§ 34. Mr. BILLINGasked whether officers of the Royal Flying Corps who failed to qualify as pilots, but who wish to continue in the flying service, are allowed to qualify as observers, or whether, under such circumstances, they are asked to resign their commissions and, that being done, are subject to conscription as privates?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONIf an officer fails to qualify as a pilot, and wishes to become an observer, he is accepted for training as an observer, if recommended. If not recommended, an officer who belongs to another unit is returned to his unit as an officer. If not recommended as an observer, but recommended and approved as suitable for another branch of the service, he resigns his commission and joins a cadet unit. If not recommended either as an observer, or as an officer in another branch of the service, he resigns his commission and becomes liable to conscription.
§ Mr. BILLINGIs the hon. Gentleman aware that numerous officers at the present time are being relieved of their commissions in the Royal Flying Corps purely and simply through friction arising with their commanding officers in France, although they are capable pilots, and in these circumstances is he prepared to set up a small Court of inquiry, or some form of appeal for these officers, who at present have no form of appeal whatever?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI cannot accept the statement made by my lion. Friend in the first part of his question.
§ Mr. WATTIs the hon. Gentleman aware of the great difficulties that exist in getting out of the rank of observer into that of pilot?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI understand that is not true. I understand that observers very frequently become pilots.
§ 35. Mr. BILLINGasked if an officer of the Royal Flying Corps is permitted to engage the enemy on his own initiative if, being either flying or ready to take the air, he observes hostile aircraft operating over this country, and, if he is not permitted thus to engage the enemy, what action is he supposed to take?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThis question must clearly be governed by the suitability of the aeroplane at the officer's disposal for the attack of hostile aircraft.
§ Mr. BILLINGAre we to understand that a pilot has to make up his mind, while in the air, as to whether or not his machine is suitable to engage; and if he thinks it is suitable, is he entitled to engage the enemy; or, if he is standing by the machine with no senior officer near enough to give him orders, is he entitled to engage the enemy?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONA good deal is left to the discretion of the individual officer.
§ Mr. BILLINGIs it not a fact that officers have been court-martialled for doing that at Dover quite recently?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONNo, it is not.