and counter-orders, and "intuitions," which were largely responsible for depriving theGermans of vital air superiority. One fact that does emerge very clearly is that despite their "poor relation" status in the GermanAir Force the fighter pilots did as well as (and in many cases very much better than) anyone except Hitler or Goering could havehoped. The fighter force was directly responsible for two major Allied strategic bomber campaigns against the German aircraftindustry—and this when Allied intelligence reports had it that the fighter resistance had been almost totally destroyed. Thoughits efforts necessarily became feebler as total national collapse approached, it never ceased to be a thorn in the flesh of theAllied bomber formations. For this Galland was as much respon- sible as the fighter pilots themselves. At the end Galland fell into disgrace and was sent back to activefighter flying, this time in command of one of the first Me262 intercepter squadrons. By the time the end came he was inhospital after being shot down, and he realized that years of work on behalf of the fighters were lost in the collapse just whenreal results were beginning to show. Galland, who has been a consultant to the Argentine Air Forcesince the war, has entered the news again, for it was recently rumoured that he might become the commander of the newGerman Air Force. One cannot help feeling that this time he would make some pretty firm conditions before accepting the post,and that the structure of the new force would differ fairly radically from that of the war-time Luftwaffe. OTHER BOOKS RECEIVED Down in the Drink, by Ralph Barker. Chatto and Windus,Ltd., 40-42 William IV Street, London, W.C.2. Price 12s 6d. Flying Model Aircraft, by D. J. Laidlaw-Dickson. FrederickMuller, Ltd., Ludgate House, 110, Fleet Street, London, E.C.4. Price 6s. Gas Turbine Series, Vol 2; Some Fundamentals of Combustion,by D. B. Spalding, M.A., Ph.D., A.M.I.Mech.E. Butterworth's Scientific Publications, 88 Kingsway, London, W.C.2. Price 40s. Some Recent Appointments A RECENT change in the board of the British Thomson- **• Houston Co., Ltd., has been announced. Mr. J. N. MacDonald, B.A., A.M.I.E.(India), executive director of the B.T.H. Export Co., retired at the end of April and Mr. H. E. Wethered has been elected to the board to fill the vacancy. * * * The Plessey Co., Ltd., announce the appointment of Mr. C. D. H. Webb as director of Plessey International, Ltd. * * * Mr. Frank A. Hurst, chairman of Titanium Metal and Alloys,Ltd., of Sheffield, and chairman and managing director of Samuel Osborn and Co., Ltd., has been elected president of the SheffieldChamber of Commerce. * * * Mr. R. J. Dixon, A.M.I.P.E., has been appointed a director ofWickman, Ltd., machine tool manufacturers. Mr. Dixon, who is chief engineer of the company, joined the firm in 1929 andwas appointed a special director in 1953. * * * Following the recent statement by Mr. G. H. Dowty that the educational activities of the Dowty Group were to be extended comes news of the appointment of Mr. K. J. Hume as chiefeducation officer. Mr. Hume has held posts with the de Havilland Aircraft and Engine companies and is at present head of theNational College of Horology. He will take up his new duties in August. * * * A well-known Canadian aviation journalist, Mr. Ross Willmot,editor of Canadian Aviation, has been appointed director of public relations to the Hunting Group's Canadian companies. He isdirector of special events in connection with the Canadian Inter- national Trade Fair and Air Show which is being held at Torontofrom May 30th to June 10th. * • * The appointment of Mr. R. L. "Deacon" Sansbury as directorEuropean operations has been announced by the Martin Com- pany, Baltimore. He will be responsible for customer relationswith U.S. and NATO military, governmental, and civilian agencies and will assist in the export sales programme of the company.Mr. Sansbury joined the Martin organization as a test pilot in 1940 and since 1948 has been Air Force sales manager. Hisaddress in Britain is 78 Buckingham Gate, London, S.W.I.
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