RAPID EXPANSION

Evening Star, Issue 22720, 6 August 1937, Page 9

RAPID EXPANSION

BRITAIN'S AIR FORGES FORMIDABLE ARRAY OF PLANES Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, August 5. (Received August 6, at 1 p.m.) The latest official figures of the Royal Air Force strength in aircraft and personnel indicate that the expansion programme is making very satisfactory progress. The new service stations and armament training camps already total 22. The strength of the metropolitan air force, home defence units, army cooperation squadrons, and the coastal command is now 123 squadrons, equipped with 1,542 first-line aircraft. This is an increase of 137 per cent, over pre-expansion strength, and approximately 200 aeroplanes less than the first-line total of the metropolitan air force strength envisaged for the end of the programme. Behind the ultimate total of 1,750 first-line aircraft and 900 first-line aircraft of the overseas squadrans and the Fleet air arm will he full war reserves of aircraft armament, equipment, and supplies to justify the claim that the Royal Air Force will he second to none in strength of defence and counter-attack. Since April 1, 1935, approximately 3,500 pilots have been selected for service and 3,100 have begun training. The total airmen entered since that date number 22,300. A tremendous increase in striking power has been made available by the creation of new types of British fighting and bombing planes. Squadron after squadron are receiving bombing aeroplanes capable of great speeds and carrying bigger loads over the distances demanded by the strategy of home and Imperial protection. The fighters are also more heavily armed and are capable of speeds of well over 300 miles an hour.