AIR DEFENCE OF BRITAIN

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21813, 19 June 1936, Page 11

AIR DEFENCE OF BRITAIN

important changes announced four separate commands (ammax omcui< wibblsw-) J3.UGBY, June 17. The Air Ministry announces that the Air Council has decided to carry out important changes m the system of command and administration in the home commas the Royal Air Force, m order to provide for appropriate the enlarged force, which will tion with speed and efficiency m peace or war. ... The new organisation provides for four commands, as follows: (1) A bomber command controlling the bomber squadrons. (2) A fighter command controlling the fighter squadrons, army cooperation squadrons, and observer corps. (3) A coastal command controlling flying-boats and the general reconnaissance squadron, and the administration and shore training of squadrons of the fleet air arm. (4) A training command, which will, with few exceptions, control all the training units at home. The air defence of the country will be Vested in the 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 SteeL

To the fighter command. Air Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding. To the coastal command. Air Marshal Sir Arthur Longmore. To the training command, Air Marshal Sir Charles Burnett.

The changes affecting the administration are far-reaching, the main objects of which are to provide for decentralisation of the adminstrative duties, for the exercise of fuller powers of responsibility by the various commanders, and for the reduction to a minimum of the links in the chain of command in order 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.