Lighter Than Air by Guy Warner

Author:Guy Warner [Warner, Guy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: HISTORY / Military / Aviation
ISBN: 9781473829022
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Published: 2016-06-30T04:00:00+00:00

Beta II & Delta on manoeuvres.

A cache of hydrogen cylinders being stacked for the airships taking part in the Army manoeuvres of 1912. (Via Nigel Caley)

After the army manoeuvres in 1912, Beta, HMA No2 and Delta. (via Nigel Caley)

The Red Army was the theoretical invasion force marching on London, with the Blue Army intent upon halting its progress.

On Friday, 13 September, Gamma (Captain Maitland) and Delta (Captain Waterlow) departed from Farnborough en route for Kneesworth and Thetford. Unfortunately the newer airship, Delta, suffered engine trouble over Hampstead, but was able to use her wireless to send word of her non-arrival – this first aerial distress message was also received as far away as the Royal Navy’s shore establishment in Portsmouth, HMS Vernon, giving further proof of its effectiveness. Accordingly, Beta, flown by Lieutenant Fletcher, was dispatched to take her place. The only difficulty was that Beta was not equipped with a wireless set, so depriving the Red Army of this facility – the fixed-wing aircraft did not have wireless sets. On Monday, the first day of action, the utility of Gamma and her wireless, which was driven by a generator powered by air from the engine’s slipstream, rapidly became evident, with full details of the enemy’s dispositions being supplied very early in the proceedings from a height of 4000 feet (1200 metres) to the ground station several miles away. It was shown during these early experiments that wireless messages could be received up to 35 miles (56 kilometres) away. The Blue Army was adjudged to have won the exercise, somewhat against the odds, as it was something of a scratch force in comparison to the Red Army, with Gamma’s assistance being regarded as being more than helpful to the successful outcome. One night flight was made with the object of gaining experience in reconnaissance and bomb-dropping. The exercise was judged a success and the inherent flexibility of airships was shown when Gamma, being unable to recover to her field base, rather than risk landing at an unknown spot in the dark, simply remained in the air until after dawn. Grierson out manoeuvred Haig and also concealed his troops from aerial observation much more efficiently. Both airships departed back to base at the conclusion of the manoeuvres a few days later. The chief umpire for the manoeuvres was no less a person than the Chief of the Imperial General Staff, General Sir J.D.P. French, GCB, GCVO, KCMG, ADC. It is to be hoped that Douglas Haig was moved to amend his views as previously expressed: ‘Tell Sykes [Major Frederick Sykes, the CO of the Military Wing RFC] he is wasting his time; flying can never be of any use to the Army.’182

Haig was not instinctively opposed to change; it was more a question of being convinced of its practicality and utility. He regarded the reforming Secretary of State for War, R.B. Haldane with some favour, writing in his diary that he was: ‘A big fat man, but with a kind, genial face.

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