PART OF NAVY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 165, 13 July 1940, Page 10

PART OF NAVY.

FLEET AIR ARM.

Considerable Differences To

Land-Based Craft.

NEED FOR GREATEST SKILL

(Received 1.30 p.in.) RUGBY, July 12. An interesting description of work of the Fleet Air Ann was given today by ;m officer of the "Xavy which flies." The Fleet Air Arm is part of the Xavy in the same way a, submarines or the torpedo service is a. part, and is manned by naval personnel. Working, as they do, mainly from aircraft carriers, machines of the Fleet Air Arm have designs different to those of shore-based aeroplanes. Xavy machines also combine a number of functions, the same craft being used for torpedo work as well as bombing and reconnaissance. In consequence they are not as fast as the R.A.F. prototypes. Having to land on a carrier and carry a heavy torpedo, weighing 15001b, they are rather more solid in construction than those of the land-based aircraft. . In addition, the observer requires more room. Unlike the K.A.F. machines. i which, when returning to their base from a flight over the sea, can pick up the coastline and from that find their aerodromes,..-sea-based aircraft have to find an aircraft carrier, which, large though it is, looks but .a small spot on the face of the ocean. For this, amongst other reasons, the observer has to be n highly skilled navigator, and requires space for his work. Fleet Air Arm machines—Swordfish and Albatross types—have done magnL ficent work. Much of the work in Norway was carried out by this force, and the Italian.: are learning that their excellence of manufacture and efficiency, the skill and daring of the pilots, and the crews' high navigation skill makes these Xavy aircraft specially usefid in night operations. Used to finding their way p.cross a trackless sea back to their carrier, flying directly to a target in the darkness presents no grave problems. Other aircraft of this service are Skuas, Rocs and Fulmas, which arc carried by the larger ships of the Xavy, and include two : seater fighters..