§ 54. Brigadier-General BROOKEasked the Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that there have been 50 lives lost in the Royal Air Force since the beginning of the year; whether in all these cases inquiries were held; and, if so, whether he will analyse the causes of these mishaps?
§ Sir S. HOAREIn answer to the first part of the question, there have been 39 fatal accidents in the Royal Air Force since the beginning of the year, resulting in 55 deaths of personnel; to the second, courts of inquiry were held in all cases, and every other available means, including in the case of accidents at home an independent inquiry by the Accidents Investigation Branch, was employed to determine the causes of the accident with a view to preventing, so far as possible, their recurrence in the future; to the third, that the 39 accidents may be analysed under the following heads: Accidents due to engine or installation failure, 3; to error of judgment, 19; to defect in aircraft constructional, 1; to miscellaneous or as yet undetermined causes, 16.