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 Issued on the authority of
THE CHIEF OF THE AIR STAFF
Royal Canadian Air Force
Vol. 7, No. 5 MAY 19.55

Was»a»all»N.all\la.ell\ll\
CONTENTS * * * This Month's Cover

page
I

Memoirs of a Canadian in the R.A.F.: Part Four. 1

A Look Through a Window at World War III.... 9
The Party Line: The Canad,ian Services Colleges: 2 20
Introducing Canadian Joint Air Training Centre.. 29

REGULAR FEATURES
The Suggestion Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Pin-Points in the Past. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
When towing targets for practice
What's the Score?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 flring, this CF-100 is rendered clearly
Royal Canadian Air Cadets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 visible by its coat of fluorescent red
paint.
:R.C.A.F. Association .... , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Feminine Gen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Letters to the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

MISCELLANY
"Book of Flying" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
An Aeroplane for $800..... . . . . . . ... ... ... .. .. 19
Menta:l Eupepsia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . . . . . 24
The Ruckus • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
New SAAB Record. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Atomic Flight. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Discipline Marks the Pro. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Distinguished Marksman. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Cosmic Jive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . ··. 38
Discrimination. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Ski-Borne Pilots. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 47 EDITORIAL OFFICES:

Complex Comfort. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ··. 48 R.C.A.F., Victoria Islae:

Ottawa, Ont.

Authorized as Second Class Mail, Post Office Department, Ottawa.

 Memoirs of a Canadian the
R.A.F.
PART FOUR
By Wing Commander A. L. Bocking, D.F.C.
(Part Three of Wing Cdr. Bocking's narrative dealt very largely with his experiences as a
reluctant dog-fancier in Egypt and Palestine. In this instalment, which takes us up to the
opening chapters of the Arab Rebellion of 1938, he resumes the main thread of his story.
EDITOR.)

'[}% rRsr few months of 1938 found No. 33 The first incident concerned the Officer Com-
(Light Bomber) Squadron still at Ismailia, and manding "A" flight, who had found an excellent
still flying the Hawker Hart. Life in the Suez audience aboard a packed troop-ship in the Suez
Canal Zone was severe, placid, and just a little Canal. After several low-level passes over the
boring. In February, however, the grape-vine cheering soldiers, he ended up with the usual
hinted that we were going to be re-equipped with grand flourish a half roll followed by an in-
Gloster Gladiators and thus become a fighter verted climb. Unfortunately, near the end of this
squadron. On March 1st the rumour was sub- manoeuvre, the Gladiator (which had been sub-
stantiated: our name was to be changed shortly to jected to stresses never bargained for by its
No. 33 (Fighter) Squadron the first fighter designers) came apart at the seams. The centre
squadron to be formed in the Middle East since section collapsed first, at which point the pilot
the end of the First World War. and the Glad parted company. After further
The Gladiator was the last and most famous of disintegration of the aircraft, sundry wings and
a long line of biplane fighters, and was to enjoy a control surfaces found their way to the ground not
period of operational fame equalled only by its many yards away from the pilot, who was sitting
successor the Hurricane. Indeed, the Glad had on the desert sands, shaken but unhurt, under his
the unique distinction of being the only fighter collapsed parachute.
that faced the Luftwaffe and the Italian Air Force The second incident occurred on the evening of
after having already received its baptism of fire the same day. Though less spectacular, it was more
while attending to His Majesty's business on the nerve-wracking and lasted over a longer period of
outposts of Empire. time. I was doing a low-level beat-up of Port Said
The change-over from Harts to Gladiators was at night when a landing-wire broke. (Landing-
made with little difficulty, and, now that we were wires were the heavy gauge wires that ran
"fighter pilots", our prestige among the members from the top of the centre section down to
of less fortunate squadrons rocketed to a new high. the outer struts of the bottom wings.) It whipped
Our new status as a fighter squadron of course back and smashed the cockpit hood, causing me
necessitated the display of our prowess in the air on some minor facial cuts and a bad nose-bleed. The
every possible occasion, and a brief period of slipstream, whipping through the broken canopy,
rather reckless flying ensued. It was brought to an soon made the cockpit look like an abattoir.
abrupt halt by two near-disastrous incidents Of more immediate concern was the fact that the
which led to a firm clamping-down by the C.O. wire had snapped back and had penetrated the
 Issued on the authority of
THE CHIEF OF THE AIR STAFF
Royal Canadian Air Force
Vol. 7, No. 5 MAY 19.55

Was»a»all»N.all\la.ell\ll\
CONTENTS * * * This Month's Cover

page
I

Memoirs of a Canadian in the R.A.F.: Part Four. 1

A Look Through a Window at World War III.... 9
The Party Line: The Canad,ian Services Colleges: 2 20
Introducing Canadian Joint Air Training Centre.. 29

REGULAR FEATURES
The Suggestion Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Pin-Points in the Past. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
When towing targets for practice
What's the Score?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 flring, this CF-100 is rendered clearly
Royal Canadian Air Cadets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 visible by its coat of fluorescent red
paint.
:R.C.A.F. Association .... , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Feminine Gen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Letters to the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

MISCELLANY
"Book of Flying" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
An Aeroplane for $800..... . . . . . . ... ... ... .. .. 19
Menta:l Eupepsia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . . . . . 24
The Ruckus • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
New SAAB Record. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Atomic Flight. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Discipline Marks the Pro. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Distinguished Marksman. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Cosmic Jive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . ··. 38
Discrimination. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Ski-Borne Pilots. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 47 EDITORIAL OFFICES:

Complex Comfort. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ··. 48 R.C.A.F., Victoria Islae:

Ottawa, Ont.

Authorized as Second Class Mail, Post Office Department, Ottawa.

 Memoirs of a Canadian the
R.A.F.
PART FOUR
By Wing Commander A. L. Bocking, D.F.C.
(Part Three of Wing Cdr. Bocking's narrative dealt very largely with his experiences as a
reluctant dog-fancier in Egypt and Palestine. In this instalment, which takes us up to the
opening chapters of the Arab Rebellion of 1938, he resumes the main thread of his story.
EDITOR.)

'[}% rRsr few months of 1938 found No. 33 The first incident concerned the Officer Com-
(Light Bomber) Squadron still at Ismailia, and manding "A" flight, who had found an excellent
still flying the Hawker Hart. Life in the Suez audience aboard a packed troop-ship in the Suez
Canal Zone was severe, placid, and just a little Canal. After several low-level passes over the
boring. In February, however, the grape-vine cheering soldiers, he ended up with the usual
hinted that we were going to be re-equipped with grand flourish a half roll followed by an in-
Gloster Gladiators and thus become a fighter verted climb. Unfortunately, near the end of this
squadron. On March 1st the rumour was sub- manoeuvre, the Gladiator (which had been sub-
stantiated: our name was to be changed shortly to jected to stresses never bargained for by its
No. 33 (Fighter) Squadron the first fighter designers) came apart at the seams. The centre
squadron to be formed in the Middle East since section collapsed first, at which point the pilot
the end of the First World War. and the Glad parted company. After further
The Gladiator was the last and most famous of disintegration of the aircraft, sundry wings and
a long line of biplane fighters, and was to enjoy a control surfaces found their way to the ground not
period of operational fame equalled only by its many yards away from the pilot, who was sitting
successor the Hurricane. Indeed, the Glad had on the desert sands, shaken but unhurt, under his
the unique distinction of being the only fighter collapsed parachute.
that faced the Luftwaffe and the Italian Air Force The second incident occurred on the evening of
after having already received its baptism of fire the same day. Though less spectacular, it was more
while attending to His Majesty's business on the nerve-wracking and lasted over a longer period of
outposts of Empire. time. I was doing a low-level beat-up of Port Said
The change-over from Harts to Gladiators was at night when a landing-wire broke. (Landing-
made with little difficulty, and, now that we were wires were the heavy gauge wires that ran
"fighter pilots", our prestige among the members from the top of the centre section down to
of less fortunate squadrons rocketed to a new high. the outer struts of the bottom wings.) It whipped
Our new status as a fighter squadron of course back and smashed the cockpit hood, causing me
necessitated the display of our prowess in the air on some minor facial cuts and a bad nose-bleed. The
every possible occasion, and a brief period of slipstream, whipping through the broken canopy,
rather reckless flying ensued. It was brought to an soon made the cockpit look like an abattoir.
abrupt halt by two near-disastrous incidents Of more immediate concern was the fact that the
which led to a firm clamping-down by the C.O. wire had snapped back and had penetrated the
 Dead
Sec

ailia
ad Bitterlake

2A
Szoc O

Bcalaiya0 Oasis

over Sqn. Ldr. H. D. McGregor. His charming Government, as represented by the Royal Air
wife Jean and his children were going to remain in Force, to bring peace to the Holy Land even,
married quarters at Ismailia during the squadron's as the Irishman said, "if I have to kill you to do
absence in Palestine, and the C.O. very kindly it."
suggested that my wife should stay with them. Ramleh was a rolling mud-field. As the tides of
I will make no attempt to assess the rights or the First World War had swept across that ancient
wrongs of the conflict that was taking place in and embattled land, it had served as an airfield
Palestine. The facts that concerned No. 33 Squad- for the Turks, the Germans, and the British, in
ron were, in those winter months of 1938, that the succession. I had, by virtue of being flight com-
Jews were attempting to carry out collective mander, become an acting Flight Lieutenant, and
farming on the vast fertile plain that runs from senior flight commander. Under some C.O.s, this
Mount Carmel to the Sinai desert and lies between position of second-in-command can be a precarious
the Mediterranean and the Judean hills. The one, and it has not been unknown for its incum-
Arab, rightly or wrongly, felt that his rights were bent to find himself being allotted all the more
being violated, and he had resorted to terrorist
dangerous and less glamorous operations, thus
tactics against the outlying Jewish villages. Who- leaving the plums for the C.O. In my case, it was
ever was at fault, Palestine was a British Protec- just the opposite. "Mac" was a flying demon. He
torate, and it was the duty of His Majesty's provided operational leadership by flying on every
Air Vice-Marshal H. D. McGregor, C.B., C.B.E.; D.S.0., Chief of Guided possible occasion, and the fact that he chose, not
Missiles, Afr Ministry.
the easy flights, but the more difficult and dan-
4
gerous ones, was eventually reflected in his being for assistance came in through Army wireless
awarded one of the very few D.S.O.s ever awarded. channels.
in time of 'peace". Ace Hawkins and I were airborne in a matter of
Our adversaries, the Arab Rebel Army, re- minutes. I was leading and Ace was tucked in
putedly led by one Abdul Razek, were well armed, tight on my right wing. There were no radio aids
well trained, and highly skilled in guerilla warfare or forward visibility, but we knew the road to
and terrorist tactics. They used the Mauser 9 mm. Jerusalem; so, at 200 m.p.h., with our wheels
automatic rifle and the Italian parabellum. With scant feet from the road, we headed for the city.
these weapons they were exceedingly adept in the On arrival there, we swung around the tall tower
field of light anti-aircraft fire. This was a direct of the Y.M.C.A. building and followed the road
heritage from the days of Lawrence of Arabia, north to Kolundia, not forgetting the nearby
who had taught the Arabs the art of "leading" presence of the tall transmitting-towers of the
their targets. The Rebel Army would make night Palestine radio, unseen and deadly somewhere in
attacks on Jewish villages, blow up trains, and the murk ahead. Fortune favoured us in every
ambush vehicles on the road. No quarter was respect, or maybe we just lived right; for we saw
asked or given. As in all guerilla actions, its success the frantically-bobbing red and white umbrellas
was largely the result of its ability to fade back of the Army column on our first pass over our
into the bleak rocky hills where roads were prac- destination. We had no difficulty in locating the
tically non-existent, and where local villages, either crashed aircraft but could see no signs of the crew.
out of fear or sympathy with the cause, provided (They were, in fact, with the Army by this time).
food and shelter. The ball-and-arrow code laid out on the ground
Britain, as always, was reluctant to expose these spelled the message: "Enemy firing from the
villages even the known guilty ones to the direction of arrow." Without further ado, Ace and
agony of air bombing. With the arrival of No. 33 I swung over for a look-see.
Squadron, however, the thinking began to grow We immediately came under fire, and two holes
more stern. No. 6 (Light Bomber) Squadron appeared miraculously in my left wing a fraction
(Hawker Hardys) stepped up its bombing activity of a second before the sound of two sharp slaps,
and many notorious rebel villages were heavily as of clapped hands. This quick, accurate, and
bombed but only, of course, after leaflets had hostile action on the part of the unseen sharp-
been dropped to warn the population that the shooters on the ground came as a bit of a shock.
bombing was to take place. This procedure allowed In visualizations of one's first action, it is always
them to take grand-stand seats on the surrounding the villain who gets shot up (or maybe down) and
hills and watch this display of His Majesty's never in any circumstances oneself at least, not
wrath the villagers with helpless anguish, the before large numbers of the enemy have been
Rebels with smouldering anger. accounted for. If one did get shot (which could,
It was during one of these bombing sorties that by a stretch of the imagination, eventually
No. 33 Squadron drew first blood. An aircraft of happen), it would of course be a slightly romantic
No. 6 Squadron had been shot down and had type of wound that didn't hurt too much. Now,
crashed back in the hills near Kolundia. A pitched however, as I looked at the ragged holes in my
battle was taking place between an Army column bottom mainplane, it became apparent that I
and the Palestine Police, on one side, and a strong could have become very dead indeed and in a
force of Arab rebels, on the other. The pilot and very messy and very unromantic manner-if
the bomb-aimer were the prize. Back at Ramleh, those bullets had been aimed a few inches in
the rain was beating down out of low-hanging another direction. Thus rudely awakened to
winter clouds, and we had just asked the Oper- reality, I called Ace on the radio: "Red leader to
ations Officer in Jerusalem for permission to Red one. You take the area east of the road and
"stand-down", when word of the crash and a call 1'11 look after the west side." Ace swung out of
5
 Dead
Sec

ailia
ad Bitterlake

2A
Szoc O

Bcalaiya0 Oasis

over Sqn. Ldr. H. D. McGregor. His charming Government, as represented by the Royal Air
wife Jean and his children were going to remain in Force, to bring peace to the Holy Land even,
married quarters at Ismailia during the squadron's as the Irishman said, "if I have to kill you to do
absence in Palestine, and the C.O. very kindly it."
suggested that my wife should stay with them. Ramleh was a rolling mud-field. As the tides of
I will make no attempt to assess the rights or the First World War had swept across that ancient
wrongs of the conflict that was taking place in and embattled land, it had served as an airfield
Palestine. The facts that concerned No. 33 Squad- for the Turks, the Germans, and the British, in
ron were, in those winter months of 1938, that the succession. I had, by virtue of being flight com-
Jews were attempting to carry out collective mander, become an acting Flight Lieutenant, and
farming on the vast fertile plain that runs from senior flight commander. Under some C.O.s, this
Mount Carmel to the Sinai desert and lies between position of second-in-command can be a precarious
the Mediterranean and the Judean hills. The one, and it has not been unknown for its incum-
Arab, rightly or wrongly, felt that his rights were bent to find himself being allotted all the more
being violated, and he had resorted to terrorist
dangerous and less glamorous operations, thus
tactics against the outlying Jewish villages. Who- leaving the plums for the C.O. In my case, it was
ever was at fault, Palestine was a British Protec- just the opposite. "Mac" was a flying demon. He
torate, and it was the duty of His Majesty's provided operational leadership by flying on every
Air Vice-Marshal H. D. McGregor, C.B., C.B.E.; D.S.0., Chief of Guided possible occasion, and the fact that he chose, not
Missiles, Afr Ministry.
the easy flights, but the more difficult and dan-
4
gerous ones, was eventually reflected in his being for assistance came in through Army wireless
awarded one of the very few D.S.O.s ever awarded. channels.
in time of 'peace". Ace Hawkins and I were airborne in a matter of
Our adversaries, the Arab Rebel Army, re- minutes. I was leading and Ace was tucked in
putedly led by one Abdul Razek, were well armed, tight on my right wing. There were no radio aids
well trained, and highly skilled in guerilla warfare or forward visibility, but we knew the road to
and terrorist tactics. They used the Mauser 9 mm. Jerusalem; so, at 200 m.p.h., with our wheels
automatic rifle and the Italian parabellum. With scant feet from the road, we headed for the city.
these weapons they were exceedingly adept in the On arrival there, we swung around the tall tower
field of light anti-aircraft fire. This was a direct of the Y.M.C.A. building and followed the road
heritage from the days of Lawrence of Arabia, north to Kolundia, not forgetting the nearby
who had taught the Arabs the art of "leading" presence of the tall transmitting-towers of the
their targets. The Rebel Army would make night Palestine radio, unseen and deadly somewhere in
attacks on Jewish villages, blow up trains, and the murk ahead. Fortune favoured us in every
ambush vehicles on the road. No quarter was respect, or maybe we just lived right; for we saw
asked or given. As in all guerilla actions, its success the frantically-bobbing red and white umbrellas
was largely the result of its ability to fade back of the Army column on our first pass over our
into the bleak rocky hills where roads were prac- destination. We had no difficulty in locating the
tically non-existent, and where local villages, either crashed aircraft but could see no signs of the crew.
out of fear or sympathy with the cause, provided (They were, in fact, with the Army by this time).
food and shelter. The ball-and-arrow code laid out on the ground
Britain, as always, was reluctant to expose these spelled the message: "Enemy firing from the
villages even the known guilty ones to the direction of arrow." Without further ado, Ace and
agony of air bombing. With the arrival of No. 33 I swung over for a look-see.
Squadron, however, the thinking began to grow We immediately came under fire, and two holes
more stern. No. 6 (Light Bomber) Squadron appeared miraculously in my left wing a fraction
(Hawker Hardys) stepped up its bombing activity of a second before the sound of two sharp slaps,
and many notorious rebel villages were heavily as of clapped hands. This quick, accurate, and
bombed but only, of course, after leaflets had hostile action on the part of the unseen sharp-
been dropped to warn the population that the shooters on the ground came as a bit of a shock.
bombing was to take place. This procedure allowed In visualizations of one's first action, it is always
them to take grand-stand seats on the surrounding the villain who gets shot up (or maybe down) and
hills and watch this display of His Majesty's never in any circumstances oneself at least, not
wrath the villagers with helpless anguish, the before large numbers of the enemy have been
Rebels with smouldering anger. accounted for. If one did get shot (which could,
It was during one of these bombing sorties that by a stretch of the imagination, eventually
No. 33 Squadron drew first blood. An aircraft of happen), it would of course be a slightly romantic
No. 6 Squadron had been shot down and had type of wound that didn't hurt too much. Now,
crashed back in the hills near Kolundia. A pitched however, as I looked at the ragged holes in my
battle was taking place between an Army column bottom mainplane, it became apparent that I
and the Palestine Police, on one side, and a strong could have become very dead indeed and in a
force of Arab rebels, on the other. The pilot and very messy and very unromantic manner-if
the bomb-aimer were the prize. Back at Ramleh, those bullets had been aimed a few inches in
the rain was beating down out of low-hanging another direction. Thus rudely awakened to
winter clouds, and we had just asked the Oper- reality, I called Ace on the radio: "Red leader to
ations Officer in Jerusalem for permission to Red one. You take the area east of the road and
"stand-down", when word of the crash and a call 1'11 look after the west side." Ace swung out of
5
 sight, and, as I broke left, I saw my enemy for the the terrain rather than to any ineptitude at map-
first time. reading. To prevent such a tragedy, the column
Two figures in khaki tunics and Arab head-dress commander carried a large brilliant red umbrella,
were just climbing over a stone wall. As I dropped and the company or platoon commanders smaller
the nose of the aircraft in their direction, the white ones. Pilots were known to make the odd
whole picture seemed to freeze into immobility. dive at the white umbrellas just to see them
The two figures were clearly outlined in my electric bobbing frantically. It was not considered cricket
reflector gun-sight, etched in red lines on the to dive at the red umbrellas under which the top
windshield, arms over their heads, holding their Brass clustered in distrust.
guns high preparatory to making a leap to the This distrust was not unjustified, as the standard
ground below. My mind raced. Gun-sight was on, of air-ground co-operation was low - thanks,
cockpit guns cocked, hydraulic reservoir handle in mainly, to a lack of understanding or appreciation
the "up" position, firing button turned from "safe" of each other's job on the part of the soldier and
to "fire". All these things were done, and in the the airman. The education of both was greatly
fraction of a second before I pushed the button I enhanced by detailing all pilots in turn to ac-
realized that these two men were going to die and company a ground attack on at least one operation.
things would never be quite the same again. This was an extremely uncomfortable and hazar-
The four Brownings chattered and the figures on the dous business, and one trip was usually sufficient
wall disappeared in a cloud of disintegrated stone to give the pilots a healthy respect for their com-
and dust. Hauling back frantically on the control rades on the ground and to allow them to explain
column, I pulled out of my dive with a force that something about air operations. As the months
jammed me down in my seat. I swung around in a went by, this army-air co-operation improved
tight circle and saw the bodies of my two rebels until we eventually became an efficient joint
lying at the foot of the wall. operational team.
With this incident the Gladiator was launched k k k

on an operational career that was to cover an area As the winter rains continued, the mud at
from the Western Desert, through Greece and Ramleh made it necessary for No. 33 Squadron to
Crete to the Norwegian fjords, and which would move to Lydda, 14 miles to the north. The move of
culminate in the epic defence of Malta by those the ground party was made without incident,
three most famous of all Gladiators, "Faith", under the protection of No. 2 Armoured Car
"Hope", and "Charity". Company, R.A.F. This company was equipped
* k k
with Rolls Royce armoured cars of ancient vintage.
The officers and men were as swashbuckling a
In case the mention of white and red umbrellas, crew as could be imagined, and not the least
a few paragraphs back, has left my readers with swashbuckling of them was Flt. Lt. '·Cas"
the impression that the Army entered such
Casano. With a naturally swarthy complexion,
operations as this in a gala mood, let me explain
hawk-like features, and a devil-may-care air, he
that the gaily coloured umbrellas played an im-
could have been a throw-back to the crusaders
portant role in ground-to-air signals. Soldiers ad-
that roamed these same hills so long ago. Cas was
vancing on a village say, through orange-
eventually to command this small R.A.F.
groves would be difficult to distinguish from
Armoured Car Company against Rommel in the
the rebels lurking in the area. A pilot who obtained
bigger war that was just around the corner.
only a fleeting glimpse of furtive movement might
The stories of the activities of the R.A.F.
very understandably "shoot-up" the wrong people,
armoured cars are legionary, but the one that
particularly as the Army very seldom approached
caused the most amusement, from Alexandria to
from the agreed direction a fact which was due,
Damascus, concerned Cas's liver-and-white hound-
I understand, to the tortuous and rocky nature of
dog, "Butch". It seemed that Cas and his merry
6
m en were as usual ra nging fa r behind the Germ an
lines, deep in the desert south of Benghazi. They
had fo rm ed a laager fo r the night with their
arm oured cars and dug the necessary slit-trenches.
Early the next m orn ing they were dive-bom bed by
Stukas of the Luftwaffe, dropping 1,000 1b. bombs;
and everyone headed for cover in the slit-trenches.
When the last German aircraft had departed, a
ring of faces peered gloomily over the lips of the
trenches at a monstrous and deadly-looking 1,000-
pounder that lay unexploded in the very centre
of the laager.
Did it have a short delay-action fuse? That was Fit. Lt. Casano and Butch.
the question. As the sun grew hotter, the situation
became uncomfortable. No one wanted to make
the first move. Suddenly out of Cas's. trench came
shatter the still of the desert in its own good time.
'Butch', watched by a circle of eyes
peering red-rimmed through small slits between k k k

the desert floor and steel helmets. He sauntered To return to Palestine, in the winter of 1938.
nonchalantly over to the half-buried bomb, The airfield at Lydda and the terminal building
and sniffed it disdainfully. Then, apparently in which we were to live were both still under
deciding that, in a land where trees were so scarce, construction; but to pilots who had never seen a
this was indeed manna from heaven, he proceeded runway, the joy of flying off those fine hard-
to put it to the obvious doggy use. A roar of surfaced strips was adequate compensation for the
laughter arose, and the tension was broken. most primitive accommodation. And primitive
Treading very gently and driving off in a careful it was just the shell of a building, built, like most
fashion, No. 2 Armoured Car Company pro- airport terminals, in the shape of a three-tiered
ceeded on to the war, leaving the Nazis' bomb to wedding cake, with the glass-enclosed control
tower perched on top like the model of the happy
Cars of No. 2 Armoured Car Company. couple. Construction had reached the stage where
door-knobs were to be put on the doors and glass in
the windows, but there it had stopped. There was
no furniture, no heat, and the plumbing worked
only spasmodically. R.A.F. H.Q., located in some
comfort in Jerusalem, gave us bed-boards and
palliasses, a gallon jug of rum, and their deepest
sympathy. For the uninitiated, a bed-board con-
sisted of three six-foot planks resting on small
blocks of wood about six inches high, on top of
which went the palliasse, like an elongated pillow-
case stuffed with straw. The rum was provided in
accordance with Kings Regulations and Air
Council Instructions, and the sympathy was
thrown in free.
The airfield itself was surrounded by a strong
wire fence, with stone blockhouses placed at
strategic locations around the perimeter. These
7
 blockhouses were veritable fortresses, with small suddenly. For a while after this, our night take-offs
slits for windows, complete with steel shutters were made without benefit of any illumination
that could be battened down at the slightest sign save that provided by the stars or moon.
of danger. They gave adequate protection to the A rather clever trick of the rebels, which could
Jewish constabulary that was providing the have led to disaster for us, was rendered in-
ground defence. They did not, however, give much nocuous by their underestimation of the take-off
protection to the airfield, and life inside the wire run required by the Gladiator, particularly when
could be precarious. the pilot was trying to pull it into the air off the
We had been in the habit, in Egypt, of using a dark runway as quickly as possible. After one
strong portable flood-light, called a "Chance pre-dawn take-off, the morning light revealed a
light", to provide illumination for night flying. At string of large boulders stretched across the run-
Lydda we tried this for a pre-dawn take-off way at the intersection. The Gladiator's wheels
but we only tried it once. As soon as the light could not have missed them by more than a few
came on, several heavy slugs ripped out of the feet.
orange groves outside the wire, and, with a
crash of shattering glass, everything was plunged He was a wily heathen, this Arab rebel, and we
into a darkness which covered a frantic scramble for had to learn fast to keep ahead of him.
cover by everyone but the pilot. He, poor wretch,
was left sitting in his cockpit wondering what
had happened and where everyone had gone so (Go be continued)

* * *

The Chief of
thanks to th
: »
6 letter of

. for an
original sug officially
adopted
W.0.2 tation North Bay,
Comstock energizers.
adoption will prevent
ower supply cables, and
ance.

W.0.2 J. C. Waroway.
B
 WAR
By Field Marshal Viscount Montgomery.
(We are reprinting here, in slightly abbreviated form, a lecture that was delivered by Field
Marshal Viscount Montgomery a little more than six months ago to the Royal United Service
Institution, in London, England. There can be no better preface to it than a few extracts fror
a letter written to ''The Times'' by Marshal of the Royal Air Force Lord Trenchard shortly
after the lecture was given. EDITOR.)

If the fundamentals which he (Field Marshal Viscount

Montgomery) states, and which apply whether warfare is
In trying to win the cold war, one side or the
atomic or not, had been recognized in the years 1933-38, the other may miscalculate and bring on a hot war,
ensuing war would not have lasted six years. Next time, should
there be a next time, failure of Government to act now will
though neither side wanted it. Therefore the true
have decided not the length but the result of the war. But the objective of all military thinking today must be
decisions which have to be taken are not easy, because it is not
a question of one Service alone, but all the Services, some in a
how to combine most economically the military
greater. degree and some in a lesser degree, to avoid Service measures needed for success in the cold war, with
disagreements, which are bound to arise only if no decision is
given. Of course the Services will co-operate, but their ability
to do so efficiently must depend on knowing their broad
responsibilities in the future. The Field-Marshal warns us:
"We must not be hide-bound by past traditions." There must
be "a call to discard out-of-date doctrines and methods and to
organize our force so as to take full advantage of the progress
of science... I can see control of the seas eventually passing to
air forces...The armies need a simple line of supply based on
air-lift. It is my opinion that this vast air organization for the
land armies will be best handled by the air forces."
Trenchard.

THE COLD WAR AND THE HOT WAR

Sous may say that World War III is already in

progress and that, as usual, it has taken a different
form from any other war. It has come to be called
the "cold war". It might well have been called the
"cold peace" .
.As we advance further along the road of develop-
ment of atomic and thermo-nuclear weapons,
guided missiles, and ballistic rockets, it will become
increasingly clear that a hot war will be mutual
suicide for the contestants. Therefore the great
problem regarding the cold war now in progress is
how to win it without precipitating a hot war.
Local wars, e.g. Korea, Indo-China, Malaya,
Kenya, will no doubt continue to form part of the
cold war, but there is a vast difference between
them and a hot war. Both are global, the cold war
and the hot war.
 . d, vver and above
the development of the military strength needed good leaders would be require, 9
. . '·ted in . peace.
to convince our enemies that a world hot war any civilian organization that exist .-
:. : a possibility, a
would result in their own destruction- no matter Since nuclear attack is now, .,
:
how great the surprise they achieved at the outset, nation must be able to a ib ·sor ·b a surprise attach.,
. . h ti iggle. Therefore
nor how ruthlessly they conducted the contest. and survive to continue tle s!Tu
The cold war calls for the use of conventional the whole framework of the h C av' ii Defence
.
.
organ-
· ·
: : : : 5th a Chief of Civil
weapons; success in the hot war calls for new ization must exist in peace, wI
.al means to implement
weapons. It is obvious that the use of atomic and D e fence an d th e esse ntl
thermo-nuclear weapons will have a profound the plan.
effect on the conduct of war, on weapon systems,
on strategical and tactical conceptions, and there- THE FUTURE
fore on the organization of forces. In our thinking ahead we need some realistic
In our reorganization, we may often find a clash foundation. Let us therefore consider a war be-
occurring between conventional weapons which tween two powerful groups of nations, and let us
we know about, and new weapons which we do not call them EAST and WEST. I would suggest we
know about. Whenever that clash occurs, the include the N.A.T.O. nations in the WEST.
solution should be on the side of the long-term new We will assume that the WEST has at present
weapons. New weapons must be "phased in" a superiority in atomic and thermo-nuclear
gradually to our existing weapons systems so as to weapons, together with the means of delivery, but
reduce, or eliminate progressively, equipment and that, as the years pass, that superiority is likely to
weapons which will become out of date as the decline. It was· Maeterlinck who said: "The past
years pass. I want to make it absolutely clear that is chiefly of use to me as the eve of tomorrow. My
we at S.H.A.P.E. are basing all our operational soul wrestles with the future."
planning on using atomic and thermo-nuclear Let us, then, consider the future.
weapons in our defence. The reason for this action j j k
is that we cannot match the strength that could be
brought against us unless we use nuclear weapons. If ever war should come again to this distracted
It all calls for a certain reorganization of our world which God forbid weapons of power
forces, and in our strategy. A special group at unprecedented in the annals of war are available
S.H.A.P.E. has had these matters under very close for employment. So far as we can see today, we are
examination for the past year, and we have reached not justified in depending on air bombardment
certain conclusions. We now need the co-operation alone, even with nuclear weapons, to bring a world
of national authorities to get those conclusions war to a successful conclusion still less a local
translated into practical action.· In fact, we have war or disturbance. Wars today can be won only
reached the point of no return as regards the use of by fighting, and, in a hot world war, fighting will
atomic and thermo-nuclear weapons in a hot war. continue in the air, at sea, and on land, until one
side loses the will to fight on. Those who are in-
CIVIL DEFENCE clined to believe that future wars will be confined
If we visualize an atomic war, the importance of to push-button activities would do well to stop
Civil Defence is apparent. That subject is grossly deluding themselves.
neglected today. Indeed, there is no sound Civil On the other hand, the skilful employment and
Defence organization in the national territory of accurate application of superior nuclear fire-power
any N.A.T.O. nation, so far as I know. The in combination with the operations of stream-
immense destruction caused by atomic and hydro- lined land forces, can be a decisive factor in the
gen bombs, and the disposal of large numbers of land/air battle. The problem will be, how to force
civilian casualties, could not be handled by a few the enemy to concentrate his armed forces suffi-
volunteers. Trained and disciplined men under ciently to offer a worth-vwhile nuclear target,
10
 without exposing our own forces to destruction by
the enemy's nuclear attack. THE WAR IN THE AIR
In our forward thinking we must put the em- It is clear from the strategy I have outlined that
phasis on organization, on tactical conceptions, the dominant factor in future war will be air power.
and on the weapons and equipment that are neces- The greatest asset of air power is its flexibility.
sary to enable us to fight in the way we want. The main factors in determining the degree of
flexibility are the methods of command and con-
THE HOT WAR BY MISCALCULATION
trol, the range of aircraft, and the mobility of sup-
If a hot war is precipitated by miscalculation, porting equipment. Flexibility and centralized
which is always possible, there will not have been control of all the air forces in a theatre of war are
the build-up of Eastern land and air forces, nor the vital to success.
strategical deployment of submarines, which are But the WEST has sacrificed flexibility by
generally taken for granted. In such a case, we, basing the air command organization on the re-
the Western nations, might be temporarily sur- quirements of "direct support" of the land forces,
prised. But if we can react quickly, we would win whereas it should be based on the organization
such a war. It would take a long time for the EAST necessary to gain the greatest measure of control
to build up the forces necessary to do us serious in the air. Air power is indivisible. If you split
harm, and by that time our air forces will have it up into compartments you merely pull it to
done a great deal of damage to the Eastern pieces and destroy its greatest asset its flexibility.
countries.
If we lose the war in the air, we lose the war and
This type of hot war may come at any time. lose it quickly. The methods we adopted in the
We must fight it with the weapons we have, and in later stages of World War II are not necessarily
the way to which our forces are trained when it those we should adopt in the next war. In World
begins. We must, in fact, do the best we can with War II we had almost air superiority from 1943
what we have, and not be tied to plans designed to onwards. It will not be the same in World War III,
meet an entirely different situation.
and we cannot afford to sacrifice flexibility in our
air command organization. We must be careful
THE DELIBERATELY PLANNED WORLD HOT WAR
that we do not draw false lessons for the future
I suggest that such a war will have three phases. from the last two years of the late war, by which
First Phase.- A world-wide struggle for time we had won the war in the air.
mastery in the air and of the oceans. It will be
The land-based air forces must always provide
vital during this phase to prevent enemy land
whatever offensive air support is needed in the
forces overrunning and neutralizing Western bases
war on land, using air forces that are highly
and territories.
trained in that particular work. But they must
Second Phase.-- The destruction of the re-
carry out this task without sacrificing their own
maining enemy land forces.
flexibility. On occasions the whole of the available
Third Phase.- The bargaining phase, when
air power may have to be used to help to save the
the enemy's homeland and all it contains is at the
armies from destruction, and the air organization
mercy of the Western air power. We will then
must provide for such a contingency arising at
carry the air attack to the point where the enemy short notice.
accepts our terms.- The second and third phases
Now let us examine the war in the air.
may be concurrent.
If we can maintain the ability to start a tremen-
Against the background of this overall strategy,
dous nuclear bombardment of the EAST the
let us consider the war under three headings:
moment we are attacked, they cannot afford
The War in the Air. to do nothing about it. It must affect the employ-
The War at Sea. ment of their air forces. It must force them to
The War on Land. devote a considerable effort of their long-range air

11
 forces and nuclear weapons to attempt to hit our The Third Stage
strategical air forces and the installations on which Later on still, further ahead in my opinion
they depend. It must force them to expend effort than five years from now, the EAST may have
on air defence. developed means of delivering their weapons with
There are three successive stages to consider in accuracy, both short-range and long-range, which
the war in the air. do not rely on piloted aircraft. Our ability to
counter that threat by both offensive and defensive
The First Stage measures will be much reduced, because the targets
This stage would arise if war comes in the near will be far less vulnerable whether they are
future. In this period, as I see it, both sides will launching-sites, or the weapons themselves actually
rely principally on piloted aircraft in both the in the air. Will it then be true that offensive opera-
strategical and tactical fields. In this period also, tions by our aircraft or missiles will directly affect
we stand to gain from the balance in favour of the the enemy's ability to deliver his weapons against
offensive in the air, if we can react immediately us?
we are attacked. I see no sign, within this period, I do not see the aeroplane disappearing alto-
of either side being able to create an air defence gether. In the tactical field, I am sure that there
system which could greatly affect the present will always be tasks for piloted aircraft in support
balance in favour of the offensive in the air. of land and naval forces. The enemy's aircraft
The results of this great battle for mastery in the used for these purposes, and their bases, will
air will have a tremendous effect on the whole remain an important target for our aircraft and
war, and we must win it. But we cannot afford to missiles.
rely on air resources which depend on mobilization.
The air forces we need, together with all the means Conclusions
necessary to keep them operational, must exist in Once we have solved the problem of endurance
peace-time. And we must restore to the air forces in the air, and an aircraft can remain in the skies
the flexibility they have largely lost, by central- for prolonged periods and in all weathers, then air
izing air command on the highest possible level. power will be the decisive factor in warfare. That
time is not yet; but it will come. What we must do
The Second Stage now is to organize the command and control of
In the not too-far distant future, the EAST may our air forces so as to retain the greatest degree of
create a sufficient stock of atomic weapons, and flexibility, centralizing command in the highest
may develop the long-range means of delivering commander who can effectively exercise that com-
them, effective enough for them to strike, at the mand, so that he can wield the available air forces
outbreak of war, a devastating blow at our means in a theatre of war as one mighty weapon.
of delivering offensive air power. We would not If we are attacked, we must set in motion an
then be able to apply our greater stock of nuclear immediate air offensive on the largest possible
weapons, and we might therefore lose the initiative scale, directed at the enemy's air forces and at his
in the air war at the start. homeland. The means of delivering an immediate
At this stage, as far as I can see, both sides will air offensive must exist in peace. We must develop
still be relying principally on piloted aircraft, both an effective, and global, early warning system in
for offence and defence. Before this period arrives, order to have some chance of being able to take the
it will be of tremendous importance that we should offensive in the air should we be attacked. And we
have developed, and have in being, a highly effec- must study air defence urgently.
tive global early warning system, together with the It is vital that our air forces should be able to
best air defence that the scientists can give us, in absorb nuclear attack and survive to strike back.
order to prevent our offensive air power being We must get away from the enormous concrete
crippled from the start by a surprise attack. runways of today, and develop aircraft which can
12
 land and take off from small P.S.P. (pierced steel future is likely to be on the smaller type of vessel
planking) airstrips dispersed over the countryside. and on underwater craft.
This would have a revolutionary effect on infra- If it is true that the seas will in the future be
structure and result in very great savings of controlled mainly from the air, then it is for con-
money. In this respect, "vertical lift" aircraft sideration whether this control would not be best
have very great possibilities.
exercised by national air forces and not by naval
THE WAR AT SEA
forces. If this is the case, then navies will not in the
future require their own air forces. That time has
No modern development has lessened, or is
not yet come, but in my view it will come even-
likely to lessen in any foreseeable future, the
tually. If this is true, then we should not build any
dependence of the Western nations on the move-
more expensive aircraft-carriers.
ment of their means of existence across the oceans
Until the future is clear in this respect, navies
of the world, in war, or indeed in peace. In an
should not be allowed to build independent shore-
EAST-WEST war, it is my view that the WEST
based air forces designed to carry out, and du-
could not win if it lost control of the Atlantic. If
plicate, the present maritime responsibilities of
we cannot deploy in Europe the power of the
Coastal, Bomber, and Fighter Commands of a
American continent, Europe could fall.
national Air Force such as the Royal Air Force of
In the open seas the great threats are the sub-
the U.K. What it amounts to is that new weapons
marine and air attack. In the narrow waters, the
have not yet rendered the aircraft-carrier obsolete,
threat of the mine must be added, and attack by
but they are likely to do so in the future. And I
aircraft will be more effective. The first task of the
see control of the seas eventually passing to air
Western naval forces is to make certain that they forces.
can deal with any challenge to our control of the
seas, and that we do not lose that control. THE WAR ON LAND
Naval forces require air support in the same way
To fight successfully on land we need the
as do land forces. It is vital, in the conditions of following four essentials, as a minimum:
today, that navies called on to operate in the 1. We must have first-class "active" peace-time
great oceans should have their own air forces. The forces, up to strength and ready at all times
navies of those nations whose work lies entirely to act as our shield without any mobiliza-
in narrow seas such as the Mediterranean, or in tion procedure. These forces must be
European waters, are in a different situation. In trained and equipped to the highest pitch-
my view, such navies do not need their own air mobile, hard-hitting, offensive troops of
forces.
magnificent morale, very highly disciplined,
What I have said about the war at sea is applica- under young and active commanders. These
ble today and for the next few years. But the more are the troops and the commanders who have
one considers the future, the more the problem of got to stand firm in the face of the horrors
control of the seas becomes difficult to foresee. and terrors of the opening clashes of an
The question to be faced, and decided, is: "In the atomic war. These are the M-Day forces.
future, will the seas be controlled from the sea or 2. We need reserve forces, well organized,
from the air?'
capable of being mobilized in echelons, and
When one considers the range and power of each echelon receiving sufficient training in
aircraft of the future, and the progress that is peace to ensure that it is fit to fight at the
likely in radar and electronics, I am personally time it is needed. These are the post M-Day
forced to the conclusion that the time will come forces.
when the major factor in the control of the seas 3. Our forces, active and reserve, must be
will be air power. It seems to me that the day of backed by a sound logistic and movement
the large warship is over. The emphasis in the organization, which should exist in peace to
13
 the degree necessary to ensure success in the anyone who attacks us. The WEST is vulnerable
opening weeks of war. to nuclear attack. Great offensive power is wasted
4. We must have a sound Civil Defence organ- unless it is married to defensive power and can be
ization in each national territory. launched from a secure base. As time passes and
The whole philosophy underlying these needs in the offensive capability between EAST and WEST
land forces is that the active forces "in being" in levels out, the advantage will go to that side which
peace will make it impossible for the EAST to has the greater defensive strength, which can
launch an attack successfully without a prepara- protect itself against attack, and can survive to
tory build-up of their forces, which we would know strike back.
about. Our active forces will prevent the Eastern There is at the present time no sure defence
forces from reaching our vital areas while we are against the aeroplane or ballistic rocket. Indeed,
assembling and moving forward our reserve forces. so far as we can see today, trying to get a secure
defence against air attack is rather like trying to
GENERAL SUMMARY
keep the tide back on the seashore with a picket
Adequate air strength, multiplied by the ability
fence. The best scientific brains we possess should be
to use nuclear weapons in quantity, increased our
gathered in to help in the task, working in close
chances of successfully defending the WEST if we
co-operation with air forces. I say "air forces"
are attacked. A further point is the great effect
because I hold the view that air defence should be
that the progress of science may have on the time
organized and handled by air forces, and that
factor in war. There is a stronger requirement now
A.A. (anti-aircraft) commands should be handed
than ever before for M-Day forces to be ready, in
over to that Service.
place, and fully effective against a surprise attack.
Reserve forces must be organized with relation to
the time when they must be available for use. This The Sea War
will affect the state of readiness in which they are Today, the navies must handle this war. They
maintained, and, to some extent, their organiza- must be given the minimum means to ensure
tion and equipment. control of the seas and of the approaches to essen-
It seems to me that the early phases of a third tial ports, and no more. It is essential that they
world war will shape very rapidly the course of should not dissipate those means on tasks which
such a war. It would be wishful thinking to say at do not affect the war at sea. But we must not be
this time that decision would be reached in a matter hide-bound by past traditions. I give it as my
of weeks or of a few months. But I suggest to you opinion that the time will come when the seas will
that a policy of the fullest exploitation of nuclear be controlled from the air. If this is true, the future
weapons early in a war raises serious questions as must be planned and organized accordingly.
to the military worth in peace-time of contribu-
tions to the war effort which will have a delayed The Land War
effect. Of all the fighting Services, the armies have the
Let us have a last look at the war in the air, at most difficult task as regards organization for the
sea, and on land. future. It is of little use to superimpose new
weapons on World War II organizations and then
The Air War
to try to work out the tactical changes involved.
We have got to win the war in the air. We must examine our armies and their equipment
We will not win it unless the air forces are to see what changes are needed in an atomic age.
allowed to regain their flexibility and unity, and A complete reorganization is needed of the reserve
unless air command is organized accordingly. armies of all the Western nations. The present
We must maintain in peace the ability to systems for producing reserve armies are mostly
launch an immediate offensive in the air against out of date.
14
 In the organization of land forces the emphasis In war-time, great flexibility will be needed, and
must be on strategical and tactical mobility, and the ability to effect rapidly a large concentration of
on simplicity of weapons systems. We need divi- airlift within a theatre of war will be necessary.
sions that can be moved rapidly by air: this will Great skill will be needed if the lift is to be main-
necessitate suitable aircraft for the purpose. To tained in all weathers. Air cover and protection
gain full advantage of the immense fire-power that will be necessary. An airlift organization must be
nuclear weapons have provided, and to avoid dovetailed into air operations: you cannot se-
destruction by enemy nuclear attack, armies must parate an air transport system from air operations.
develop a more lively and opportunist type of It is my opinion that this vast air organization
battle-leader than exists at present, in both junior for the land armies will be best handled by the air
and senior ranks. Such a leader must be trained to forces, for the reasons I have outlined. Such a
act independently and immediately within the supply organization would do away with the vast
framework of a general plan, rather than on precise array of units and headquarters which today
and detailed orders or only after reference to a constitute the enormous "tail" of a modern army.
superior. These qualities in a leader apply equally It would be the first step in restoring to armies the
to navies and air forces. "freedom of the countryside" and the tactical
Land forces must become less dependent on mobility that have so largely disappeared. By
roads and more capable of cross-country move- simplifying the tail we shall get more bite in the
ment. Armies need a simple line of supply based on teeth.
an airlift. Today, when supply lines are cut by The armies of today are becoming road-bound
enemy action, armies cease to operate efficiently. and are weighed down by a gigantic administrative
The system of the future should provide air supply set-up in and around them. Staffs are far too big;
to forward maintenance areas from base depots the amount of paper that is required to produce
many miles to the rear and well dispersed. Divi- even quite small action is terrific. We seem to have
sions would draw their requirements from the lost the art of command, other than by paper.
forward maintenance areas with vehicles having a No ordinary man can read half the paper that is in
cross-country capacity. circulation; I doubt if the other half is worth
The airlift from base depots to forward mainte- reading.
nance areas must be by some type of "vertical lift"
aircraft. The air supply must be capable of being THE GIST OF THE WHOLE MATTER
maintained in all weathers, and by day and night. Among the Western nations our policy must be
Obviously the distance for this forward air supply strength through unity and peace through strength.
should be kept as short as possible; therefore base But we must understand that the danger of war
depots should be moved forward from time to is always with us because the fundamental aims of
time. I see base depots being replenished by large the two sides, EAST and WEST, are in direct
freight-carrying aircraft which can land and take conflict. If war is joined, and it becomes general,
off from P.S.P. air-strips. then nuclear bombardment would become general
Whether this supply organization should be between the contestants.
owned and operated by armies or by air forces is a A study of war reveals a thread of relentless
matter for immediate examination on the highest change. In fact, change is inevitable from time to
inter-Service level. No nation could afford to give time, and it looms ahead of us today. But progress
to one Service the amount of air-lift which that is not inevitable. Progress depends on sound deci-
Service would need at any particular peak mo- sions, and then on action. We stand today at the
ment in war. If the airlift organization is to be an cross roads, not knowing which turning to take.
organic part of an army, it will cost more than Absolute defence against air attack will be im-
if it was under the air forces, and the army will possible in the future. A deterrent, the means with
never have enough. which to hit back instantly and to give more than

15
 you receive, is the surest way to make an aggressor of economic realities and against a background of
think twice befo re he att acks. The W EST must sound inter-Service responsibilities.
build up such a deterrent, capable of being deli- If what I say has validity, then the future will
vered im m ediately through the air. It is then call for:
vitally necessary to guard against a surprise
attack, and against treachery, and to be able to • Bigger air forces.
hold such an attack long enough to enable nations • Smaller and more immediately-ready regular
to spring to arms behind the shield and mobilize armies with great strategical and tactical
their collective strength. The Western nations mobility. Better organized and more efficient
must also retain the ability to absorb atomic and reserve.armies.
thermo-nuclear attack, and must ensure that their • Smaller navies.
means of instant retaliation are not compromised
• The organization of the three fighting Services
by surprise or treachery.
based on more atomic and thermo-nuclear
In spite of everything I have said, I would issue
power, and less manpower.
a most definite warning against rushing into major
changes until we are certain that they are sound. • A Civil Defence organization which exists in
What is needed today in every nation is a roll of peace to the degree necessary to ensure that it
drums and a clarion call. That call must be one to can operate in top gear in an emergency.
discard out-of-date doctrines and methods, and to The overall aim should be to get financial expen-
organize our affairs to take full advantage of the diture on defence geared to a level which will carry
progress of science. In particular, I would draw a reasonable defence budget over a prolonged
the attention of all national Chiefs of Staff to a period of years, thus giving continuity and sta-
verse in the New Testament, which reads as bility of planning.
follows:
"If the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare CONCLUSIONS
himself to the battle."- 1 Corinthians, 14, 8.
In the Navy, the Army, and the Air Force, we
We need a clear and certain sound, on an have a team. By themselves the individual mem-
inter-Service key. bers can achieve little. The team can achieve
On the subject of inter-Service relations and victory. The progress of science is likely to change
co-operation in the international sphere, I would the former responsibilities of the three members in
say this: there is room for much improvement. certain directions. Parts of the load are shifting
Before the late war the activities of the fighting from the shoulders of one Service to the shoulders
Services were largely uncoordinated, in the U.K. of another. In particular, the air is coming to the
at any rate. During the war inter-Service co- front as the dominant factor in war, and the
operation reached a high standard. Since the war decisive arm. This is going to introduce difficult
it has deteriorated. We talk about the need for problems, and in solving them do not let us bother
international unity and co-operation; we can unduly about the colour of our uniform-- khaki,
hardly expect it if we ourselves do not give a lead dark blue, or light blue. The important point is to
with good inter-Service co-operation. reach the right answer without ill-feeling and inter-
Political, financial, and economic considerations Service quarrels.
will make it impossible for armed forces to have all I have forecast greatly increased responsibilities
they want, or do all they would like. It will become for air forces. Today, it is doubtful if the air forces
more important than ever to concentrate on essen- could cope with those added responsibilities. If
tials and to have our priorities right. Governments what I have said is true, then the air forces must
have got to ensure that their armed forces and be got ready over the years to handle the tasks
security measures are built up within a framework that will fall to them.
16
 1
.. I

* * *

sale
Shown here/is the proto
aeroplane~·
Which,
o. • accordi
type of a-single-seater
-~ ngb,,,;;2
toM&Shanix
z Illus-

an~woJiy
trated,'jca,!11\:>e bu,ilt at homefor,$800. The 'plane,
knowJG,2J::5it.fue M. ]. B~~~ee, is powered by a
65 hl!ig~&.igiFle aFlcl haef'a,.,.,t8p speed of 110 m.p.h.
30 m.p.h.
I

Li_.:--=.• .-~~=-=...::..::=
19
 HE PARTY LINE
THE CANADIAN SERVICES COLLEGES
PART TWO
ROYAL ROADS
By Wing Commander A. H. Middleton, A.F.C.
(The author of the second of our three articles on the Canadian Services Colleges graduated
as a pilot in August 1942 and served almost continuously as a flying instructor, both at
Service Flying Training Schools and at Central Flying School, until he was posted
to A.F.H.Q. in the spring of 1949. After serving in the Directorate of Postings and Careers for
four years, he was posted to R.C.A.F. Staff College. On completion of the course, in June 1954,
he was transferred to Royal Roads, where he fills the dual role of Vice-Commandant and 0. C.
the Cadet Wing.- EDITOR.)

HISTORY
World War, and it was not until 1947, when the
5%cavsE Victoria's association with the Navy reduced requirement for naval officers became
dates back to the surveying of the harbour in 1846 apparent, that R.C.A.F. cadets were admitted for
by Captain Kellett (H.M.S. Herald), the city is training and the College became a joint training
thought of by most airmen as being wholly naval. centre for the R.C.N. and the R.C.A.F. With the
Any training establishment in the area must, they reopening of the Royal Military College in Sep-
therefore assume, be a naval institution. Since tember 1948 for cadets of the three Services, Army
1947, however, R.C.A.F. officers have been receiv-
ing training at Royal Roads, and officers trained at The Castle and the Cadet Block, showing the Italian
this College are now serving in all Commands of Garden to the left of the Castle.

the Air Force. A graduate of the initial R.C.A.F.

entry to Royal Roads, Flt. Lt. K. E. Lewis, has
served as a flight commander in No. 414 (Fighter)
Squadron, and many of his class-mates have also
completed a tour overseas with No, 1 Air Division.
Hatley Park, the estate of the late Hon. James
Dunsmuir, was purchased by the Government in
1940 and established as a Naval Officers' Training
Centre, being commissioned as H.M.C.S. Royal ~ f"-
Roads. The name was taken from the anchorage,
#
just off the property, which was frequented by
shipping during the last century on account of its
convenience as a free rendezvous for vessels ~
seeking freight or awaiting orders. The College
trained R.C.N. officers throughout the Second
ii
20
 1
.. I

* * *

sale
Shown here/is the proto
aeroplane~·
Which,
o. • accordi
type of a-single-seater
-~ ngb,,,;;2
toM&Shanix
z Illus-

an~woJiy
trated,'jca,!11\:>e bu,ilt at homefor,$800. The 'plane,
knowJG,2J::5it.fue M. ]. B~~~ee, is powered by a
65 hl!ig~&.igiFle aFlcl haef'a,.,.,t8p speed of 110 m.p.h.
30 m.p.h.
I

Li_.:--=.• .-~~=-=...::..::=
19
Inspection by the Hon. Brooke Claxton during
graduation exercises a year ago. The Cadet Choir at the Christmas Carol Service.

same course in the first year, with the exception of

French, for which subject they are divided into
classes according to their previous experience.
Just as at the other Service Colleges, nightly study
under supervision is required during the week.

STUDENTS
For the 1954-55 term, 157 cadets (representing
every province) reported to Royal Roads. Of these
cadets 44 were R.C.N., 57 Army, 53 R.C.A.F.,
and 3 N.A.T.O. naval cadets from Belgium. Of the
new entries, only one was a Reserve Cadet, while
the others were all enrolled in the Regular Force
under the Regular Officer Training Plan, of which
they receive the financial benefits.
22
 Although naval tra ditions have been retained at flight sports each week-day and, in addition,
the College, Air Force term inology is used fo r the facilities are available for recreational sports
Cadet W ing fo rm ation. The cadets are divided into during the week-ends. With two soccer pitches, a
squadro ns and flights with cadet offi cers appointed football field, five tennis courts, a 440-yard track,
as Cadet W ing Com m ander, Cadet Squadro n a gymnasium, and one of the best cross-country
Leaders, and Cadet Flight Leaders. The W ing courses in Canada (all within the College grounds),
consists of three squadro ns, each of two flights, a full programme of sports can be carried out at all
and within each flight the cadets from the three times. Furthermore, because of the College's ideal
Services are interm ingled. During the academ ic location, all cadets take part in sailing and rowing
year at the College, there is no m eans of distin- in dinghies, whalers, and cutters.
guishing an R.C.N. or Army cadet from an Although the cadets have little time for recrea-
R.C.A.F. cadet, since all wear the same uniform. tional activities during the week, time is allotted
Because of the strong emphasis on inter-flight on Saturday mornings when the cadet must par-
sports, it has been found that the allotment of ticipate in an activity of his choice; and it is not
cadets to flights by weight has proved most success- too difficult for the cadet to find an interest, since
ful in producing teams of equal ability. the College has a Radio Club, Camera Club, and
All cadets are required to participate in inter- facilities for model-building, wood-working, metal-
working, in addition to sports. During the winter,
skiing week-ends are arranged, and every oppor-
A physical training display.

23
Inspection by the Hon. Brooke Claxton during
graduation exercises a year ago. The Cadet Choir at the Christmas Carol Service.

same course in the first year, with the exception of

French, for which subject they are divided into
classes according to their previous experience.
Just as at the other Service Colleges, nightly study
under supervision is required during the week.

STUDENTS
For the 1954-55 term, 157 cadets (representing
every province) reported to Royal Roads. Of these
cadets 44 were R.C.N., 57 Army, 53 R.C.A.F.,
and 3 N.A.T.O. naval cadets from Belgium. Of the
new entries, only one was a Reserve Cadet, while
the others were all enrolled in the Regular Force
under the Regular Officer Training Plan, of which
they receive the financial benefits.
22
 THE RUCKUS
On the top of a hill on the Island of Zort He yapped and he yodelled! He yelped and he
Lived a bird called the Ruckus, whose favourite yilped !
sport He gargled! He snargled ! He burped and he
Was making loud noises. It gave him a thrill bilped!
To be known as the loudest-mouthed bird on the And the sound went to China and knocked down
hill. three cats,
Then, one day, he thought, '"I can be louder still! And, in England, it blew off eight bus drivers'
"My voice is terrific. It ought to be heard hats!
"On many more islands than this," said the bird. "Oh, boy!" bragged the Ruckus. ''I'm really
So he made his voice stronger, 'till, one day, he some bird!
found "I've opened my mouth and I've made myself
That he'd learned how to make a tremendous heard!"
big sound' Then a little old worm crawled up out of the
That shook every island for fifty miles 'round! ground.
"That's true," said the worm. "That was quite a
"I say!" laughed the Ruckus. "I am a great guy!
big sound.
"But I can do better than that if I try.
"But I have a question to ask, if I may ...
"I'll build up my voice. Why, I'll practice a year!
"You made yourself heard ... but just what did
"I'll cook up a noise that the whole world will you Say?"
hear."
And the worm turned his back and slid softly
And, after he'd practiced for fifty-two weeks, away.
The Ruckus let loose with a mouthful of shrieks Theodor Seuss Geise/.
That burst from his throat like the moans and the
groans
Of ten thousand elephants blowing trombones!
* * *
NEW SAAB RECORD

A new international speed record (pending by a British Gloster Meteor jet fighter.
approval by the Federation A&ronautique Inter- The aircraft carried drop tanks which were
nationale) over a 1,000 km. (621 miles) closed- released en route. The flight formed part of a series
circuit distance was established on 23 March by a of tests to establish the tactical performance of
formation of two Saab-29C (S-29C) photographic this version of the Saab-29, which now equips all
reconnaissance aircraft piloted by Captain Hans photographic reconnaissance squadrons of the
Neij and short-service pilot Birger Eriksson of the Royal Swedish Air Force. The Saab-29C, powered
Royal Swedish Air Force. The two aircraft flew by a Svenska Flygmotor-built D.H. Ghost turbo-
the distance in 1 hour, 6 min., and 37 sec., giving jet, is not the first version of this series of fighter,
an average speed of 900.6 km/h (560 miles per attack, and reconnaissance aircraft to establish an
hour). The S-29C record is, incidentally, the first international speed record. In May 1954 a stan-
international speed record ever made by a dard-equipped Saab-29B (J 29B) fighter averaged
formation of aircraft. The previous record 977 km/h (607.5 mph) over a 500 km. (310 miles)
of 822 km/h (510 mph) was set up in 1950 closed-circuit distance.
25
 Despite im portant increases in aerodynam ic Let us review some possible nuclear engine
effi ciencies fo r aircra ft at tra nsonic and supersonic cycles. Figure I shows a simple power-plant for
speeds since 1948, nuclear power still rem ains the nuclear aircraft propulsion. It is a turbo-jet engine
shining hope fo r increasing the ra nge of aircraft at with the combustion chamber replaced by a
high speeds to values unobtainable with con- nuclear reactor. The air enters the compressor,
ventional or special chemical fuels. A long-range passes through the reactor, where it is heated as it
bomber today may carry as much as, or more flows over elements containing uranium, continues
than, 100,000 lbs. of fuel. A piece of U-235 with the through a turbine and is discharged to the rear
same energy content would weigh only 0.05 lb. through a nozzle. The power generated by the air's
To my mind, our security requires that the appli- passage through the turbine drives the compressor
cation of nuclear power to aircraft be expedited through the shaft connecting it with the turbine.
with a feeling of real urgency. The airplane is, of course, propelled by the high-

REACTOR

SHIELD

INTER COOLER---~

DIFFUSER AIR TURBINE EXHAUST

NOZZLE
A IR COMPRES SOR
fig. 1 Direct air cycle is simplest of three engine cy I f
here. It is essentially a turbojet engine with combustion e," 'r nuclear aircraft propulsion discussed
r replaced by nuclear reactor,

26
 REACTOR

r-SH]ELD

AIR COMPRESSOR
e eel

•
---➔

INLET --:URBINE~HAUST
DIFFUSER HEAT EXCHANGER NOZZLE
[Fiq, CZ Liquid-cooled reactor cycle offsets air's poor heat-transfer characteristics: Heat is picked up
by liquid coolant in the reactor and then transferred to air in a heat exchanger.

velocity jet discharged through the exhaust nozzle. rials as molten sodium and lead-bismuth. The
Air is a poor heat-transfer medium. Higher determination of the heat transfer data on these
power generation can be obtained by using a liquid materials is one of the current research efforts in
coolant in the reactor and transferring the heat the development of the nuclear power-plant.
from this liquid to the air in a heat-exchanger. The A third type of nuclear power-plant is repre-
power-plant in Figure 2is similar to the one shown sented by the steam turbine system (Fig. 3).
in Figure 1 except for a secondary loop in which a Water is pumped through a reactor where it picks
liquid is pumped first through the reactor and then up heat while it is held at a very high pressure in
through the heat-exchanger through which flows order not to flash into steam within the reactor.
the air from the compressor. This heat-exchanger It then flows into a turbine where the pressure is
can have considerably more heat transfer area reduced so that it flashes into steam which drives
than is permissible in the reactor and hence can the turbine. The turbine supplies power to the
transfer more heat to the air than can the reactor propeller shaft and the water pump. The air blast
with direct air cooling.
from the propeller provides the thrust for the
Because the fluid must remain liquid at the high
airplane and also cools the condenser. The steam
temperatures involved and have a low capture
passes from the turbine to the condenser and back
cross-section for neutrons, only a small number of
coolants are suitable. These limitations have led to the pump.
to the consideration of such unconventional mate- In the nuclear airplane, low cycle effectiveness
27
 REACTOR
I
--------- SHIELD

CONDENSER

TURBINE EXHAUST NOZZLE

Fig. 3 High-pressure water cycle follows steam turbine

principle. Water picks up heat in reactor and flows into turbine
where it flashes into steam, thus driving the turbine.

is not reflected in range performance as it is in the adequate. Rather, the cycle characteristic deter-
hydrocarbon-fuelled airplane. If the airplane will mines whether or not the airplane will fly and how
fly and land at all, its range will be more than heavy it will be.

J
 REACTOR

r-SH]ELD

AIR COMPRESSOR
e eel

•
---➔

INLET --:URBINE~HAUST
DIFFUSER HEAT EXCHANGER NOZZLE
[Fiq, CZ Liquid-cooled reactor cycle offsets air's poor heat-transfer characteristics: Heat is picked up
by liquid coolant in the reactor and then transferred to air in a heat exchanger.

velocity jet discharged through the exhaust nozzle. rials as molten sodium and lead-bismuth. The
Air is a poor heat-transfer medium. Higher determination of the heat transfer data on these
power generation can be obtained by using a liquid materials is one of the current research efforts in
coolant in the reactor and transferring the heat the development of the nuclear power-plant.
from this liquid to the air in a heat-exchanger. The A third type of nuclear power-plant is repre-
power-plant in Figure 2is similar to the one shown sented by the steam turbine system (Fig. 3).
in Figure 1 except for a secondary loop in which a Water is pumped through a reactor where it picks
liquid is pumped first through the reactor and then up heat while it is held at a very high pressure in
through the heat-exchanger through which flows order not to flash into steam within the reactor.
the air from the compressor. This heat-exchanger It then flows into a turbine where the pressure is
can have considerably more heat transfer area reduced so that it flashes into steam which drives
than is permissible in the reactor and hence can the turbine. The turbine supplies power to the
transfer more heat to the air than can the reactor propeller shaft and the water pump. The air blast
with direct air cooling.
from the propeller provides the thrust for the
Because the fluid must remain liquid at the high
airplane and also cools the condenser. The steam
temperatures involved and have a low capture
passes from the turbine to the condenser and back
cross-section for neutrons, only a small number of
coolants are suitable. These limitations have led to the pump.
to the consideration of such unconventional mate- In the nuclear airplane, low cycle effectiveness
27
 REACTOR
I
--------- SHIELD

CONDENSER

TURBINE EXHAUST NOZZLE

Fig. 3 High-pressure water cycle follows steam turbine

principle. Water picks up heat in reactor and flows into turbine
where it flashes into steam, thus driving the turbine.

is not reflected in range performance as it is in the adequate. Rather, the cycle characteristic deter-
hydrocarbon-fuelled airplane. If the airplane will mines whether or not the airplane will fly and how
fly and land at all, its range will be more than heavy it will be.

J
 Introducing CANADIAN
JOINT AIR TRAINING CENTRE

By Flying Officer P. M. Simpson.

(With this article Flying Officer Simpson performs for C.J.A.T.C. a service that might
well be done for every station in the R.C.A.F. How many of us have more than a rather vague
idea about the life both in and out of working-hours on any stations other than those or
which we have ourselves served? Contributions of this kind will always be more than we/come.
- EDITOR.)

* * *
THE DAY arrives at last. Your section commander Rumour to the contrary, Rivers is on the map.
You'll find it there. It is about 160 miles due west
tells you you have been transferred to C.J.A.T.C.,
Rivers, and he may or may not add that he is of Winnipeg, and it's a stopping-point on the
sorry to lose you. C.N.R. main line. The nearest city of any size,
Slightly bewildered, you go home and tell the
news to everyone. Your wife says: "Rivers?
Where's that? I've never even heard of the place.
Do we get a P.M.Q.? What about a school for the
children?" Vaguely you reply: "They tell me it is
somewhere in Manitoba. That's all I know."
Now, in case any of you are transferred to
CJ.AT.C.,, we shall endeavour to give you some
facts about this unusual station. As its name
implies, it's tri-Service which means that you
must get along not only with members of the Air
Force, but also with members of the other Services
too. When you need ground transportation, the
Army will provide it; for air transportation, your
pilot may be from the Air Force, Army, or Navy
(depending on the type of aircraft); your doctor
will be an Army M.O.; and your official photog-
rapher will probably be supplied by the Navy.
Engineering works services are an Air Force
responsibility. Some of the courses given at
C.J.A.T.C. draw their instructors from all three
Services.
29
 c Transport Support School teaches the principles and
Brandon, lies 34 miles east of C.J.AT.C. Its The 5f transport air support in airborne and air
organization o1 :
rtation operations. : :
population is 22,000. The town of Rivers, which is ',cat Air support School instructs in the principles
only 4 miles from the station, has a population of ,,%
nd teclimques
used in providing closeid air support to the
,, In this connection the school conducts courses for the
1,500. Arn, , ind in addition gives specialist instruction to
three Services at .:«. CJ.AT.C
Winters at Rivers are cold and dry, summers the Naval squadrons when they VISlt . . . . .
dry and hot. You may have to contend with
temperatures down to about 40° below zero in the Air Training Wing has several functions. The
winter and up to about 90° in the summer, but Tactical and Transport Support School (Air)
these are the minimum and maximum and the provides assistance to ground training courses,
range between is not unpleasant. The annual and improves and develops methods and tech-
rainfall is around 20 inches, and snow precipitation niques of tactical support; while the Light Aircraft
is heaviest between January and April. Our winds School trains Army pilots for Army flying duties
can be trying: the highest velocity recorded is and gives helicopter conversion training for pilots
80 m.p.h. of all three Services.
* * * Technical Wing provides full logistical sup-
C.J.A.T.C. was originally (in 1947) called port for C.J.A.T.C. and advises on all technical
"Joint Air School," its purpose at that time being and engineering matters.
to meet training requirements in matters relating A small but important part of C.J.A.T.C.is the
to the joint employment of air and ground forces. Tactical and Technical Investigation Section. Its
On 1 April 1949, the Joint Air School was renamed functions are to conduct Service trials on new and
"Canadian Joint Air Training Centre" and reor- existing airborne equipment, to submit recom-
ganized to provide for more efficient training and mendations, and to suggest improvements to be
administration. incorporated into the military characteristics of
It would be a lengthy task to explain in full its the equipment.
organization and functions. Briefly, however, it is k k k

divided into four wings: Station amenities for Service, personnel and
• Administrative. their dependents are numerous. There are 400
• Ground Training.
• Air Training.
P.M.Q. units; and Brooke School, one of the most
• Technical. modern of schools, was built in 1951. This year
about 450 children are .enrolled, and a staff of 20
The Administrative Wing, which is composed teachers take care of their education from kinder-
of a staff of Army and Air Force personnel, per- garten to Grade XII, inclusive.
forms the local administration of C.J.A.T.C. It
The Station Store is large, having its own
provides all facilities necessary for the conduct of
grocery, butcher, and clothing departments, and a
operations by the functional wings and administers
great variety of general items. The Station
certain amenities for the use of all personnel.
Theatre, with a seating capacity of 480, is open
The Ground Training Wing conducts both
every day. The shows change four times a week.
theoretical and practical courses on all matters
relating to land /air warfare. The Naval personnel Recreational facilities are various and many.
take care of the amphibious aspects of the subject. The new outdoor swimming-pool, partly financed
The wing is divided into six schools. by weekly Bingos, should be completed shortly.
The curling-rink has four sheets of ice and the
The Joint Air Photo-Interpretation School is the only tri-
Service school of its kind on the North American continent, winter of 1954/55 showed a membership of around
and its primary function is to train photo-readers from all 300. The drill-hall provides room for numerous
three Services for photo intelligence purposes.
The Airborne School conducts the basic course in paratrain- sports and games. The ''electric eye'' has been
ing. It instructs in the theory of parachuting, in basic drills, installed in the four bowling-alleys, and last season
techniques, and actual jumps.
saw 500 regular bowlers. Near by is the 25-yard
30
indoor shooting-range. The billiard-room contains and a club-house. Membership in 1954 was about
four tables, and darts and ping-pong can be played 120. The station also boasts a Rod and Gun Club
in the games-room. The drill-hall floor is marked which has its own lodge at Arrow River, some 42
for three games of volleyball, ten of badminton, miles away. The whole area is ideal for duck- and
and two of basketball. Another room in the drill- deer-hunting in season.
hall has been fitted up for weight-lifting and During the winter, equipment is available for
wrestling-training. Every two weeks the drill-hall skiing, either on the slopes 5 miles to the south, or
is the scene of a station dance, with music pro- on the ski-run at Virden, about 40 miles from
vided by a component of the C.J.A.T.C. Band. camp.
In addition to one regular and one "little league" Riding-horses can be hired from the stables
baseball diamond, there are three softball dia- opposite the Golf Club. One of the biggest attrac-
monds in the station area. The outdoor hockey tions for-tourists is Clear Lake, 70 miles north of
rink near the drill-hall is the practising-ground for Rivers and situated in the beautiful Riding
the station hockey team and three inter-section Mountain National Park. Here you can swim,
teams. C.J.A.T.C. also sponsors one Midget and play tennis, go boating or roller-skating, dance,
one Tom Thumb hockey team. Other amenities ride, or fish.
include a hobby shop and a recently formed art * *
club; and square-dancing classes are now in the Such, briefly, is the environment into which we
process of organization. shall welcome you should you ever find yourself
Close to the station and owned by it is the transferred to the Canadian Joint Air Training
New Sarum Golf Club. It has a nine-hole course Centre.

-
DISTINGUISHEDM/ RKSMAN
#
z:2
# ~ -~
-

Wing Commander F. H. Pearce, A.F.C., Com-

~

? of R.C.A.F.
manding Officer 4 ,, :%. Whiutehorse,
Station :h
presentsCpL. A. R. Baker
WM0the Distinguished
2? 2Z F .
Marksman's Badge. epl._,A3aker s average score
L A
was 98%for 10 targets.
1vV~

31
 (''Ha!'' exclaimed Sgt. Shatterproof, as he riffled through the list of our proposed contents
· d· I t· ire. A sound idea Sn and one ·
for the May issue.''So we are to have a medical questionnau " ' In
which I may be able to help you. You have, of course, heard of my great-great-uncle, Sir
Clyster Shatterproof, who was Royal Physician to Queen Anne and who was instrumental ir
bringing her 19 children into this world. Apart from his achievements in the fi.eld of obstetrics,
he did some remarkable work in applied psychology, developing an entirely new technique for
gaining the patient's confidence before anaesthetizing him with an iron mace. Unfortunately,
at the height of his fame he became a prey to hallucinations, and he ended his days in Bedlam,
firmly convinced that Her Majesty was an Angora rabbit. None the less--'' At this point we
coughed loudly. ''Sir Clyster,'' we interrupted, ''must have been an amazing man. But our
questionnaire is not a medical one. It concerns plastics." He eyed us with pity. "Can it be,
Sir, that you have never heard of mustard plastics? Why-' We tried again:''No, Sergeant,
you're thinking of mustard plasters. Plastics are-'' His expression chilled." I would suggest,
Sir, that before we attempt to instruct the boys in the field, we get our terms straight. I leave
you with that thought." Undeterred, we sought the aid of Mr. J. M. Macoun, the Assistant
Chief of the Customs Excise Laboratory, who has helped us on several occasions before this.
The following twenty questions are the fruits of our visit. Answers appear on page 48.- EDITOR.)

1. A plastic, as the term is generally understood 5. Vuelite, a transparent plastic reinforced with
by everyone except Sgt. Shatterproof, may 16-gauge wire screen, can withstand:
best be defined as: (a) The action of nitric acid.
(a) An inorganic material reduced to powder and (b) The temperatures encountered in blast-furnaces.
bonded with synthetic resin. (c) The blast of a 150-lb. bomb exploded 150 ft. away.
(b) A synthetic organic material that can be moulded to (d) A direct hit from a 20mm. cannon.
produce a tough non-crystalline substance which is
solid at ordinary temperatures. 6. The plastic buttons on the jackets formerly
(c) A synthetic substance which can be moulded into
any desired shape at temperatures above 212° F issued on the R.C.A.F. Survival Course could
but which becomes solid at ordinary room tempera- be eaten (in emergency) by the famished
tures.
(d) Any compound of carbon, sulphur, argon, hydrogen, student because they were made of:
and oxygen. (a) Hydrogenated synthetic corn-meal.
(b) Soya beans.
2. Celluloid, the first commercial plastic, was (c) Bakelite.
(d) Urea.
produced by:
(a) John Hyatt (U.S.A., 1868).
(b) Braconnot (France, 1833).
(c) Leuchs (Germany, 1912).
(d) Spill and Parkes (England, 1845).

3. Plexiglas, the plastic of which aircraft canopies

are made, has a tensile strength of:
(a) 500 lbs. per sq. in.
(b) 1 ton per sq. in.
(c) 2 ½ tons per sq. in.
(d) 12,000 1bs. per sq. in.

4. Not a plastic is:

(a) Ebonite.
(b) Bakelite.
(c) Vinylite.
(d) Uformite.

32
7. The chief source of modern plastics is (at the 15. By far the largest group of basic materials
time of writing): used in the making of plastics is:
(a) Fats. (a) Cellulose.
(b) Alcohol. . (b) Rubber.
(c) Natural resin. (c) Petroleum.
(d) Hydrocarbons from coal or petroleum. (d) Synthetic resins.
8. Receiving the same priority as rubber during 16. Angora sweaters are no longer made from
the Second World War (because it was re- nitro-cellulose, because this material:
quired for the manufacture of plastics) was: (a) Is too transparent.
(a) Coal-dust. (b) Scratches all but the most rugged skin.
(b) Tung oil. (c) Is too inflammable.
(c) The liquid obtained from the shells of cashew nuts. (d) Disintegrates in the rain.
(d) The essential oil of Brazil nuts.
17. Most of the plastic material used for the new
9. The plastic most generally used as a synthetic "plastic" automobile bodies is of the polyester
fibre is (at present): type. It is reinforced with:
(a) Rayon. (a) Wood shavings.
(b) Nylon. (b) Fibre glass.
(c) Terylene. (c) Aluminum strips.
(d) Orlon. (d) Steel wool.

10. Before the advent of resin bonding, plywood 18. Bootleg duck is:
was not widely used for aircraft, because of: (a) A potable plastic employed in the distillation of
(a) Its tendency to delaminate. "bathtub gin."
(b) The weight of the glue required to join it safely. (b) An edible plastic made of oatmeal, soya beans, and
hydrogen. , 3f
(c) The attraction held by ordinary glues for ants or
(c) A synthetic leather used for making the uppers o
termites.
(d) Its inability to stand the heat induced by skin- rubber bush-boots.
(d) A plastic fabric characterized by its "two-way
friction.
stretch."

11. Not used in the manufacture of any kind of

19. Most articles (e.g. drinking-glasses, boxes,
plastic is: plates, etc.) made of polystyrene resemble
(a) Cotton.
(b) Hydrogen. metal in that:
(c) Helium. (a) They give forth a metallic ring when dropped.
(d) Oats. (b) The human skin clings to them at low sub-zero
temperatures. · d l
(c) Their melting-point is the same as that of mil steel.
12. The pliable translucent containers often used (d) They are sufficiently resistant to abrasion for use as
to contain liquids are made of polyethylene. thrust-bearings in light aero-engines.
Polyethylene consists of:
(a) Phosphorus and nylon. 20. Made from the same basic material as paper,
(b) Synthetic resin and hydrogen. 1S:
(c) Bleached Vinylite. (a) Vinylite (polyvinyl).
(d) Carbon and hydrogen. (b) Plexiglas (acrylic).
(c) Styron (polystyrene).
(d) Plastacele (cellulose acetate).
13. A material often used to reinforce plastics is:
(a) Aluminum strips.
(b) Rags.
(c) Linoleum.
(d) Steel wool.

14. Among the plastic aids which the ladies em-

ploy to enhance their charms are:
(a) Kiss-proof lipsticks.
(b) Non-alcoholic perfumes.
(c) Contact lenses.
(d) All-weather rouges.

33
 "Z «
??) !) @ ID] JA

.
Mi
~ ~

By Arthur Macdonald, Air Cadet League of Canada.

It has been our custom from time to time to fresh and interesting approach to the business of
report at some length in this section on the ac- Air Cadet training. Both have developed ideas
tivities of individual squadrons. Two squadrons which should prove helpful to other units across
have been selected for "feature treatment" this the country.
month: one, a well-established outfit with an out-
standing record for all-round proficiency, and the No. 218 (DANFORTH) SQUADRON
other a relatively new unit which has brought a Winners of the de Havilland Trophy last year as
the most proficient squadron in the metropolitan
The Commanding Officer, civilian committee members,
and award-winning cadets of No. 218 Squadron, display
Toronto area and two-time winner of the cham-
the trophies won by this unit during the past year. pionship shield at summer camp, No. 218 Squadron
The ''ham'' radio station operated by No. 218 Squadron. The squadron flying training plan is one that
might well be adopted by other units across the
country. It is made possible by a three-way part-
gives a major share of the credit for its success to
nership between the cadet concerned, the spon-
the effective sponsorship provided by the Danforth
soring committee, and the flying school (in this
Lions Club.
case Central Airways, operating at the Toronto
The Lions marked their twelfth anniversary as
Island airport). Cadets wishing to qualify under
sponsors of the squadron by recording a bumper
the scheme are first of all required to put up fifty
year. No less than eight Danforth cadets received
dollars, this amount being matched by the spon-
their Private Pilot's Licenses and wings last year- soring committee. The remaining funds required
two of them through R.C.A.F. flying scholarships, are obtained through the government subsidies of
and six under a unique flying scholarship scheme $100 paid both to the cadet and to the flying
set up by the squadron. Two of the eight pilots school when the lad qualifies for a Private Pilot's
trained last year have already graduated from the License. Through this unique plan, No. 218
squadron and entered the R.C.A.F.
35
r uu:.-=
«;

also flies every member of the squadron at least

Squadron is probably graduating more pilots each
three times a year from the Island Airport, takes
year than any other squadron in Canada.
all cadets to at least two professional baseball
One of the lads trained in this method last year
games per season, and arranges frequent visits to
was W.O.1 W. Tarling, who was selected as the
outstanding cadet in the Toronto area and named the stock-car races held on Saturday evening at the
as "Test Pilot for a Day" by the de Havilland c.N.E. grand stand. In addition, such attractive
Aircraft Company. This distinction earned him an items as hockey sweaters and sweat shirts are
attractive trophy, flights in six different types of awarded to deserving cadets by the Lions Club.
aircraft, and a day's pay as a de Havilland test Not satisfied with this impressive record, the
pilot. sponsoring committee played host to the whole
No. 218 Squadron has had no serious recruiting squadron at a wings parade held late in the year
problems since it started to award a half-hour's and served a buffet supper to more than two
flying time to each cadet who brings in a new hundred and fifty cadets, parents, and friends.
recruit. A special grant from the Toronto Central The officers, instructors, and cadets were invited
Committee is used for this purpose. The squadron to another banquet early in the new year, and
every cadet who took a "first" in the track and
field meet at summer camp was presented with an
The Christmas party for the members of Nos. 588 and
592 Squadrons, both sponsored by Canadair Limited.
 covering two years of summer camp, has been
A newly-enrolled cadet of No. 218 Squadron being issued
with his uniform. turned over to the Ontario Provincial Committee
for wider use throughout the province.
individual trophy by Dr. Tony Vince, a former No. 588 (CANADAIR) SQUADRON
Canadian Olympic star and a member of the One of two squadrons sponsored by Canadair
Lions Club. Limited, No. 588 came into being on 1 June 1954.
The latest gift by the Lions to the squadron is The squadron was set up with the understanding
a radio transmitter receiver which has been set that all cadets must be related to Canadair
up as a "ham" radio station and has contacted employees. This ruling also applies to adult per-
points as far away as South America. sonnel, inasmuch as all officers and instructors are
Another interesting accomplishment by No. 218 company employees and former Servicemen.
Squadron is the production of a summer-camp film Following its formation, the squadron enjoyed
made by squadron personnel using film and instant success. Within a month, squadron strength
cameras provided by the Lions Club. This film,
37
 structure, Service familiarization, armament, fly-
reached ninety cadets and has continued to
ing hygiene, and physical training. Extra-curricular
increase steadily.
training is provided in the subjects of radio
As a training headquarters, the squadron is
fortunate in having the use of a 120' x 90' hangar marksmanship, photography, model-aircraft build'.
at Canadair, in which are located the C.O's office, ing, blueprint reading, and precision drill.
orderly room, lecture rooms, supply section, In addition to the sponsoring committee, other
canteen, and cloakroom. The hangar also provides groups at Canadair are showing a keen interest in
space for indoor drill, although open-air drill the progress of No. 588. The Canadair ex-Service-
space is also available during spring and fall. men's Association has donated a trophy to be
The administrative set-up of No. 588 Squadron awarded annually to the squadron's most prof-
is one of the most efficient yet devised by any Air cient cadet. Another trophy has been put up by
Cadet unit. Personal files are kept on every cadet the Canadair Foremen's Association for inter-flight

1 in accordance with R.C.A.F. standards. A squa-

dron strength board, listing the names of cadets by
competition.
While squadron activities have so far been
flights, is kept up-to-date each parade night. A restricted mainly to organization and training, the
Kardex system, provided by Canadair, maintains social side of cadet life has not been completely
the complete record of every cadet with reference neglected. A very successful Christmas dinner for
to attendance, discipline, and academic assess- both Canadair squadrons was held at the com-
ment. Squadron standing orders have been com- pany's cafeteria in December, and selected groups
piled, and routine orders are issued every two of cadets have also made special flying visits to
weeks. Ottawa.
The training programme covers the full range of If No. 588 Squadron continues at its present
syllabus subjects, including drill, navigation, pace, there is no doubt that it will soon rank with
meteorology, engines, principles of flight, aircraft the finest Air Cadet units in Canada.

COSMIC JIVE
Suppose that a terrestrial spaceship were to r wiggle
by a peculiar · dance where nectar-bearing
land on Mars, how would the crew communicate
flowers are to be found. The frequency of the
with intelligent Martians? Dr. Claude E. Shannon,
wiggles indicated by a code the distance to the
of the Bell Telephone Laboratories, got up to flowers. · The diirecon
·t; :
explain how it could be done. in which the bees moved
along the hive was related in a different way to the
Pointing at objects in short, sign language
direction
•
from the hive to th .e fl owers. If 1it 1S ;
would be one way of beginning. But suppose 'the
possible to find out how beees communicate
: ·in t :hi1S
Martians use a means of communication utterly manner with one anot th er, the
h linguistic
. . . problem
unknown to us. We would have to rely on a second- presented by M.
ary channel of some kind. Von Frisch, the Austrian ar ·t;1ans 1s
: :
not msoluble to Shannon.
(Waldemar Kaempffert in ''Te New York
naturalist, discovered that bees tell one another Times.'')

38 * * *
ROaA GA\8NADIA»Y a#] ED©Cg

AIR FORCE BONSPIEL AT LETHBRIDGE B.C. Other participating rinks came from Beause-
The Second International Air Force Bonspiel jour, Winnipeg, Centralia, Rockcliffe, North Bay,
was held at Leth bridge on 17, 18, and 19 March. Ottawa, Downsview, Lachine, Red Deer, Clares-
The only international Air Force bonspiel ever holm, Penhold, Lincoln Park, Medicine Hat,
attempted in Canada, it was organized in 1954 by Calgary, Suffield, and Stavely. Many of these
No. 702 (Lethbridge) Wing. This year No. 702 places entered more than one team. The Wing
Wing conducted a two-day bonspiel, with such enlisted the aid of twenty-eight commercial firms.
men as Messrs. T. Martin, M. Moffatt, E. Moffatt, The highlight of the bonspiel was the appro-
C. H. Linn, R. Mueller, T. Segsworth, W. Lee, priate capture of the Flying Officer Del Martin
D. Brogart, G. Marshall, J. Gard, L. Cowlie, N. Memorial Trophy by the entry from Greenwood,
Nakamura, and S. Wallis, contributing their time N.S. The late Flying Officer Del Martin was a
and efforts towards the success of the event. pilot in No. 405 (M.R.) Squadron, stationed at
A total of forty-four rinks was entered, from as Greenwood, when he lost his life in a flying acci-
far away as Greenwood, N.S., and Sea Island, dent in Northern Canada. The donors of the
Trophy, Mr. and Mrs. T. Martin, had the Green-
Mayor A. W. Shackleford, Lethbridge, throws the first wood team as their guests throughout their visit to
rock to open the Second International
Air Force Bonspiel. Leth bridge.

39
 :AurERATIONAL BO ;p
R Co
"/,

The West Coast rink. Left to right: Cpl. J. Pozzi, Sqn.

Ldr. G. Moir, L.A.C. N. Black, FIt. Sgt. N. McLeish.
Winners of the Flying Officer Del Martin
Trophy (grand aggregate) were guests present, including delegates from Nos. 501
1. Flying Officer F. Beatty, R.C.A.F., Greenwood. and 502 Wings who were attending the Annual
2. Sergeant J. Woods, R.C.A.F., Suffield.
3. Corporal L. Thompson, R.C.A.F., Centralia.
Convention of the Manitoba-Northwestern-Onta-
tio Group, and additional guests from No. 502
Winners of the Tip-Top Tailors Trophy (highest Wing.
point-winners) were: At the close of the banquet, Group Captain
1. Sqn. Ldr. A. Trotter, R.C.A.F., Lachine.
2. Mr. N. Cook, No. 702 Wing, R.C.A.F.A. R. B. Ingalls, D.S.O., D.F.C., Commanding Officer
3. Cpl. T. Eadie, R.C.A.F., North Bay. of the station, presented Past-President's pins to
4.Mr. A. Batty, No. 702 Wing, R.C.A.F.A. the following:

The spiel wound up with a banquet and presen- Dufferin Roblin, Wing president, 1950-51
H. Oscar Olson, Wing president, 1951-52
tation of prizes at the Marquis Hotel. All the A.H. Turner, Wing president, 1952-53
members of No. 702 are to be commended for the G. A. McNeil, Wing president, 1953-54
W. A. Mildren, Group president, 1954-55
very fine and efficient manner in which the spiel
was conducted. A one-minute silence was observed in honour of
the Wing's first president, E. 0. W. Hall (now
WING NEWS deceased), who did so much for the Wing when it
No. 500 (Winnipeg) Wing was first organized.
On 26 February, No. 500 Wing held a Past- Following the presentation of the pins, Group
President's Banquet and Dance at R.C.A.F. Captain Ingalls gave an interesting short talk.
Station Winnipeg. There were 174 members and Much credit is due Wing Commander Gaffney,
40
Front row: winners of the Flying Officer Del Martin total of $1,300. The canvass of the city was con-
trophy. L. to r.: Cpl. B. Stevenson, Flying Officer F. ducted by uniformed Air Cadets and members of
Beatty, Cpl. N. Shewchuk, Flying Officer G. Moore.
Back row: runners-up. L. to r.: Cpl. J. Ross, L.A.C. R. the Wing, assisted by the local postmen who took
Krepps, Mr. T. Martin (donor of Trophy), Mrs. Martin, the cadets on the postal routes of the city.
Sgt. J.W. Woods, L.A.C. J. G. Newport.

Liaison Officer, and to Station Winnipeg, for their No. 411 (Chatham) Wing
co-operation in making the evening a success. It The members of No. 411 Wing conducted a
is planned to make this an annual event. Planter's Peanut Sale, and, from the funds
On March 10th, President Rex Johnson and received, they donated a $300 cheque to the Kent
Vice-President Earl Carlyle attended the Father- County Cerebral Palsy Association for crippled
and-Son Banquet put on by No. 220 Air Cadet children.
Squadron, which is sponsored by the Winnipeg
No. 420 (Oshawa) Wing
Wing. About 75 boys were present with their
On March 16th, No. 420 Wing held a Mess
fathers.
Dinner. The guest speaker on this occasion was
No. 402 (Sudbury) Wing Lt. Colonel S. Wotton, Commanding Officer of the
Ontario Regiment, who gave a very interesting
No. 402 Wing recently planned a fund-raising
account of Militia Training and its needs.
campaign from which the proceeds were to be used
to assist in the work of sponsoring No. 200 Air
No. 429 (Elgin) Wing
Cadet Squadron. The Wing utilized radio, televi-
No. 429 Wing, of St. Thomas, opened its new
sion, and press interviews to further the response;
club-rooms and conducted the first meeting held
and, with an objective of $2,500, it collected a
41
 No. 303 (Sherbrooke) Wing presents a $100.00 cheque to
the No. 67 (Rotary) Air Cadet Squadron. Left to right:
C. Bryant, chairman of the Air Cadet Committee of the
Sherbrooke Rotary Club; L. Gingras, president of No.
303; and Sqn. Ldr. F. Lord, C.O. of No. 67 Squadron
(Gerry Lemay photograph.)

No.411 (Chatham) Wing contributes $300 to the Cerebral

Palsy Association. L. to r.: G. Hudson, chairman of
Peanut Committee; R. Norris, Wing president; I.
Beecroft, president of Cerebral Palsy Association;
G. Marvell.

42
No. 404 (Kitchener-Waterloo) Wing executive. Front row
No. 420 (Oshawa) Wing. Front row (I. to r.): Alderman
(I. to r.): D. Budd, vice-president; B. Roberts, president; R. Halliday; Lt. Col. S. Wotton; N. Hircock, president of
S. Steip, secretary. Back row (I. to r.): J. Playford, H. the Oshawa Branch, Canadian Legion: G. Stonebridge.
Beaupre, j. Lorentz, j. Helm, S. Elna ugh, H. Shilling law, president of the Naval Veterans Association. Back row.
B. Mills (all directors). Absent: L. Cressman, treasurer. (I. tor.): R. Kent, Committee Manager; j. W. Woodman
president of the Canadian Corps; C. Halliday, president
of No. 420 Wing; J. Gorman, 1st vice-president.
in the new premises, on March 21st. Its new
quarters, which required extensive renovating,
now rank with some of the finest in the Association. LIFE MEMBERSHIP
This .month we are pleased to announce the
New Wings in the West following additions to our Life Membership list:
Two new Wings have been formed in Western D..N. Budd, Waterloo, Ont.
Canada. These are No. 605 (Lloydminster) Wing, S. J. Elna ugh, Waterloo, Ont.
w. G. Roberts, Waterloo, Ont.
Saskatchewan, and No. 705 (Rocky Mountain J. R. Roe, Kitchener, Ont.
House) Wing, · Alberta. Lloydminster was pre- G. N. Saunders, Kitchener, Ont.
A. J. Snetsinger, Kitchener, Ont.
sented with its charter on April 12th, with Air R. Tucker, Waterloo, Ont.
Vice-Marshal K. M. Guthrie, C.B., C.B.E., J. C. Uffelman, Waterloo, Ont.
11. 0. Olson, Winnipeg, Man.
making the presentation. Mr. B. E. Crane, vice- F. J. Clair, Three Rivers, Que.
president of the Alberta Group, accompanied him J. H. Horncastle, Fredericton, N.B.
J. M. Wilson, Fredericton, N.B.
on this occasion. Rocky Mountain House Wing w. G. Sansom, Fredericton, N.B.
has fifteen members at present, and is just in the
early stages of organization under the leadership
of Mr. G. Greenaway.

[NATION .% of
O\SCR\M .
:on is a P!
rotect1on
.4+h the
: inatio) t, wii
f discr1rn orn?eten tent 15
ind ol . {he C mp©
Every 4+t again© 5come CO
. -ompetc ,ye tO 5
he 10,, he 10° ,,/nsor»
t that p, Dic
resu! ,ay, (G.
+aken aW
 eminine _Jen

Sgt. Shatterproof, on being shown this month's was the first spring ensemble of the year. As she
"Feminine Gen", started like a mustang that feels darted out again, she paused for the briefest of
the spur. Then, drawing himself up to his full instants to bat her curling eyelashes at Shatter-
girth, he fixed his eyes on the ceiling and saluted. proof and to whisper something which my ears
"Vive la Sexe!" he said fervently. failed to catch. Then, with a flirt of her gay little
'"Le Sexe'," we corrected him. "In French, skirt, she was gone.
'Sexe' is always masculine, even when it merely The expression on the old wardog's face changed.
means 'the ladies'- which, I trust, is the sense in The cumulonimbus dissolved into what passes
which you use it." with him for a sunny smile. That is to say, one
His gaze dropped, to focus on my face in corner of his mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.
mingled horror and incredulity. He recoiled a step "- but if," he resumed, "you will excuse me,
from the editorial desk. Sir, I must be off to the canteen. It is the hour for
"Sir," he thundered, "we have worked together gallantry amid the coffee-cups. The young fellow
for nearly seven years, but if ! which has just left did not, I am happy to say,
At that moment Claudette, our messenger girl, learn her French from a grammar-book ... "
tripped into the office and dropped some papers k k k
into my basket. Precariously draped about her
In the letter that accompanied the photographs
published in these pages, Flying Officer P.M.
Corbould writes as follows:
"The name of R.C.A.F. Station Aylmer will
revive many nostalgic memories in the hearts of
the men and women who have worked there.
Perhaps for some the trials and tribulations were
many, but we are sure that even those few will
recall with pleasure the congeniality and com-
radeship of the groups which comprised the
different courses, and in particular their own class
or barrack-room friends.
"They will remember especially 'Judgment
Day' (or Graduation) the jubilance as the
word 'Passed' echoed through the room. They will
remember the excitement as the postings and
transfers were called out; they will remember, too,
the graduation party that climaxed the weeks of
worry, study, bed-checks, and duty-watch. And
possibly they will recall the following evening,
with its sad farewells to instructors and friends,
and its promises to write and 'keep in touch',
"In order to help ex-Aylmerites and the
women personnel at all R.C.A.F. stations across
44
 da and overseas to keep in touch, we offer
Cana . b t t' • new bicycles ready for the highways and roads to
. bit of information a ou our sta 10n as it 1S
t h IS . . I the beaches.
d
toc.ay. We now boast two swimming-pools, a posh
"Though the face of the station has changed
new snack-bar and
. dry canteen,
. and
. greatly
somewhat in the past couple of years, our small
.
impro ved facilities in the recreation centre. Roller-
group of female staff personnel has remained more
s k a t.1n g has become a . great favourite here . with
or less stationary. We are sending you a few
both the staff and trainee~. Square-dancing, too, pictures of these girls."
: Ca'tching on • and this spring we hope to have our
1s So here they are

THE GIRLS OF STATION AYLMER

. Flying Officer P. M. Corbould (Pers. Adm.: Stn.
L. tor.·) ~ Flying Officer L. S. Benevides (Pers. Admin.: Criticizing these photographs in Station H.Q. are, from
Aylmer an No. 1 T. T.S.) left to right: L.A.W. M. U. Bach (Security Police), A. W.
R. S. Knox (Clk. Acc.). Cpl. S. H. Williams (Photo.)
"'"''"
·;,;,;
. ., .... ., .
, ' 4 t

"""' ,,. .
4
RCAf
l

\
-0
0
0

\\ 0

~I

<;:.I
~ ~~~
N,I
On Station H.Q. strength are (I. tor.): A.W. J.M. Lohn'f/ Three telotype operators of Station H.Q. L. to r.:
(CI. Typ.). Cpl. M. Markin (Clk. Steno.), Cpl. L... L.A. W.s L. A. Villiers, S. N. Bond, and
. Schille (Clk. Admin.), Cpl. V. Bergman (Discip.). A.W. H. Storoschuk .

7
"-=s
] @
la PP
=====---=--~ ~
~
~
( - - .
'
.
f Is,

-....:

rs"A
..........
,_ s..-5 __
:~
 ~- <e»
6s
f ..,.. '
~
..,,,_., \ ....
\
- .
'

{-,
-....
~

In the Station Infirmary. L.A.W. D. M. Barnes (Med. L. to r.: Flying Officers T. M. Vogt, V. E. Geer, M. F.
Asst.) and Flt. Lt.]. E. Marsh (M.O.) Crawford, Flt. Lt. G. I. Bradshaw - all of No. I T. T.S.

Dicing with an autoclave are Flying Officer F. H. J. L. to r.: L.A. W. M. M. E. Roy (Tailor), A. W. M. Martin
Caldwell (left) and L.A.W. M. R. Hooker (Med. Asst.). and CIp. B. L. Harden (Sup. Techs.) all of Station H.Q.

L.tor.: A.W.s S. R. Sanderson and M. J. Hoy (CIk. Typ.), L.A.W. M. M. M. L. Brunet deals with a "customer"
Cpl. A. Derbowka (CIk. Steno.), L.A.W. A. M. Adams while A. W. M. R. M. Constantineau types on. Both CIk.
(CI. Typ.) All four are attached to No. I T. T.S. Typs., the girls belong to No. I T. T.S.

r 11 I --------=-;z

Th ~ ~ . ·-~-- J

it, :i 1a6
 Y

A trio from No. 11 Exam. Unit. L. to r.: A.W. F. M.

Roach, L.A. W.s M. E. Stanyer, E. L. Cornwell
(all Clk. Typs.).
•/
Three T.T.S. girls. L. tor.: A.W.s M. R. Mairs (Clk.
Typ.), J. M. Preboy (R. Spec.), E. j. Bloomfield (Clk.
Typ.)

SKI-BORNE PILOTS
More than 40 fighter pilots of No. 1 Air Division
have been guests during the past winter at the
French Air Force ski school at Les Allues, about
50 miles east of Grenoble. Part of the R.C.A.F.'s
physical fitness programme for jet pilots, the two-
week curriculum was designed to put them in top
physical condition.
The French ski school caters to all degrees of
proficiency. All instruction is carried out by a
team of top-flight skiers, called "monitors", drawn
from the French Air Force. The course is con-
ducted in an atmosphere of complete informality,
and ski clothing, issued by the French, takes the
place of uniforms. During their stay, French and
Canadian students bunk and eat together in a
mountain chalet located at an altitude of 5600
feet. Tows take the students up to nearly 10,000
feet and give them a clear mile of downhill skiing.
Our photograph shows (left to right): Flying
Officer B. A. McLeod (R.C.A.F.), Commander
Lionetti (French Air Force), Flying Officer W. N.
Morrison (R.C.A.F.), Sgt. Chassaing (French Air
Force), and Flying Oficer D. C. Alexander
(R.C.A.F.).
47
 2letter to tle &d&to * * *
No. 525 (R.A.F.) SQUADRON REUNION DICY DROP
Dear Sir: Dear Sir:
The mer;bers of No. 525 (R.A.F.) Squadron are planning a On page 17 of the February issue you show a photograph of
ten-year reunion to be held at Vancouver, B.C., from July three airmen 'waiting for the signal to hurl a pannier into the
27th to August 1st, 1955. Mr. Stanley J. Green, of 1012 Failing arctic night."... 3f d ili
Building, Portland, Oregon, the secretary of No. 525 (R.A.F.) It is to be hoped that the arctic night was soft an resilient,
Squadron Officers Association, has made arrangements with because someone had forgotten to attach the chutes to the
the Colonial Motor Hotel, Kingsway, Vancouver, to provide static line in the Dak's roof.
hotel service at $8.50 per day for doubles or $10.50 for triples. Look, ma!- No parachute!
The reservations for accommodation should be sent to Mr. Flt. Lt. C. L. Rippon, D.F.C.,
Green or directly to the Colonial Motor Hotel. Former mem- A.F.H.Q.
bers of the squadron from Canada, the United States, England,
and Australia, have already indicated their desire to attend. (We share Flt. Lt. Rippon's concern- but it may be,
f course, that the pannier contained hard stuff.-
Wives are welcome, and arrangements are being made for their o1 » EDITOR).
entertainment. I would be much obliged if you would publish a
notice of this re-union in "The Roundel."
POISED BULLET
H.F. Jones, Dear Sir:
101 Saskatchewan Cres. West,
Saskatoon, Sask. If the muzzle velocity of a rifle-bullet, fired from the rear of
an aircraft flying straight and level at 500 m.p.h., is also 500
"TEASER FOR TREASURERS" m.p.h., what is its velocity relative to the ground?
Dear Sir: L.A.C. D. G. Allen,
.The following solution to "Teaser For Treasurers," which R.C.A.F. Station Claresholm.
appeared in the January issue, may be somewhat simpler than (At the instant the bullet leaves the rifle barrel, its
that given by Wing Cdr. W. M. Mills: velocity relative to the ground is zero. After that instant,
The counterfeit coin we are using is heavier than the rest ... of course, other factors come into play e.g. gravity,
Paul L. Leonard (R.C.A.F.A.) the earth's rotation, etc. EDITOR.)

(The solution which follows in Mr. Leonard's letter is

quite correct but it is not a solution to the original
problem. Wing Cdr. Mills' problem depends for its
difficulty on the fact that we do not know whether the
counterfeit coin is heavier or lighter.- EDITOR.)
COMPLEX COMFORT
From the "De Havilland Gazette" we reprint
the following Patent specification:
Views expressed in "The Roundel" upon con- "A device for evacuating an occupant seated in a
troversial subjects are the views of the writers cockpit of an aircraft comprising, in combination,
expressing them. They do not necessarily re- a backed seat downwardly tiltable around a
flect the official opinions of the Royal Canadian transverse axis located in front of said seat,
Air Force. releasable means to hold said seat in normal sitting
position, a normally covered opening in the bottom
of said cockpit beneath said seat, means to uncover
said opening, means to release said seat to allow
the same to tilt into said opening and abutment
Answer to" What's the Score?' means to stop said seat in said opening when its
1 : (b) 2: (a) 3: (c) 4: (a) back has reached a predetermined position in-
clined downwards and rearwards with respect to
5: (c) 6: (b) 7: (d) 8: (c) said bottom, whereby said occupant is caused to
9: (b) 10: (a) 11: (c) 12: (d) leave said seat by a movement of translation in a
13: (b) 14: (c) 15: (d) 16: (c) direction depending upon said back predetermined
position."
1 7: (b) 18: (d) 19: (a) 20: (d) Remarks the "Gazette's" editor: "It's such a
comfy seat, too.''
48