USE OF AIRCRAFT IN WAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19405, 13 August 1926, Page 13

USE OF AIRCRAFT IN WAR.

i ■» SCOUTING AND OBSERVATION IMPORTANT AUXILIARY ARM, The use of aircraft in warfare and their use in co-operation with the New Zealand naval and military forces was discussed at a meeting of the Auckland Navy League.Club on Wednesday. Most of the speakers had been in the flying forces during the war, while others had served in the major fighting services. Captain J. Tibbetts defined the functions of aircraft as fighting, observation and bombing. Their essential duties were the collection of information of enemy movements, the prevention of enemy observation, and the bombing of communications. The importance of aircraft in scouting and patrolling was emphasised by Commander J. R. Middleton, who contrasted the cruiser's range of vision, 15 miles, and speed, 30 miles, with that of aircraft, 50 and 100 miles respectively. The air arm was therefore of paramount importance for scouting, spotting submarines and mines, and giving early information of enemy movements. Lt.-Col. W. B. Brittain, who during the war was connected with the aerial defence of London, spoke of defensive measures ashore, and the functions therein of aircraft, searchlights and guns. Speaking from the artillery point of view, Lt.-Col. E. H. Northcroft, mentioned that aircraft had not proved very successful in the observation of gunfire, but were useful in locating enemy batteries. The case for the airship was advanced by Lieut.-Commander W. H. Watt and Mr. Humphrey Parker, who spok9 of recent developments in this department. They emphasised also the scouting powers of airships, which could remain in the air for ten days, and the fact that they carried their own defence.