BRITISH AIRCRAFT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23923, 25 March 1941, Page 7

BRITISH AIRCRAFT

RECORD NUMBER READY ADVANCES IN RESEARCH NEW TYPES IN PRODUCTION (Itml. f>.f> p.m.) LONDON, March (.Jiving an account in a broadcast of the aircraft situation as at lasl Wednesday, w hen returns were brought in, says a British official wireless message. Lord Beaverbrook, Minister of Aircraft Production, said: "The tally showed that aircraft, in storage are all ready for immediate operations and in record number, surpassing anything that has gune before and anything in the diistory of aviation. "Fighters find bum tiers alike have reached the highest total in our history. As tor new production, we had a record in l'ebrtiary, both in fighters and bombers. Engine production in that month was very fine, too, although not a record Efficient Repair Depots "We are very confident about the position in the main repair depots. From damaged aircraft and I'roin salvage ot every description we got much material for other purposes. 'J'ots ol gold" wo call this. There will bo a fine cmlput of repaired engines, the engiii<' repair organisation having reached a high level of efficiency in turning old

engines into new." Britain's aircraft designers wore entitled to the highest praise, said Lord Heaverbrook, who also paid a high tribute to workers in the aircraft industry, the officials of the Air Ministry, the 11ova 1 Air Force, and to the Secretary of State for Air, Sir Archibald Sinclair. "It seems to me that we have the best Secretary of State in our experience," he added. Latest Machines Saying that research was one of the most important branches of the Aircraft Ministry, Lord Beaverbrook continued: "Production is important, but improvement is even more important. We must give constant and vigilant attention to all problems of experiment and innovation. Tliev are being constantly examined day and night, and in the last nine months we have done more development- work than ever before. "The men who are responsible have brought into operation during that period six new types of aircraft—the

Beau Fighter, Fulmar, Whirlwind, Stirling. Halifax ami Manchester. We lime watched tho Hurricane and Spitfire being lifted up and up until now those aeroplanes ride high, wide and handsome. "There are, at this moment, two new aircraft passing from the development stage to production. Behind those two are several other new types. They will be in production one day—and perhaps an early day." Most Powerful Engine Five new engines during nine months had been brought from experiment to manufacture, Lord Beaverbrook said. The highest-powered of any British aeroplane engine which had passed official tests was developed by the Sabre plant. The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Aircraft Production. Colonel .J. J. Llewellin, referring to this engine in the House of Commons recently, said it was less than 6ft. long and developed more power than a giant British railway locomotive. Owing to its spherical structure, the Sabre had a small frontal arc and reduced "drag" which made it very suitable for high performance fighter aircraft. According to a statement made in the House of Commons by MajorGeneral Seelv, in March, 1019, Great Britain ended the last war with 200 squadrons of aircraft. At the time of the armistice she was spending at the rate of £200,000,000 a year and building 1000 aeroplanes a month. FOUR-ENGINE MACHINES DELIVERY FROM AMERICA (Reed. r>.f, p.m.) LONDON, March 23 The Ministry of Aircraft Production states that it is now receiving deliveries of four-engined aircraft from tlio United States, says a British official wireless message. The first type to fly to Britain was the Liberator, the name given to the long-range heavy bomber produced by the Consolidated Aircraft Corporation at San Diego, California. The Liberatoris a monoplane the engines of which develop 1200 horse-power at the takeoff. The length is OGft., span 110 ft., and the speed 300 miles an hour. It carries a huge bomb-load and has a range of 3000 miles. AWARDS TO AIRMEN SOUTH AFRICAN'S FEATS (Real. 7.10 p.m.) LONDON, March 2:5 A squadron-leader who has completed over 100 sorties by day and night receives the D.S.O. in the latest list of If oval Air Force awards, says a British official wireless message. Ihe oflicer. who already holds the D.F.C., is Kquad-ron-Leader .1. R. Gordon-Finlayson, sou of Lieutenant-General Sir Robert Gordon-Finlayson, General .Officer Commanding the Western Command. Captain S. A. B. Tlierou, of the South African Air Force, wins the D.F.C. for operations in Fast Africa. He intercepted and shot down an eiieniv aircraft near Daggahbur and later the .same day destroyed one of two Italian CI! I2 ? s which attempted to attack Daggahbur aerodrome. Tuo days later in an attack on Diredawa aerodrome, he shot down a CIU2 and destroyed foui Savoia bombers on the ground. Another D.F.C. goes to Pilot-Officer H. Paterson, who was detailed one night this month to attack a German cruiser of the Hipper class at Brest. While reconnoitring at about 7000 ft. a flare dropped by another aircraft illuminated the target, whereupon Pilot-Officer I'aterson decided to attack. Diving in the face of heavy opposition from the ground defences he released several heavy bombs. Although his aircraft was severely damaged and difficult to handle, he succeeded in returning and landing safely.