PILOT'S "TOT."

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 74, 29 March 1938, Page 7

PILOT'S "TOT."

AIR FORCE DRINKING.

Allegations Refuted in Debate

In Commons.

CURE FOR " COLD FEET."

LONDON", March 25

Allegations of excessive drinking by Royal Air Puree officers were made —and rebutted—in the House of Commons. Mr. < larro .Tones (Lab.. North Aberdeen I said during the debate on the Air Kstimates that unless tlie drinking tendencies of R.A.F. officers were watched caretully their nerve and ability would be affected. There had been several unfavourable reports recently, lie stated. He recalled the court-martial which followed the striking of a superior officer by an Australian tlight-lieutenant during a club evening. "I do not sup-pest prohibition,"' Mr. (larro .tones to]<l the House, "but I do think that young officers should be discouraged from glorifying in a drink." Mr. A. Hopkinson (Nat. Lab.. Mossley) said that many youngsters who would make admirable officers were so constituted that occasionally they "kicked over the traces."' "Good Old Blind." There were a number of young men in the R.A.F. who went on "a good old blind" once cr twice a year. Vet they were none the worse in health or nerve for it.

Every pilot occasionally got "cold feet.'' One could imagine a youngster feeling that way, and accepting the advice of an older man. who suggested that he take a tot of wliiskv. -

The youngster would discover that it made him as bold as brass, and next time he had "cold feet" he would take another tot. Such a man was no good, and tlie sooner the Air Force was rid of him the better.

The Under-Secretary for Air, Lieut.Colonel Muirhead, denied that there was any substance for suggestions that the nerve and ability of R.A.F. officers were being affected by promiscuous drinking.

Medical officers, he told the House, kept a close watch over the health of K.A.F. pilots, and any deterioration would be quickly noted.

CRASH INTO SEA.

British Naval Flying Boat

With Crew of Six.

JOURNALIST ALSO ON BOARD.

(Received 2 p.m.)

LONDON, March 28.

A naval flying boat with a crew of >ix participating in combined naval and aerial exercises, crashed into the sea near Brest. A journalist. Mr. A. K. Harlow, who was observing the manoeuvres on behalf of the journal. "The Aeroplane."' was also aboard. His body lias been recovered.

CROP OF RECORDS.

Houston's London-New Zealand

Flight.

AERO CLUB RECOGNITION,

LONDON, March 2S,

The Royal Aero Club, representing the International Federation, has recognised the following as Flying-Officer A. E. Clou-ton's records: — Fastc-t time. London to Sydney, 3 days S hours .">ii minutes. London to Xew Zealand. 4 days S hours 20 minutes. New Zealand to London, days 20 hours -7 minutes. Sydney to London. 4 days 14 hours 22 minutes. The Comet's time of lib lTm fcr the "2300 mill's flight nam Sydney to Darwin was a record lor the distance, and was claimed as such at the time.

SEAPLANE SEEN.

DEVON-BUENOS AYRES FLIGHT

i Reccivi-d 12 noon.)

BERLIN"

March 28,

The (iorman seaplane flying to Buenos Avrcs from Devon. Kngland. was seen over tape Verde I-lands at a.m.

SABOTAGE AT FACTORY?

R.A.F. 'PLANES TAMPERED WITH

LONDON

March 2

Five high-speed Royal Air Force bomber* at the Eairey factory at Stockport were made temporarily unflyable by the cutting of the electric leads. It is believed saboteurs were responsible.

AUCKLANDER'S RECORD.

MODEL AEROPLANE FLIGHT

SYDXKY. March 2S.

Mr. \ . R. Cray, of Auckland. broke Iho Au.-t ra lia n and New Zealand record for a model aeroplane indoor flight. his machine remaining aloft for 11 minutes 2.'! 1-") seconds.