REMODELLED R.A.F.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 143, 18 June 1936, Page 7

REMODELLED R.A.F.

Important Changes in System Of Command. ' FCT, CLOSER CO-OPERATION. British Official Wireless. (Received 1.30 p.m.) RUGBY, June 17. The Air Ministry announces that the Air Council has decided to carry out important changes in its system of comifiand and administration in Home commands of the Royal Air Force in order to provide for appropriate organisation of an enlarged force, which will function with speed and efficiency in peace or war. The new organisation provides for four commands as follows:—A first bomber command, controlling bomber squadrons; a second fighter command, controlling lighter squadrons, Army cooperation squadrons and the Observer Corps; third, a coastal command, controlling flying boats, the General Reconnaissance Squadron and administration and shore training of squadrons of the Fleet air arm; and fourth, a training command which will, with few exceptions, control all training units at Home. Air defence of the country will be vested in three operational commands, close co-ordination between which will be directly exercised by the Air Ministry. The first appointments to these commands are: To the bomber command, Air Marshal Sir John M. Steel; to the fighter command, Air Marshal Sir Hugh C. T. Dowding; to the coastal command, Air Marshal Sir Arthur M. Longinorc; and to the training command, Air Marshal Sir Charles S. Burnett. The changes affecting administration are of far-reaching nature. Their main objects are to provide for decentralisation of administration, duties for exercise, fuller powers of responsibility by various commanders, and for reduction to the minimum of links in the chain of command to avoid delays and duplicated effort. The new organisation will be brought into force for the bomber, fighter and training commands in July. The change in the coastal command -will follow shortly afterwards.

AUSTRALIA'S NEED.

Aircraft Industry Must be Established. DELAYS IN BRITAIN. (Received 11 a.m.) SYDNEY, this day.

The Minister of Defence, Mr. R. A. Parkliill, in a broadcast address, on "Australia's Aerial Defences," said that at present it was difficult to obtain delivery of orders for aeroplanes placed in Britain.

In time of emergency the possibility of getting aircraft from Britain would be almost negligible. It was the Government's aim, therefore, to establish the aircraft industry in Australia, and action had been taken to achieve that result in the near future.

PILOT SHOT DOWN.

Polish Flyer Crosses Soviet Frontier. WAY LOST IN" AIR RACE. (Received 11.30 a.m.) WARSAW, June 17. A Polish aeroplane participating in a competition lost its bearings and flew over Soviet territory, where frontier guards opened lire with machine-guns, forcing the pilot down. He was arrested. The 'plane was badly damaged by bullets.