AIR DEFENCE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 243, 27 July 1935, Page 5

AIR DEFENCE

MANOEUVRES TEAOH BRITAIN.

REORGANISATION EXPECTED. (United Press Association —Copyright) LONDON, July 25. The- aviation correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” expects the complete reorganisation of British air defoncss <if tor the <xir mini ecu vies o July 23. He claims that the interceptor theory has broken, down because the fighters, in spite of their speed and capacity for fast climbing, were unable to ascend sufficiently quickly to defeat the bombers. Accordingly, experts are discussing a system of standing patrols, for which big, high-speed aeroplanes, armed with two or more shell-firing guns, would be used, enabling them to tackle powerful formations. The patrols would be under the- command of an officer in the air, who would dispose liis force to cover the skies at various latitudes and also direct fighters from the ground. Air Marshal Sir Robert BrookePopham, discussing the manceuvies, praised the excellent aoi k of the bombers. He referred particulaily to the dive bombing carried out by a squadron of Hawker Harts. One attack recorded 85 per cent, hits, and another scored 160 per cent. A Fairey Gordon squadron hit the target from a height of 12,000 feet.