July
1938
Volume
7 Number 4 (76 of 88)
This issue of Popular Flying magazine features NO “Biggles” story. The last “Biggles” story was published in the May 1934 issue
Contents
This issue runs from page 165 to page 220 (56 pages)
Inside Front Cover – Advert for Lockheed ‘Airdraulic’ Shock-Absorber Struts
Page 167 – Advert for Gatwick Airport – with A main line Station on the Airport!
Page 168 – Contents Page
(The contents page is by an advert for Wills’s Gold Flake cigarettes)
Page
170 – A photograph of 6 Hawker Hurricanes of No. 111 Squadron
Page
171 – The Editor’s Cockpit – W. E. Johns
(Subtitled
– “The Years that the Locust Hath Eaten” –
“The
other day I had occasion to look through the early volumes of POPULAR FLYING,
and ……. I was not a little surprised at the number of prophecies we made that
have come to pass.” Johns quotes
extensively from old issues of the magazine and no doubt allows himself just a
glimmer of satisfaction at how right he was ………….)
Page
174 – The Royal Air Force To-Day – A Short Review of the British Air Arm –
Major Oliver Stewart
(“The
Metropolitan Air Force (meaning squadrons at home and not overseas) does not
include the Fleet Air Arm and
is divided up into four commands: Fighter, Bomber, Costal and Training
Commands”)
Page 180 – Fighter versus Bomber – by “H. W.”
(An
editor’s note adds “The nom-de-plume “H. W.” is intended to conceal (more or
less) the identity of the author, but for those who are not familiar with the
initials – which have appeared on several books – we may say that he is a
senior officer of the Royal Air Force, closely concerned with the air defence
of Great Britain”. A quote from the
article itself is “The detail of tactics in air fighting is obviously on the
secret list”)
Page
185 – Helium – How it is Handled – Harriette W. Porter
(A
fascinating article about the production of Helium – almost exclusive to
America – and the uses to which it can be put.
Production costs $3.00 per thousand cubic
feet.)
Page
188 – Mannock’s Last Flight – by “Kiwi”
(“Kiwi
conceals the identity of the officer who was flying with the British Ace of
Aces on this lamentable occasion”.
This
is a poignant account of how Major “Mick” Mannock was killed – apparently by
ground fire.
The
author of this article must be Lt. D. C. Inglis who was the new pilot with him
at the time of his death)
Page 190 – Flying Wires
(One interesting item is “the total mileage of the world’s air routes now exceeds 300,000 miles”. The items continue onto pages 212 and 214 where there is the item “The Japanese aircraft carrier Midzuho, which was launched on May 16th, has a displacement of 9,000 tons, and measures 577 feet in length”. A quick check on the Internet informs me that this Seaplane Carrier was torpedoed by an American submarine on 2nd May 1942)
Pages
192 and 193 – The Centre Pages – The Royal Air Force on Parade
Page 194 – ‘Planes and Personalities – A Monthly Causerie of Men and Machines – by “Observer”
(This includes mention of Captain Victor Dibovsky,
a pioneering Russian airman currently working on a helicopter design.
He had previously been awarded £5,500 in 1917 for his gun-gear invention)
Page 195 – An illustration of a Spitfire and a Wellington
Page 198 – I Live Near An F.T.S. – Arthur Groom
(F.T.S. being a Flight Training School, this is an account of what it is like to live a mile away from one)
Page 200 – The Aviation Bookshelf – Books of the Month reviewed by Denis Desoutter
(Four books are reviewed)
Page 202 – The Luton Aviation Display – Official Opening, July 16 – William Courtenay
(“Luton Airport is to be officially opened by the Secretary of State for Air, The Rt. Hon. Sir Kingsley Wood, M.P. on Saturday, July 16th, when one of the season’s biggest Air Displays will be staged with Royal Air Force support”)
Page 204 – Scale Model Aircraft – “Balsa”
Page 220 – The Buyers’ Log
(The most notable advert is “Royal Air Force – Vacancies for Air Observers – Candidates are required for enlistment in the Royal Air Force as air observers. No previous flying experience is necessary. Age 18 ½ to 25 years. They must be educated to the standard of the School Certificate, be unmarried and of good physique. Appointments are for four years, followed by six years’ reserve service. After three years’ service all those suitable will be selected for training as airman pilot. Gratuity of £75 payable. Apply (by post card) to Secretary (Dept. S.7, O.K.), Air Ministry, London.”)
Inside Back Cover – Advert for Greys cigarettes. “It’s a way they have in THE NAVY … to have a whiff in every port and to smoke Greys cigarettes”
Back Page – Advert for Lodge “The Best Plug in the World”
Click here
to see a much larger picture of the cover artwork – the artist is Howard Leigh
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