§ 39. Sir R. THOMASasked the Secretary of State for Air how many Royal Air Force pilots have been killed while flying since 1st January, 1928, both in this country and overseas; and will he give a detailed statement of the various causes which led to their deaths?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for AIR (Sir Philip Sassoon)As regards the first part of the question, the number of Air Force pilots killed while flying since 1st January is 15, of whom one was shot down in action. In addition, the following fatalities to personnel of the three Services were involved in these accidents: Royal Air Force, six; Army, two; Navy, two. As regards the second part of the question, I would deprecate, for the reasons given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in his statement regarding Air Force accidents on 10th March, 1927, the giving of detailed particulars of the causes of the various accidents.
§ Captain GARRO-JONESIs the Under-Secretary aware that frequently the Air Ministry reports in cases of individual accidents the cause of the accident such as "an error of judgment," and why can be not classify these accidents so that hon. Members may be in a position to decide what is the main cause of accidents as a whole?
§ Sir P. SASSOONI am afraid that I cannot add anything more to my answer.