Airisms

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 275, 3 November 1933, Page 13

Airisms

by

"Loop"

Instructor’s Report. The H.B. and E.O. Club instructor’s report for October shows that during this month a total of 103 hours 30 minutes’ flying was dene in spite of rather poor weather conditions, there being fftur days in tho month on which flying was impossible, seven days with poor conditions, and lour days with only fair conditions. The flying has been maintained largely through the enthusiasm of pupils who have accounted for most of it by turning out early in the morning. Pupils For Test. On Saturday next six pupils will go through their practical and oral teste lor tho pilot's "A’’ license. The Director uf Air Services, Squadron-Leader Wilkes, will probably be here to test them in. person. The candidates are Messrs W. 0. Krogh, winner of the recent "Herald-Tribune”. Aviation Scholarship; C. Kirkley, of the club’s staff; W. Dick, of Pourcrere; and J. Tattersall, Alan Angus and P. Mayo, of Napier. The tests will bo conducted at Napier aerodrome and these pupils represent the first batch ever to have been put through at Napier. South African Pilot. During the week a member of the Johannesburg (S.A.) Aero Club passed through Napier and indulged in a short flight in order to obtain an aerial view of Hastings and Napier and incidentally to keep his hand in, for he is a qualified pilot trained by tho Johannesburg Club. He is Mr Morriston, and is touring New Zealand lor business reasons. In addition to his own flying experience he has toured many parts of Africa as a passenger, and he proved very interesting to club members. He stated that the “Jo’burg” Club was the only sound one in South Africa, which makes one feel that the Dominion has not done so badly after all. Cisborne Passengers. Recent passengers by air to Gisborne in the club’s machines have included Mrs McAUey, who had to attend a meeting in Gisborne, and Mr W. Richmond, whose services were required in judging fat sheep at the Poverty Bay Show. On each occasion each passenger could spare only a few hours away from Hastings, and air travel was the only means ot transport that could enable them to get their business done in the tame at their disposal. Air Visitors. Recent visitors by air have included Mr Matheson, of Hokitika, flying a Redwing, and Mr Cowper, in a Spartan Arrow. The Redwing is the only machine in New Zealand in which instruction can be given in the side by side position. It is powered with a SO h.p. Gevet engine and evoked considerable interest among members. The Spartan Arrow was also tho centre of i great deal of interest. It is powered with a Gipsy 11. engine of 120 h.p. and appeared to have a very good performance. New Year Commences. Members are reminded that the club's financial year ended on 31st October last. Subscriptions for the forthcoming year are now duo. Those members who were appointed by entry in the “Herald-Tribune” Aviation Scholarship are reminded that although they are full flying members they may continue as associate members on payment of the subscription of £1 1/-. Should they desire to continue as full flying members they may do so instead. Associate and flying members are entitled to all the club privileges except that the latter may take flying tuition.

New Aerodrome. The new hangar at Ixmglands is almost completed now and work is being commenced on the tea-rooms. As soon as these latter aro completed, together with certain minor additions to the Club House, all buildings will be painted. Cream, with green facings, will be the general colour. The roofs will be painted the new yellow-orange colour; it has been found that this is the most conspicuous from the air. Origins of (he R.A.F. The Royal Air Force came of age this year, and during the 21 years or its history has contrived to win almost as much honour for itself as have tho navy and army in centuries. On April .13,' 1912, effect was given by Royal Warrant to the recommendations of a Command White Paper—the “Memorandum on Naval a.nd Military Aviation,” providing for the formation of the Royal Flying Corps. Its predecessor, the Air Battalion, of the Royal Engineers, horn in 1911, was absorbed in the new organisation, which, with the Royal Naval Air Service, became the Royal Air Force, now the most efficient, though by no means the largest, air-fighting service in the world. The birth of the flying service was watched with no small amusement by the navy and army, and its handful of officers ‘and mechanics, bringing forth their weird collection of Bleriot ’planes, met with more hilarity than' encouragement. Yet they wore all in deadly earnest, and buoyed up with hope. They felt, these young pioneers, that the future belonged to them, and that the air machine was destined for vital things. And they were right. What other force in the history of combat has ever gone into action without a single weapon? The old Flying Corps did in 1914. What other force of only a couple of squadrons and an absurdly tiny personnel has ever conquered a whole army all by itself? That is what tho Flying Corp-< did in Palestine. When war broke out in 1914 the parent air services—the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service—seized the opportunity to develop their offensive spirit and their ideas of aerial combat. The Flying Corps, at that time, had 179 machines, and R.N.A.S. 93, tho total personnel numbering no more than 1800 officers and men. The fastest fighting machine then was the Sopwith, which could attain an air speed of approximately 70 miles an hour. On August 12, 1914, No. 2 Squadron left Montrose for Farnborough, and was joined next day by Squadrons Nos. 3 and 4, and later by No. 5, which flew to Dover after what the official reports described “some accidents.” The corps accompanied tho British Expeditionary Force across tho Channel, and became the first air force in the world to travel overseas and g» into action. Actually the first aerial reconnaissance in history was made by it on August 19, when two ’planes were sent out to spy out the enemy’s ter

ritory and movements. Neither carried an observer, and two machines were despatched in case one had to make a forced landing. As it happened, both machines managed to lose themselves temporarily, but ultimately returned with valuable information. The Fighting Idea. So far, it had not occurred to anybody that an aeroplane could be converted into a piactieal fighting unit. Machines took tho air day after day without arms of any kind, and were regarded merely as the “eyes” of tho army. Indeed, it was not until a ’plane came back with its observer wounded by rifle tire that the officers of the Royal Flying Corus were given pennission to carry revolvers and rifles. From this prosaic beginning was evolved the elaborate and astonishing technique of aerial lighting which, m its present perfection, is one of the finer arts of scientific warfare The first air battle, however, was a modest —an extremely modest affair. A German "Albatross” attacked a British reconnaissance machine, and the pilot of the latter was wounded in the leg by a revolver bullet! In the course of time lessons were learned in the school of hard experience, and it became a common thing to send out huge aerial formations, grouped m layers, under leaders and subleaders, to join battle with enemy formations equally formidable, and sometimes more so. Yet, once the fight began, there was usually an end to pre-arranged co-ordinuation, and every man fought for himself. Necessarily so, because things happened in a sudden and haphazard fashion which took no account of team work as such. Pilots, therefore, soon accustomed themselves to tho idea that they were individualists, and acted accordingly.

On April 1. 1918, tho Royal Flying Corps aud the R.N.A.S. were merged into one body, and became the Royal Ail' Force, anxious from the moment of its formation to make a name for itself. It performed prodigies of valour on every front, and the gallantry of its personnel was sung in every camp. On September 22, 1918, it happened that the Seventh Turkish Army was in full retreat across the Jordan at Jisr and Ed Damiye, and the task of reducing it to utter chaos was entrusted to the R.A.F. The story of that marvellous engagement was related recently by a correspondent of the London “Evening Standard,” who, in a few brief sentences, graphically summed up the greatest single combat in the history of warfare.

“The attack,” he said, "was arranged so that two airplanes should arrive over tho objective every three minutes, with additional formations of bombers every half-hour afterwards, from 8 a.m. till noon.