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Aviation History
1955
1955 - 0746.PDF
744 FLIGHT, 27 May 1955 SERVICE AVIATION Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm News Joint Experimental Helicopter Unit UNDER the command of Lt.-Col. J. F.T. Scott, T.D., R.A., the Joint Experimental Helicopter Unit startedoperations at Middle Wallop on April 1st. The unit's official role is to collect informa-tion by practical trials to enable the Army and the R.A.F. to determine whether heli-copters, "or such other aircraft as may be allotted to the unit" (a reference to V.T.O.aircraft), are likely to be a practical, effi- cient and economical means of solving theArmy's future problems of mobility, organization and administration in the field.This may include problems which are shared with other Services in forward areas. More simply, the Army is seeking adevice having all the advantages of being airborne and yet requiring nothing morethan a level field as a base. In the same way that in the 1914-18 war horse-limbersand cavalry gave place to motor lorries and tanks, so the Army is now searching forsuitable aircraft to take the place—where conditions justify—of motor transport andto add aeronautics as a further step in the mechanization of its fighting troops. As initial equipment the unit has onlytwo Bristol Sycamores, which, until deliv- ery of larger types takes place, will have tosimulate heavy-load-carrying helicopters. Six machines are hoped for during the firstyear of operation with, perhaps, the estab- lishment of a second flight in June 1956.It is thought that, in addition to straightfor- ward helicopters or V.T.O. aircraft, fixed-wing aircraft with exceptional take-off and landing characteristics might also be triedby the unit. Participation in manoeuvres is expected in about two years' time. Having had much practical experience inKorea, the Americans are considerably more advanced than we are in the opera-tion of helicopters in front-line conditions. They are putting their accumulatedexperience at the disposal of the unit, liaison being carried on through theBritish Joint Services Mission. The Joint Experimental HelicopterUnit is at present made up of personnel from the Army and the R.A.F. in equalnumbers. No scheme for ultimate control of the flying side of the Army has yet beenformulated. The unit is now run in a fashion identical with that of an A.O.P.squadron, but doubtless the time will come when the Army will endeavour to gaincomplete control of its own air services. Sculptor Adam Bienkowski at work on the badge of No. 19 Squadron, one of the 900 which will decorate the church of St. Clement Danes, now being rebuilt as the Royal Air Force church. The badges seen here are those of Nos. 63, 39, 53, 54, 26, 21, 25, 36 and 37 Squadrons. Second in command to Lt.-Col. Scott is S/L. D. C. L. Kearns, A.F.C., R.A.F., andthe Flight Commander, Major J. B. Spittal, R.A., has underhim four Army pilots, all seconded from the Royal ArmyService Corps and two R.A.F. pilots. The pilots without heli-copter experience are attending a 30-hour conversion course at Westlandsand Bristols. No. 45 Squadron, R.F.C., Dinner pORTY members of the original No. 45-*• Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, which fought in France and Italy during the 1916to 1918 period, dined in London with ten guests on the evening of May 7th. Everyyear since about 1925—except for the period of the Second World War-—mem-bers of the old Sopwith 11-Strutter and Camel squadron have met as friends onthe evening of the Football Cup Tie Final, coming from as far afield as Scotland,Lancashire and Cornwall. Major J. A. Crook, who commanded the unit in Italyand France from July 27th to October 20th, 1918, was in the chair on this occasion. The guest of honour was the Vice-Chiefof the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Ronald Ivelaw-Chapman, who won hisD.F.C. when flying in "Big Ack-Ws" with No. 10 Squadron in the First World War.Giving the toast of "The Guests," Capt. Norman Macmillan, who won his MilitaryCross with No. 45 Squadron, referred to Sir Ronald's work with No. 10 Squadron,and recalled how he won the A.F.C. by his outstanding work during the evacuation ofcivilians from Afghanistan during the world's first airlift rescue operation. Dur-ing the operation he made an astonishing forced landing on a narrow ledge in themountains, and without casualties. The commanding officer, adjutant and some of the pilots of the Joint Experimental Helicopter Unit (see above): Capt. D. S. Wooles, Adj., F/L. B. M. Ridgway, Lt.-Col. J. F. T. Scott, CO., S/L. D. C. L. Kearns and Maj. J. B. Spittal. "Flight" photograph Capt. Macmillan also welcomed a pastCO. of the present No. 45 Squadron, S/L. I. R. Stockwell, and several other membersof the unit, which is now flying Hornets in Malaya.Replying for the guests, Sir Ronald Ivelaw-Chapman said it gave him greatpleasure to be present at this reunion, yet at the same time it made him feel ratherashamed that his own old squadron did not meet in the same way. He felt that thesuccess of the 45 reunion was due to its having been organized from the beginning"by the men of the squadron for the men," with as many officers as possible joiningin, rather than as an officers' dinner. He was proud to be there; but he was not onewho subscribed to the view that the young men of today were not every bit as sound,patriotic and gallant as the men who sat around the table had been in their youth.After dinner a film of the presentation of its Standard to No. 45 Squadron inMalaya was shown by S/L. Stockwell. Next year the reunion will celebrate the40th anniversary of the founding of the squadron; past or present members are in-vited to communicate with Mr. B. Wether- all, 154, Princes Road, Buckhurst Hill,Essex, so that their names may be added to those already known to him for advice ofthe 1956 Reunion. McKee TrophyW INNER of the McKee Trans-CanadaTrophy for 1954 is W/C. J. G. Wright, D.F.C., head of the Instrument Develop-ment Section at R.C.A.F. headquarters, Ottawa, Ontario. He won the award forhis invention of the R.Theta computer. The McKee Trophy, which dates back to1927, is presented for meritorious services in advancement of Canadian aviation.The R.Theta computor gives the pilot of an aircraft the direction to steer anddistance to go to any position he sets on the instrument. New Zealand S.A.S. MORE than 600 men have volunteeredfor service with the Special Air Ser- vice Squadron which New Zealand is send-ing to Malaya. The volunteers comprise some 150 from the Regular Force, and theremainder from outside the Army. The total of volunteers is nearly three times asmany as the special force will require.
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