Post by Dave Homewood on Sept 21, 2023 23:12:37 GMT 12
I thought some here may enjoy reading this book review from 100 years ago, from the GISBORNE TIMES, 21 August 1923:
WINGED WARRIORS.
AUSTRALIA IN THE GREAT WAR.
OFFICIAL HISTORY OF FLYING CORPS.
The latest volume of the official history of Australia in the War of 1914-18 is No. 8, which deals in a most interesting and informative manner with the operations of the Australian Flying Corps in the Western and Eastern theatres.
In his preface the author, F. M. Cutlack, says that the main source of information for the war history of the Australian Flying Corps has been the official diaries of the four Australian living squadrons in the archives of the Australian war museum.
The volume just to hand is by no means restricted to the war operations of the “winged warriors” from Australia (who by the way, included a number of New Zealanders), but contains much valuable information as to the part which the new arm in modern warfare played in connection with the military operations on both sides, and, particularly, in the case of the British armies.
When the Great War broke out, it is interesting to recall, the total strength of the Royal Flying Corps was only 150 machines and 1844 officers and men. By the end of the war, it had expanded to 201 squadrons and 22,000 machines in use and 300,000 officers and men.
It is interesting to recall also that in 1914 the British aircraft were for the most part merely usable for observation purposes. The fighting aeroplanes were provided only with hand grenades used as bombs or with small sled darts which were thrown out on the enemy in handfuls. Their greatest weakness was their inability to climb at a very rapid rate.
How the British authorities, assisted in great measure from the experience of the French pioneers, developed aircraft as a formidable fighting arm makes an entrancing story. After the coming of the Spad fighting scout, the Allied air force never lost their supremacy over the Germans, and towards the end of the war, when, subsequently to the Pjalz, there appeared the Roland - known as the German Spad — the British replied with the Sopwith Snipe, whose performances at great heights amazed and dismayed the German airmen.
The Australian Flying Corps served in three widely-separated theatres of the war. The honor of inaugurating the Australian military air service in war belongs to the little half-flight which took part in the first unfortunate expedition up the Tigris valley towards Baghdad in 1915, and which lost three of its four officers, together with most of its ground personnel.
Then came early in 1916, the formation of the first complete Australian squadron which was sent to Egypt, the Eastern desert and Palestine. Nos. 1,3, and 4 Squadrons began active service in France about the end of 1917 and remained in the field till the close, of the war.
No other tribute to the success attained by Australia’s “cavalry of the air” need be quoted than that of General Trenchard, commanding the Royal Flying Corps in the field, who wrote to General Birdwood as under:
“I have just been to see one of the Australian Flying squadrons, its work was magnificent. . . These pilots came down low and fairly strafed the Hun. They bombed him and attacked him with machine-gun fire. . . they revelled in their work, which was of great value. They are splendid.”
Naturally special attention is directed in the volume to the exploits of Australia’s most daring and most successful air fighters. Included in the number are, of course, Captain Sir Ross Smith and his brave brother, Sir Keith Smith, who were natives of Adelaide. The volume fittingly embraces flair great-after-the-war adventure in making the pioneer flight from England to Australia which earned for them knighthoods. Sir Ross Smith, it may be recalled, was subsequentlv killed during a test flight at Home in preparation for a tour round the world.
Not the least interesting section of the volume, which is handsomely illustrated, is a chapter by Captain Lang on “Types of Fighting Aeroplanes.” There are also chapters relating to the formation of the A.F.C., ‘‘Aircraft 'Wireless,” “A.F.C. Training in England,” “Organisation of R.A.F..” “Aerodrome Work.” “Use of Incendiary Bullets,” and a valuable glossary. Reference is made to the success of the Pomeroy explosive, bullet, as well as of the success of the Brock bullet in fighting the Zeppelins, but the fact is not made clear that Pomeroy was a New Zealander, be having been born and spent his early manhood at Invercargill.
(Our review copy comes from Messrs Angus and Robertson: of Sydney, per favor of Mr C. W. Muir, bookseller.)
WINGED WARRIORS.
AUSTRALIA IN THE GREAT WAR.
OFFICIAL HISTORY OF FLYING CORPS.
The latest volume of the official history of Australia in the War of 1914-18 is No. 8, which deals in a most interesting and informative manner with the operations of the Australian Flying Corps in the Western and Eastern theatres.
In his preface the author, F. M. Cutlack, says that the main source of information for the war history of the Australian Flying Corps has been the official diaries of the four Australian living squadrons in the archives of the Australian war museum.
The volume just to hand is by no means restricted to the war operations of the “winged warriors” from Australia (who by the way, included a number of New Zealanders), but contains much valuable information as to the part which the new arm in modern warfare played in connection with the military operations on both sides, and, particularly, in the case of the British armies.
When the Great War broke out, it is interesting to recall, the total strength of the Royal Flying Corps was only 150 machines and 1844 officers and men. By the end of the war, it had expanded to 201 squadrons and 22,000 machines in use and 300,000 officers and men.
It is interesting to recall also that in 1914 the British aircraft were for the most part merely usable for observation purposes. The fighting aeroplanes were provided only with hand grenades used as bombs or with small sled darts which were thrown out on the enemy in handfuls. Their greatest weakness was their inability to climb at a very rapid rate.
How the British authorities, assisted in great measure from the experience of the French pioneers, developed aircraft as a formidable fighting arm makes an entrancing story. After the coming of the Spad fighting scout, the Allied air force never lost their supremacy over the Germans, and towards the end of the war, when, subsequently to the Pjalz, there appeared the Roland - known as the German Spad — the British replied with the Sopwith Snipe, whose performances at great heights amazed and dismayed the German airmen.
The Australian Flying Corps served in three widely-separated theatres of the war. The honor of inaugurating the Australian military air service in war belongs to the little half-flight which took part in the first unfortunate expedition up the Tigris valley towards Baghdad in 1915, and which lost three of its four officers, together with most of its ground personnel.
Then came early in 1916, the formation of the first complete Australian squadron which was sent to Egypt, the Eastern desert and Palestine. Nos. 1,3, and 4 Squadrons began active service in France about the end of 1917 and remained in the field till the close, of the war.
No other tribute to the success attained by Australia’s “cavalry of the air” need be quoted than that of General Trenchard, commanding the Royal Flying Corps in the field, who wrote to General Birdwood as under:
“I have just been to see one of the Australian Flying squadrons, its work was magnificent. . . These pilots came down low and fairly strafed the Hun. They bombed him and attacked him with machine-gun fire. . . they revelled in their work, which was of great value. They are splendid.”
Naturally special attention is directed in the volume to the exploits of Australia’s most daring and most successful air fighters. Included in the number are, of course, Captain Sir Ross Smith and his brave brother, Sir Keith Smith, who were natives of Adelaide. The volume fittingly embraces flair great-after-the-war adventure in making the pioneer flight from England to Australia which earned for them knighthoods. Sir Ross Smith, it may be recalled, was subsequentlv killed during a test flight at Home in preparation for a tour round the world.
Not the least interesting section of the volume, which is handsomely illustrated, is a chapter by Captain Lang on “Types of Fighting Aeroplanes.” There are also chapters relating to the formation of the A.F.C., ‘‘Aircraft 'Wireless,” “A.F.C. Training in England,” “Organisation of R.A.F..” “Aerodrome Work.” “Use of Incendiary Bullets,” and a valuable glossary. Reference is made to the success of the Pomeroy explosive, bullet, as well as of the success of the Brock bullet in fighting the Zeppelins, but the fact is not made clear that Pomeroy was a New Zealander, be having been born and spent his early manhood at Invercargill.
(Our review copy comes from Messrs Angus and Robertson: of Sydney, per favor of Mr C. W. Muir, bookseller.)
