AIR DEFENCE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 234, 1 September 1938, Page 11

AIR DEFENCE.

AUSTRALIAN PLANS. CANBERRA, Aug. 31. General approval of the air defence development programme is expressed by Air-Marshal Sir Edward Ellington, whose report on the ltoyal Australian Air Force was made available to-night. Sir Edward emphasised the need for improved training standards within the Australian Air Force and greater co-operation with civil and commercial aviation for defence purposes. He pointed out that the civil, aviation routes now being established, if properly equipped for their efficient workings would ensure that the Air Force could reach all parts of Australia rapidly and fulfil all strategic purposes. “What is required,” said Sir Edward, “is an Air Force fully trained and organised for mobility, familiar with all the necessary routes, also the bases, which will enable an adequate force to be concentrated to meet any threat to the wide expanses of Australian territory.” Sir Edward’s investigation revealed that all the service squadrons' were below strength. Ho recommended that the enlargement of the training organisation should take - precedence over the formation of new units while the training of pilots at Pt. Cook, Victoria, should be extended to include such instruction as was'given in the advanced training squadrons of the British flying schools, together with a course in air navitation lasting for at least ten weeks. Sir Edward emphasised the need for, an improvement in flying discipline, since a proportion of accidents here 1 was due to disobedience and lack of flying discipline. Nevertheless, he was impressed with the high quality of both officers and men entering the Air Force. It was essential that the conditions of permanent officers should be improved. Sir Edward recommended that efforts should be made to. get flying clubs or civil transport companies to contract to train young men as pilots both for a reserve service and also as a preliminary to the flying-school course. He approved the idea that Air Foree and civilian liilots should exchange for short periods. Further, he advised the formation of a volunteer Air Force, on the lines of that recently inaugurated in England. Dealing with the selection of aircraft types, Sir Edward emphasised the importance of “übiquity of purpose” rather than specialisation. The Prime Minister (Mr J. A. Lyons) announced that the Government had adopted Sir Edward Ellington s re* port-