FOUNDER OF R.A.F.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 68, Issue 145, 1 April 1948, Page 3

FOUNDER OF R.A.F.

Sir Frederick Sykes Visiting N.Z. REMARKABLE MILITARY CAREER (P.A.) AUCKLAND, March 31. Founder and first commander of the Royal Flying Corps, the originator of the Tank and Machine-gun Corps, first Controller-General of British Civil Aviation, and a former Governor of the Bombay Presidency, with a record in public affairs that ranges from developing meteorology to aiding the welfare of miners and sailors, Major-General Sir Frederick Sykes arrived in Auckland by air to-day. One of Britain’s most versatile soldiers, he has a record of serving with distinctin in all three of the armed services. He is generally regarded as the founder of the Royal Air Force. Flying in luxury airliners across the world from Britain, Sir Frederick Sykes was merely realising what he hud planned in the face of disbelief 30 years ago. Few of the spectators at Whenuapai avlio saw an inconspicuous 70-year-old civilian step from the Skymaster from Sydney recognised him as a much-decorated man who held one of the first 100 pilot’s licences to be issued in Britain and who led the first five squadrons of the Royal Flying Corps when they fought their primitive aircraft over France in 1914. Sir Frederick began his military career as a trooper in the South African War. After gaining a commission in the 15th Hussars he served with his regiment in India and South Africa. With Air Corps at the Marne He learned to fly in 1910 and after fwo years of pleading with the General Staff at the War Office he was at last authorised to form and command the Royal Flying Corps. In August, 1914, he led air reconnaissances and operations that helped to save the British Expeditionary Force during the retreat from Mons and at the Marne. The organisation of the corps as r a mobile unit was his .plan. He based it on an establishment of flights, squadrons, and wings, a system that became. a model for foreign Powers and that is basically retained in modern air forces.

Later he took charge of the Royal Naval Air Service at the Dardanelles and as Deputy-Director of Organisation at the War Office, he planned thq tank corps. Finally he became Chief of the Air Staff and as British representative at the Versailles conference he played a prominent part in drafting international rules 'of the air. They are still in force.

Comment on India

Sir Frederick Sykes was Governor of Bombay from 1928 to 1933. His comment on the emergence of India and Pakistan as independent States was unqualified: “It is tragic,” he said. “In one year they have undone all the good achieved- in unifying 400,000,000 people there under British rule.”

Sir Frederick Sykes’s visit to New Zealand as director and honorary treasurer of the British Sailors’ > Society rises from his conviction, gained as a member of the House of Com 3 mons, that Britain’s three pivots are the miner, the agricultural worker, and the seafarer. For 20 years he has concentrated his work on developing these industries. In 1934 he was chairman of a Government committee which investigated miners’ welfare and during the war he played a conspicuous part in the affairs of the British Sailors’ Society. Sir Frederick Sykes was met at Whenuapai by representatives of the society in New Zealand and he intends to inspect the work being done here. As vice-chairman of the Royal Empire Society he will also meet Dominion representatives of this organisation.