QUEEN BEE CRASHED

Taranaki Daily News, 19 July 1935, Page 5

QUEEN BEE CRASHED

ACCURACY OF NAVAL‘GUNS. KING WATCHES EXERCISES. British Wireless. Rugby, July 17. The King returned, to. London to-day after watching the Fleet exercises. The exercises included firing at the fleet target ship Centurion and at towed targets, and anti-aircraft firing at the wireless controlled aerial target “Queen Bee,” which was seen for the first time by the King, the Prince of. Wales, the Duke of York and the Duke of Kent. The little plane was flown off from the cruiser Achilles and was put to turn, to climb or to dive on its flight towards its supposed victim,' the battleship Rod-’ ney, by wireless control. It was soon spotted and surroupded by smoke from exploding shells, through which it moved steadily towards its • objective; ■ - When almost over the Rodney the guns registered a hit and the “Queen Bee” fell into the sea.

At the end of the tactical exercises the Royal yacht steamed back to Portsmouth through two lines of ships extending for sever ".1 miles. The King has sent a message to the Fleet expressing entire satisfaction with everything he saw and congratulating all ranks and ratings. “I shall not easily forget the- impressive spectacle of the review in which I am pleased to think the Ships of the merchant navy have for the first time taken part,” he said. “The success with which the fleet exercises have been carried out bears witness to the traditional efficiency of the Royal Navy. .“These two 'happy • days Spent by me at sea accompanied by my sons and with the Service to which I had the honour to belong for so many years will remain one of the most-inspiring recollections of my jubilee.”