One of the most important fights in the history of the Royal Air Force in the Far Bast will be undertaken next spring when, with the permis-Sion of the Japanese Government, a squadron of ying boats from Singopore, will fy to Japan with Shanghai one of the ports of call en route.
Announcement of the Might was made in a Reuter telegram {rom Lon~ don on Thursday which stated that the Air Ministry is making all necessary arrangements for what will be the rst visit to Japan of a Royal Air Force Squadron.
"The cruise will be undertaken bs No, 205 (F: B.) Squadron, which equipped with Short "Singapore" fying-boats. It will begin in and will be com-of this type at Singapore were town cut from Pembroke Dock, Plymouth, Singapore, via India, a' distance of 18000 miles, starting on January. 15 last and arriving at their destination, early in March having used the sen lakes and rivers as their. landing ground. Later, a fight was made to Hongkong and Manila and back, whi!
Course of Fight avent 1000 miles, One route for the The Jength of the round Alght
Sutwerd journey" will be. Kuching, \udat, Manila Hongkong. Amoy, yo mat or' some other place approved bythe japanese Government. The return ight will follow the same cute' to Hongkong. and. thence via Kamranh Bay' end cochin China Singapore.
AirCommodore S. W. Smith, commanding the Royal Alr Force in. the Far Baat.yil accompany the squadron hich is Pxpected to Femeln in Japan for about a week, Taree ofthe "Singapore boats, which are the largest of thole {ype in use by the R.A Fy wil be Craployed forthe High and will carry {total row of 35 officers and airmen Paci ute being sought from other governments to enable the squadron {Sty over and alight at ports in their territories, Reuter states on September 9 three of the same ype, also Mtted with Rolls "Royce "Kestrel" engines, flew from Plymouth to Gibraltar in 1% hours non-stop fon their way to Basta. Two of the boats, which were built by Messrs Short Brothers, are seen in the ae: companying illustration.
Informal Permission from Japan 'WIN Visit Shanghat A point of particular interest and gratification to Shanghai is that the {three boats will visit here—the. Ar three RA. F. Oyin boats ever to be seen inaction In this part of the World." Arrangements 16 receive the Tachines in Shanghai are not known at present. Group-Capiain R. P. Wil. fock, 1. bt Ale Attache, having eft for Hongkong a couple of days ago. but the Whangpoo at Black Point has been used by craft of other countries including Shanghai on their fights in ast years.
Te was there that the Americar.
Seca enn Mrie See cha Sees el are me Sacto ah alt permission for the fight is] cee ae wipes Ber a rad world filers landed in 1924, and it was there, too, that the rst British amphibious machine ever to be seen in the Far East, alighted. This was the Vickers Vulture amphibian, with Squadron-Leader A. Stuart MacLares, and Flight-Ofleer W. N. Plenderielth, on board in the British attempt to fly the world In the same year. The machine arrived in Shanghai on July 3, 1924, and afterwards continued to Japan but finally cfashed near Kam-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.