HIDDEN ‘DROMES.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 389, 22 March 1937, Page 2

HIDDEN ‘DROMES.

Britain’s Defence Scheme. Invisible aerodromes, with underground, bomb-proof hangars, are included in the plans under consideration by the Air Ministry in its defensive scheme. The first hint of |his activity was given in a lecture to the Royal United Service Institution by BrevetColonel K. M. Loch, of the War Office.

Air-Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding, commander-in-chief of the Fighter Command, R.A.F., who was in the chair, admitted, in answer to a question, that the plan was being considered, but would add nothing more. The scheme, as envisaged by British concrete experts, provides for all hangars, offices, stores of an airport to be hidden deep underground, the flying field being seen from the air as a large field indistinguishable from the surrounding countryside. Even should its whereabouts be known, bombs would be powerless against aircraft hidden 50ft underground. Three ways of launching aircraft are available: Lifts, rushing up three ’planes at a time. Escalators, towing them up in a stream. Catapults, throwing them straight into the air from tunnels in a hillside.