R.A.F. IN FRANCE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20142, 11 January 1940, Page 7

R.A.F. IN FRANCE

NEW COMMAND FORMED UNIFIED CONTROL OFFICIAL EXPLANATION (British Official Wlreloss.) Reed. 9 a.m. RUGBY, Jan. 10. The following Downing Street an-: nouncement has been issued: “The in -! crease in the strength of the army in' France necessarily involved a modification in the organisation of the air forces required, as well as the best means of affording the necessary cooperation and support to the army. In November, the matter was fully reviewed in the light of practical experience and the exercise of control of the Royal Air Force in support of the army in France. , “As a result of this review, the following agreed recommendations were approved by the War Cabinet at the beginning of December: A Royal Air Force command to include all units of the Royal Air Force in France is to be formed. The new command is to be designated ‘the British air force in France’ and will be under the command of an air officer commandingin- chief, who also will be responsible in consultation with the army com-manders-in-chief for ensuring the most efficient support by the British air forces for the British Expeditionary Force and French armies on the Western Front.

“In conjunction with the general officer commanding-in-chief of the French air force, he also will be responsible for co-ordinating the operations of the Royal Air Force in France with tlio.se of the French air forces.

“The above arrangement involves no change in the principle which governs the relationship between tile army and the Royal Air Force. It is based on the analogy existing in tile relationship between the navy and the coastal command of the Royal Air Force, and will ensure the closest cooperation between the army air forces in the field.”