§ Sir M. Sueterasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many large flying-boats are now operating in the Mediterranean; and whether he can give a list of ports under the British flag that offer protection by breakwaters to flying-boats in bad weather?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MuirheadThere are 12 Royal Air Force flying boats at present stationed in the Mediterranean. The following ports under the British flag offer protection by breakwaters to flying boats in bad weather: Gibraltar and Famagusta. In addition the following places in Egypt and Palestine are used for the operation of flying boats and have breakwaters: —Sollum, Mersa, Matruh, Alexandria and Haifa. In addition there are 18 civil flying boats of Imperial Airwasy operating across the Mediterranean.
§ Sir M. Sueterasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he can give the cause of the mishap to a large flying-boat when taking off at Malta; and whether the provision of a breakwater at Marsaxlok Bay is being considered for the protection of flying-boats operating at Malta?
§ Lieut.-Colonel MuirheadAs regards the first part of the question, the cause of the mishap to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers was the heavy swell on the sea at the time the flying-boat was endeavouring to take off, which caused the aircraft to bounce with such violence that the centre section collapsed and the aircraft's hull was damaged. The answer956W to the second part of the question is in the negative.