AIRCRAFT’S USE

Hokitika Guardian, 28 April 1933, Page 2

AIRCRAFT’S USE

WATER CARRIAGE IN EGYPT

■ARMY TACTICAL EXERCISE. LONDON, April 12. u'f test of the value of aircraft as a means of carrying water to troops and horses was mad 0 near the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx In JCgypt recently by the Ist King’s Dragoon Guards Tt was regarded hv the Army authorities a s a tactical exorcise. For the test it was assumed that '320 men and 300 -horses had been (employed on a .punitive expedition west of the Lulu Valiev, and had arrived at .Mena at 4 o'clock in the morning on their return, after a Jong march and some hard fighting. On trying to draw water from the wells it was found that dead crime!? and ,sheep h'Jd been thrown clown, and that Hhe -water was polluted. Roth horses and men were too exhausted to continue the march without water and rest-, especially a- s . the population was hostile and more fighting ;was imminent. The fallowing message was sent by wireless to headquarters at Cairo; K. D.rGds. unable to continue march, as both men and horses arc dead bea't and all water in the vicinity badly polluted. iS<?nd out water by aeroplane. A landing (ground js situated in square 2604,. and will he marked out with ground fitrips in the prescribed ■manner. Water is required for 320 men and 300 horses. . >

A : t 7.30 the (Royal Air Force r? plied ;

Two machines, with on f gallop o’ water a horse .and on fi pint a man, will arrive at Alena at 11.00 hours. At IT .o’clock the regiment was formed up by squadrons on the edge of the landing ground, with from -10 to 100 yards irtterval between squadrons. One cofmplete squadron was employed on protective duties, and was relieved later by the first squadron to complet e its watering. The .aircraft arrived, preceding hv a pilot machine, the occupant of which superintended the landing and positioning of the aeroplanes carrying the water

The water was carried in tins, each containing four gallons, and was unloaded bv parties of six men, who carried the water to their respective squadron dumps. Every man in the squadron, less horseholders, filed up to tho dump, and their waterbottle? ware filled, as well as those of the horgeholders, by four men detailed as measuring party. Similarly water buckets were collected, one for each horse, and taken to the squadron dump and filled, and then taker straight to the horses The compfete operation, from the tim e of arrival of the to .tjhe time the empty tins wer o reloaded o:i the machines, took 1 hour ■lO minutes