AIRFIELDS IN BRITAIN

Grey River Argus, 30 November 1943, Page 6

AIRFIELDS IN BRITAIN

£615 Millions Outlay (Rec. 6.30.) RUGBY, Nov. 28. Programmes of new works and expansion in connection with the 'jolni British-United Stares air offensive are now in full swing from Britain. They are expected to involve a capital expenditure of over 615 million pounds sterling. Of this about 118 millions is being spent on airfields and depots for the U.S.A.A.F., in accordance with an undertaking with the British Government. Since tne first American bomber flew m offensive operation from a British base on Independence Day, 1942, the joint R.A.F.-U.S.A.A.F. offensive against Germany increased steadily to th& present massive proportions. Hundreds of heavv and medium bombers of the U.S.A. Eighth Air Force, with the' support of fighter squadrons based in Britain, are now engaged in daylight attacks against industries, airfields and communications. This effort is interlocked with the onslaught by night of the R.A.F. Bomber Command. To accommodate these great air fleets has required the construction of a vast network of airfields, camps and depots. In the allocation of constructional labour, the requirements-of the U.S.A.A.F. rank equally with those of the R.A.F. But an acute manpower shortage in Britain would have prevented the huge airfield construction programme witn the manpower required had not the United States Government been able to offer assistance in the form of American constructional units. The greater part of the material is, however, provided bv the British Government. Where United States units are the main contractors, a rough valuation of the respective efforts of the United States and the United Kingdom, by way of labour and plant and stores, is:— U.S. of America £5,OQb--000; U.K. £11,500,000. Miscellaneous services, however, to be performed bv the American units will probably account for a further five million pounds. Over the whole constructional programme of airfields, camps, depots and miscellaneous installations in the United Kingdom for British, Dominion and Allied air forces, the resoective efforts of the two countries in labour, plant and stores is therefore roughlv: U.S.A. £10,000,000; U.K. £605,000,000. It is 'thus seen that the U.S.A, contribution in services and materials to the total constructional cost of the airfields depot, etc., in Britain is about one decimal six per cent., and towards those constructed for the U.S.A.A.F. about eight and a-half per cent. In a countrv the size of Britain construction of so large a number of airfields has involved serious encroachments on land formerly available for agricultural and other purposes. Further, a large proportion of airfields, etc., constructed for war purposes cannot in any conceivable circumstances be used either for post-war military purposes or civil aviation. Therefore so far from these representing an asset of abiding value, the British Government will, upon the termination of hostilities, be faced with a ver-v considerable liability tor reinstatement of sites and the restoring of the land to its former use.