AIR MASTERY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 85, 8 March 1940, Page 7

AIR MASTERY

BRITISH OBJECTIVE. Is EARING ATTAINMENT. ESTIMATES PRESENTED. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) Received March S, 11.22 a.in. RUGBY, March 7. Introducing the Air Estimates in the House of Commons, today, the Air Minister (Sir Kingsley Wood) said that, although reasons of security prevented full details being disclosed, he could state that the Estimates were “of ( an unprecedented character and in value represented by far the greatest effort and expenditure ever made in this country relating to air defence/’ Although strict economy was being observed, the effort must be continued and intensified until mastery of the air was established, the Minister said. He turned to Ii.A.F. achievements, revealing that British fighters in France bad taken off more than 2000 times for patrol pursuit and combat, while the Coastal Command had flown over 5000 miles on its multifarious duties, including the successful escort of over‘7oo convoys as well as anti-submarine work and patrols, all which had been carried out daily even during the Arctic weather of January, which provided the most severe flying conditions ever known. For obvious reasons details of personnel had not appeared in the Estimates, “but 1 can safely give a figure which provides a general indication of our progress,” he said. “When I introduced the Air Estimates in 1939 I told the House that, as a result of recruiting efforts, the total R.A.F. strength was approaching 100,000. To-day the strength of one R.A.F. Command alone has nearly reached that figure.” The cpialitv of the recruits was equal to the highest peacetime standards. ' . After explaining the system of training the Air Minister pointed-out that all officers were now taken from the ranks and every recruit had a chance of a commission. EMPIRE SCHEME. Dealing with the question of training, he said: “When m lull operation. Canada, Australia, and New Zealand under the Empire training scheme, will produce no fewer than 20,U00 pilots and 30,000 air crews every year. In addition the Government ol Soutli Africa has most helpfully offered to train pilots ilor the B.A.F. and there will also be schools in Rhodesia and Kenya. lam also glad.to tell the House that with the ready agreement of the French authorities we arc establishing a number of flying and training schools \on French territory.” The Minister then reviewed production. Although the 1918 peak figures of labour employed wore passed a very few weeks alter the outbreak of the war, the enormous programme required an even greater effort. “The country owes much to hundreds of thousands of men and women in factories,” lie said. “These have made and arc making a great contribution to our air defences.” New factories were being built and existing factories extended. The objective of air mastery should be obtained “with something in hand.” Summing up this part of his speech, the Minister said: “The progress made in production to meet B.A.F. needs gives cause for confidence. Nevertheless at this stage of the war we must husband our resources and use them in the fullest support of the military effort.” CIVIL AVIATION. Referring to civil aviation, 'the Minister said the plans naturally gave place to war needs, but in conjunction with the Governments of Australia and New Zealand a weekly service across the Tasman would ho started in April, thus linking New Zealand with the Empire air route. The resumption ol the successful North Atlantic service depended on military needs, but the difficulties so far preventing the regular service to 'Lisbon would, lie hoped, be shortly overcome. Neither had post-war needs been overlooked, and the Minister announced the creation of a strong advisory committee and the appointment of a small body of experts to keep touch with all phases of development in civil aviation. Dealing with achievements since the last presentation of the Air Estimates, Sir Kingsley Wood said that not only was numerical production doubled, but the effective increase in output had been even greater. Each new type ol aeroplane involved an increase in the number of man-hours of construction For instance the Spitfire represented double the man-hours spent on the Gladiator. MANY IMPROVEMENTS. The increases were justified by the advantages in operational efficiency and “in speed, bomb-load, armament, and in the aggregate ol all these factors I would sooner have a hundred Wellingtons or a hundred Spitfires than a much larger number of their German counterparts ” Instancing the improvements i»> existing types of service machines, the Minister stated that not onLv armaments had been continuously improved, but also performance—the longnosed Blenheim had far better navigational facilities and a 50 P ei c _ e,lt ' increase in range over the earlier models, while the top-speed ol the Spitfire had been increased 10 pci cent. “It can safely be said that the fighting strength of the R.A.L. < ■ Kn increased at least 100per«mL during the last twelve months, he said. “In addition we have been able to give substantial help to ou frineds abroad.”