1940-06-29 — Page 5

THE CHINA MAIL, JUNE 29, 1940

PARACHUTE WHICH CAN CARRY AN AEROPLANE

CAN BE MADE OF

WHY R.A.F.

ALMOST ANY SIZE 80-TON MOVING FIGHT IN

1

IT WOULD BE A comparatively simple matter to make a parachute capable of carrying a tank. Parachutes can be made of almost any size. The limit to their size is not in the making or management of the parachute but in the size of the aeroplane that carries it.

This is what the leading parachute expert in the coun- try declared. He is Mr. Leslie L. Irving, head of one of the leading parachute manufacturing companies, himself a former holder of the record for parachute jumping.

"I was making parachutes for the Russians 12 years ago that were capable of carrying guns and ammunition," Mr. Irving said. "Those they are using now are based on one of our design."

These are parachutes 28ft. in dia- | likely. "Coloured parachutes, yes. We meter. Our own Service parachute were making coloured parachutes for has a diameter of 24ft. The German the Russians, for night use, eleven parachute troops use one of about

years ago." 30ft.

He has not yet had the opportunity of examining a parachute from one of the German sky invaders, but he hopes

The extra six foot in diameter makes it possible for the Ger- mans to bring their sub-machine-guns to shortly. and perhaps their folding bicycles down with them.

Their descent is made easier by the fact that they take off from a plano going at slow speed.

on

One hopeful point Mr. Irving made. Parachutes come down slowly and make easy targets.

FORTS

Mr. Peter Bennett, Di- rector-General of Tanks and Transport, Ministry of Supply, revealed in Birmingham that 80-ton tanks were being pro- duced in Britain. The Germans, he said, were not alone in the posses- sion of these travelling fortresses.

'DEAD' SOLDIER COMES HOME

A soldier who had been left behind when British troops withdrew from Norway, and was thought to be dead, walked into a hotel room where his

pals were discussing his fate, in Bir- mingham.

SMALL NUMBERS

Big Groups Unwieldy

Reports of air fighting re- cently have referred to the R.A.F. being out-numbered. This has caused some · un- warranted disquiet.

The explanation is that the numbers engaged in air actions have no relation to the total strength of the opposing air arms. That in some engagements the Germans outnumber the British is nearly always due to the German pre- ference for flying in big companies.

In the R.A.F., on the other hand, big formations are considered unwieldy in fighting operations. Allied airmen have usually the superiority in speed; and most of their machines, also, are more manoeuvrable than the enemy's.

When six British Hurricanes went up against 54 enemy fighters it was The man, Private George Mortinet, not possible for the enemy to bring Mr. Irving is the founder of the of Shelford-road, Yardley, Birming-all their forces into action at once Caterpillar Club, which presents a

ham, had had a miraculous escape against the small British flight. badge to all airmen who have saved from the Germans. The last time his their lives by parachute. It has a mem- friends saw him he was dodging bombs bership of some 3,500. Up to yesterday and machine gun bullets, and he was it has 128 new members since the war.separated from the troops taken off at "These are the ones who have written in to us," Mr. Irving says. "We know there are easily twice as many

CANNOT STEER Slow initial speed means less strain the parachute, SO it would be quite possible, Mr. Irving thinks, for the German 30-feet para- chute to be made of less durable ma- terial, and consequently to be no heavier than the smaller British Ser- | fact." vice model.

When a man is jumping from a wrecked aeroplane he may well be going at anything up to 300 miles an hour, Not for him the comparatively leisurely start of a parachute trooper jumping from a machine that has slowed down to the limit.

Usually you fall when you land, and

ALL SHIPS TO

HAVE MOTOR

falling without hurting yourself is a LIFEBOATS

matter of practice. Some have said the Germans have devised a new techni- que for landing. "Not at all," says Mr. Irving, "it's simply a matter of practice in falling."

British airmen are not trained in making parachute jumps. "There is no necessity," Mr. Irving says. "The thing has become so simple." In the U.S.S.R. training was carried to a pitch where parachute jumping became a popular sport. "Yes, but that's different," says Mr. Irving. "That is training for para- chute troops."

One thing even the most modern parachute is incapable of that is, being steered. "That is, and always has been impossible," Mr. Irving said. "If you're agile enough it is possible to wrench yourself aside to avoid falling into a tree. That is all,"

UNLIMITED LOAD

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Plans have been issued by the Mer- chant Shipbuilding Department of the Admiralty to provide motor lifeboats on all vessels under construction for the Ministry of Shipping.

Although the proposals are general- ly approved in shipbuilding circles, there has been much criticism of the lack of instructions regarding the con- struction of the lifeboats.

Shipbuilders are left to make their own arrangements for the provision of the boats for the ships under construc- tion at their yards.

Shipbuilders say there is no reason for having 20 or 30 different types of boat to meet exactly the same re- quirements, and it is suggested that standardised. lifeboats would be the most efficient, and cheapest to con-

Once Mr. Irving's firm made a para- | struct. · chute that carried its own aeroplane. The plane stopped its engines, drop- ped, then let out its parachute, and came down safely.

This parachute was 80 feet in dia- meter. It went into a bag 3 feet in dia- meter by 4 feet deep scarcely as big as a heavy bomb.

The experiment, though successful, was not followed up.

As Mr. Irving. puts it, "While the danger of fire remains. you will have to have individual parachutes, so why waste space on a big one?”

PRINCESS ROYAL -AN OPERATION

It was officially announced recently that the Princess Royal has under- gone an operation on her antrum and is progressing favourably. No further bulletin will be issued.

At the same time, the experiment The antrum is situated in the upper, shows the possibilities of heavily: Jawbone between the eye and mouth loaded parachutes, “Practically," Mr: | and to the side of the nose, its dimen- Irving insists, Withere is no limit ex- slons boing about one inch ̋edch way. copt the size of the acroplane and It communicates by a small opening the size of the hole you are going with the nose. to drop your parachute through." Mr. Irving was asked what he thought of the report that the Ger- mans had been using "transparent parachutes." He thought it was un-

The Princess Royal, who recently celebrated her forty-third birthday, underwent an operation for treatment of the thyroid gland in 1938 and had an operation for appendicitis: in 1933.

Namsos.

He and four companions of the same regiment took to the mountains. Through the chinks in the first farm- house they came to they were able to see the Germans marching through the valley.

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SLEPT WITH FISH-'

The fight resolved itself into an action between approximately equal numbers. The speed of the Hurricanes, combined with their wonderful manoeuvrability, enabled the British to account for several of the Germans with but small loss to themselves.

met some more British stragglers with whom was a lieutenant.

After ten days 28 weary men reach- The four then tramped - 40 weary ed the coast, where two Norwegian miles during the next two days before fishing boats offered to take them they discovered eight other löst Tom-across the North Sea. The trip took 52 mies with whom they joined forces. hours, and they all had to sleep among After days of hard tramping the troop the fish below deck.

OFF THE RECORD

By Ed Reed

1540. The Teater

and Tribun yeni

"Luke's mall order sweetheart's been pestering him for a look of his hair."

Here's Luck

EWO BEER

Tel. 30311