Word: redlands
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Dates: during 1930-1930
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With a shrewd suspicion of the probable result, no attempt was made to defend London from air attack. Britain was divided in two, "Redland" and "Blueland." The official problem set "Redland's" commander would have taxed a Napoleon: to defend the mines and factories of northern manufacturing Britain, to preserve a way out of the country for minerals, inward for food and supplies. Real problem of the maneuvers was to test the comparative efficiency of day bombers and interceptors. Redland was given the fastest fighting planes, Blueland the fastest bombers...
...bombers won hands down. Flying at an altitude of only 2,000 ft., two flights of Harts passed over a Redland airdrome in a surprise attack before the interceptors could rise and engage them. Umpires announced that with a full load some of the new day bombers were 20 m.p.h. faster than the machines designed to destroy them. Second day of the maneuvers Redland's defenders gave up hope of beating Blueland in the air, concentrated on raids against Blueland's bases just as the fast bombers were taking...
...Redland's chief casualty was Edward of Wales. In a Fairey 3-F fast bomber piloted by his personal pilot Squadron Leader David S. Don, H. R. H. went up to watch the fighting. In the afternoon he decided to change sides, approached the Blue headquarters of Air Marshal Sir Edward Leonard Ellington. It had been a poor week for fighting planes. A patrol of six fighters defending the Blue base saw a single red bomber approaching. Not recognizing the Prince's plane they dove at it with whoops of joy, raked it with imaginary machine guns...