JET BOMBERS FOR R.A.F.

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27098, 22 July 1953, Page 9

JET BOMBERS FOR R.A.F.

QUICKER SUPPLY URGED (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 8.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 21. Marshal of the Royal Air Force Lord Trenchard in a letter to “The Times” urges the Government to hasten supplies of modern aircraft to the Royal Air Force, and says that for many years it had many machines that were obsolete or obsolescent. “I wish I could think V-class fourjet bombers like the Valiant, Vulcan, and Victor would soon join Canberras and Sabres,” he said. “The Royal Air Force has for many years had many machines that are obsolete or obsolescent. “ft has taken too long from the time machines are on the drawing board to the time they are in the front line. For many years now there has been no improvement in the delay in production, except that ‘super’ has been added to the word ‘priority,’ which has had no effect, of course, on production. It is nearly two years since I saw the first Valiant fly; it is a year since I myself flew in it, and still, I understand, the R.A.F. has only one of these machines. I am convinced that a new conception of the task of production is necessary. “I feel that if a few leading aircraft makers Gf this country were called in and told that we want enough machines —and their complete equipment—to put five squadrons of each type of long-range jet bombers in the air in 18 months or two years, a way would be found. The brains of those who direct the production of these machines must be given a chance to match the brains of those who design them. “Speed has increased out of all knowledge in all activities, and the Government must see that the speed of aircraft production does not laff behind. These long-range bombers are vital to our defence and to keeping the peace of the world.”

Land Reclamation in Japan.— Japan’s Agriculture Ministry decided today to send technical experts to Holland to study the latest Dutch techniques of reclaiming land from rivers, lakes, and the sea. The mission is going at the special request of the Prime Minister (Mr Yoshida), who was impressed by the Dutch land reclamation technique when he visited Holland before the war. Mr Yoshida hopes to invite Dutch experts to Japan'to help in land reclamation.—Tokyo, July 21.