STRENGTH DOUBLED.
THE BRITISH AIR FORCE GREATER STRIKING POWER (United Press Association— Copyright.) LONDON, January 22. The first line strength of the Royal Air Force and the Fleet Air Arm, including the squadrons overseas, is now 2031 aircraft, which is rather more than double the strength before the rearmament programme was under-' taken. , , , c The first line strength at homo ot the Metropolitan Air Force (home defence squadrons, and coastal command) is 1542, or nearly three times the preexpansion figure, hirst line bombers stationed at Home number 840, an increase of more than 150 per cent, on the 1935 figures. General reconnaissance aircraft, composed of seven landplane squadrons and certain flyingboat units now make up a first line fleet of 162 aircraft. These figures, which do not reveal the strength of the reserve behind the first line, indicate how much more formidable in the air Great Britain now is than she was three years ago. In addition they do not reveal the actual increase in striking power, as a large proportion of the service squadrons is armed with aeroplanes which are faster, carry heavier loads, fly further, and, are more efficient than the. aircraft tfiey displaced last year. —British Official Wireless.
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Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 88, 24 January 1938, Page 5
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201STRENGTH DOUBLED. Ashburton Guardian, Volume 58, Issue 88, 24 January 1938, Page 5
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