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Aviation History
1960
1960 - 0846.PDF
854 FLIGHT, 17 June 1960 Correspondence The Editor of "Flight" is not necessarily in agreement with the viewsexpressed by correspondents in these columns. Names and addresses of writers, not for publication in detail, must in all cases accompany letters. The Kufra Blenheim—Final ChapterT HOUGH I, unfortunately, missed Peter Masefield'sfletter onthe "Middle East Mystery," I was intrigued to read the more recent letters on the same subject in two of the April issues ofFlight. Perhaps I might be permitted to write a further chapter to the story. Early in 1959 my unit, No 1 (Field) Squadron, RAF Regiment,received a request from the Imperial War Graves Commission to recover the remains of eleven airmen from two separate locationsin an area approximately 170km north-east of Kufra. About that time I also received a sighting report of a Blenheim aircraft froman oil exploration company. The position given was almost coinci- dent with the northernmost plot forwarded by the Imperial WarGraves Commission. Having need to visit the Kufra area some months later, it wasdecided to make the two positions the objectives for a desert navi- gation exercise. In November last, a column of six Land-Roversfrom the squadron found the Blenheim without difficulty in three days after a direct cross-country journey of nearly 500 miles.As Mr Kennedy-Shaw suggested in his letter, it was located near Garet Thalma Saghir—six miles south-west. This was theaircraft from which the sole crew-member survived. Alongside were the graves of three airmen. They now rest in the Acroma(Knightsbridge) War Cemetery. Unfortunately someone from Kufra had visited the aircraft a short time before us and removedmuch of it for salvage. An extensive search of the second area, some 50 miles to thesouth-east, was made without success. A further disappointment was that on our return journey we unknowingly passed close bythe American Liberator Lady be Good, which lay only 40 miles to the east of our course. I am able to corroborate most of Mr BurchelPs letter. Hisaccount is indeed extremely accurate. His mention of the water hole near the located aircraft amazes me, since the immediate areawas searched in detail. Perhaps the desert had claimed it during the intervening years. RAF, El Adcm J. R. SPENCER, Sqn Ldr [We had not intended to reopen this correspondence, but Sqn LdrSpencer's letter is of such interest that it deserves to be made an exception.—Ed.] Airline Captains' Pay IN his letter on "Airline Captains' Pay" Mr T. Beven misses oneimportant point. The reason the corporation pilots receive more pay is simple. They are twice as good as independentpilots. Not only are they a better "type" but their standard of flying is far, far higher. One only has to listen on the R/T torealize not only the greater efficiency of the corporations but the nicer kind of voice. And, of course, one has only to meet themin bars overseas to realize which sort of company the gin-soaked wreck holding on to the counter with shaking hands is from, andto which corporation the gentleman sipping his champagne belongs. More power to the corporation types. May they get anotherrise, even if it does mean an extra sixpence on the income tax. Feltham, Middx P. O. N. Tius CranwelPs Earliest Days 'THE letter from Mr N. A. Nunn published on June 3 revived^ memories of Cranwell in its early days which may be of interest to him and others. I was drafted to Cranwell (HMS Daedalus, as it was thencalled) and found on my arrival that it consisted of a farmhouse, which housed the officers, and some outbuildings which formedthe mess deck and sleeping quarters for the ship's company. Otherwise it was a maze of foundations of things to come. Very soon a Zeppelin nosed its way very low and slowly acrossthe meadows which were eventually to become a major training station, but we had not so much as a peashooter to let off and theairship went on its way unharmed and, we hoped, having learned very little. Remarkably quickly the project took shape and it was a greatthrill when our first aircraft arrived—a Maurice Farman and a 504K, as I remember. Later we had Nieuport Scouts, Curtisses,Bristol Scouts, and Sopwith Camels and, finally, the large Handley Page bomber, with which it was intended to attackBerlin. Near the site of the present college were the airship sheds housing rigid, coastal patrol and sea-scout airships and a largehydrogen plant, all under the command of Waterlow and Corbett. June June June June June June June June June July July July JulyJuly July July July July July July July July July July July 12-18. 17-18. 18-19. 19. 19. 22-28, 25. 25-27 28. 1-4. 1-4. 2-3. 2-4. 2-10. 8-9. 8-10. 9. 9-10.10. 10. 16. 17. 23. 23-24. 24- August 1. FORTHCOMING EVENTS " International Institute of Welding: Annual Assembly in Liege. Lozere Aero Club: Rally, Mende-Brenoux. West Aero Club of France: 14th International Wine Rally, Angers. French Aero Club: Rotorcraft Grand Prix. Yorkshire Aeroplane Club At Home, Yeadon. .. • '" FAI: Aerial tour of Europe (provisional date). RAFA Air Display, Staverton. . RAeC: Invitation Air Rally, Escoublac/La Baule. Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators: Presentation of Meteorological Office Awards. Bienne Aero Club: Swiss Watch Rally, Bienne. Palermo Aero Club: Aerial Tour of Sicily. Flying Doctors' Meeting, Vittel. Royal Aero Club: Invitation Rally, St Gatien, Deauville. West Aero Club of France: Gliding Competition, Angers. Royal Aero Club: Lockheed International Acrobatic Competition and King's Cup Race, Baginton. Italian Aero Club Competition. RAFA and Exeter Airport Ltd: Display, Exeter. Basse Normandie Aero Club Rally, Flers. Elstree Flying Club: Pilot's Rally, Elstree Aerodrome. Leicestershire Aero Club At Home, Leicester East/Oadby. Parachuting Competition, Woburn Abbey. Royal Aero Club Rally, Woburn Abbey. Army Air Corps: Open Day, Middle Wallop, Stockbridge, Hants. Trento Aero Club: 10th Aerial Circuit of the Dolomites. Gliding Weeks: Yorkshire GC, Sutton Bank; London GC, Dunstable; Derby and Lanes GC., Camphill. Many good fellows bit the dust of Cranwell, evidence of whichexists in the little churchyard of Cranwell church, but casualties were inevitable in those pioneering days and with the bunch offire-eating youngsters that clamoured for flying thrills. Apart from the names mentioned by Mr Nunn there were manycelebrities who come to mind: Fleet Surgeon Hall, The Master of Sempill, Lt Cdr Potter, Maj Whiteley, Maj Louis Greig(equerry to the late King), "Jointy" Williams and the first con- tingent of "Wrens," who caused a great stir, as also did thereplacement of sick-berth attendants by nurses. . I remember the gradual build-up of Cranwell from a farm to afirst-class training establishment with its railway to Sleaford, its many ancillary sections (photographic, W/T, etc), its orchestraunder the B. J. Hales (who first performed the Royal Air Force March), its brass band, its concert parties under Gordon Clapham,and its drama section. Altogether it was a wonderful "ship" and there were many sadhearts when the amalgamation with the RFC came, which seemed to change its character. However, it will always remain with mea nostalgic memory and reminiscences would fill a book. Selsdon, Surrey A. E. COLLINS If-you-must Dept. RETROSPECTIVELY browsing through some copies of Flight,I noted that in a leading article on January 8, 1960, you mention a new name, "Polymorph," which is echoing round theaeronautical world. It apparently describes an aircraft capable of assuming various shapes—variable sweep, variable incidence, etc.May I point out that this is really nothing new? At a pre-war flying school where I used to help out we had aircraft capableof assuming various shapes. We called them Pussmorphs. Bristol Ivo HOPPERTON LOW-PRICE HOVERCRAFT IN PRODUCTION Following the example of Hovercraft Developments Ltd and Saunden- Roe, who stole a march on the world with the Hovercraft, PlaycraH Toys Ltd have apparently done likewise in the toy industry. This excel- lent little model—which set its makers some nice problems in plasti: tool-making and die-casting—is 5in long and retails at 8s 6d. Three spring-loaded balls simulate the air cushion
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