DEVELOPMENTS IN R.A.F.

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25738, 25 February 1949, Page 7

DEVELOPMENTS IN R.A.F.

FIRST JET BOMBERS EXPECTED SOON AIR ESTIMATES FOR 1949-50 LONDON, February 23. Britain is hurrying to put her first jet bombers into the air, says the Secretary of State lor Air (Mr Arthur Henderson) in a memorandum accompanying the Air Estimates for 1949-50. They will be of exceptionally high pertormance, and the first of them is expected to fly in the near future. Royal Air Force fighter squadrons are also being increasingly equipped with jet fighters. ' . , , Mr Henderson said that in spite of the increase of £34,500,000 over last year’s Estimates, the Royal Air Force would reduce its manpower from 292,500 to 235,000 during the coming year. This year’s Estimate totalled £207,450,000. There was an additional Supplementary Estimate for 1948-49, totalling £16,400,000. t x • • The increase in the estimate for the coming financial year resulted from measures taken or to v be taken to strengthen the position of the Royal Air Force in aircraft and equipment, and from the increased cost of pay and allowances. . Mr Henderson said: "There is still a shortage of trained men and a lack of balance between the numbers ol trained men serving in the different trades. There is also a general short-

age of experience, particularly among officers in the middle ranks and junior n.c.o.’s.” He added: “Events overseas have proved the value of air povper for restoring order in disturbed areas. ’ He said that steps were being taken with the Benelux countries to build up joint defences against air attack, using common types of equipment and common operational procedure. Mr Henderson commented that flying staff of the highest quality would be increasingly needed because of the development of larger, faster, and more complex and expensive aircraft. Two new aeroplanes would be introduced into the Royal Air Force. They were the Shackleton, a long-range general reconnaissance aeroplane for Coastal- Command, and the Valetta, for medium-range transport squadrons. “Mr Henderson’s brief reference to jet bombers and the complete absence of any reference to them in the recent White Paper on defence raises doubts whether the re-equipment of the Royal . Air Force with modern weapons is being carried out with the speed and vigour that world conditions demand,’ says the aeronautical correspondent of , “The Times.’’ r “One twin-engined type of jet bomber is now nearing the flight- • testing stage, and longer-range four- > jet bombers have been designed and • are now under development, but are [ unlikely to be ready for action for an- . other two years. Meanwhile the Royal Air Force’s bomber striking force is i obsolete. [ “In view of the very narrow speed l margin between the defence fighter . and the modern jet bomber, guided t missiles may soon be an important 3 weapon of defence. Longer-range > guided missiles are being developed • on the Australian range, but no pror gress report has been made. The Government should make public such . facts, as they would not be of value 5 to a potential enemy.”