BRITAIN'S AIR STRENGTH

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22308, 24 January 1938, Page 11

BRITAIN'S AIR STRENGTH

NUMBER OF AIRCRAFT DOUBLED MORE STRIKING POWER EFFECT OF REARMAMENT PROGRAMME I.KRITISH crf.CIXL WIRELESS(Received January 23. S p.m.) RUGBY, 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 undertaken. The first-line strength at home of the Metropolitan Air Force (home defence squadrons, and coastal command) is 1542, or nearly three times the pre-expansion figure. First bombers stationed at Home number 840, an increase of more than 150 per cent, on the 1935 figures. General reconnaissance aircraft. composed of seven land-plane squadrons and certain flying-boat units, now I make up a first line fleet oi 162. air- ! craft.

These figures, which do net 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 they displaced las* year.