As a proof of what active members of the Air
Service abroad think of Mr. Pemberton Billing and his campaign, we desire to draw the attention of our readers to the following letter, only just received :—
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR..')
SITR,—We, members of the Naval Air Service who have been in the Eastern Mediterranean for the last fourteen months, are out of touch with things at home, but we see that a Mr. Pemberton Billing is seeking to enter the House of Commons as an airman, and claims to represent the Air Service and speak with authority on matters relating to flying. Electorates and the House of Commons are inclined to give weight to the opinions of any one who speaks as a practical man, and unless Mr. Billing has considerable experience of active service flying we feel that his appearance in Parliament at this time would be a serious menace to the Air Service. Our united recollection of Mr. Billing's attainments an an aviator are that under the able tuition of Mr. Baniwell he won a bet by taking an Am Club certificate in one day's flying : that presuming en the knowledge so acquired, he designed and built a seaplane which was shown at the Aoro Show 1914. That seaplane showed ignorance of the first principles of flight, and could not have flown without radical structural alteration. We heard that Mr. Billing had acted as Transport Officer during the arrangement of the Frederikshaven raid, but we have yot to learn that Mr. Billing has ever flown on active service either as pilot or observer, or indeed that he has done any further flying after taking his Aero Club certificate. Perhaps some one who knows Mr. Pemberton Billing's more recent flying record will kindly tell us whether be has done anything which justifies a claim to speak with authority on
matters relating to flying.—We are, Sir, &c., E M— S
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