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Otago Daily Times, Issue 24460, 20 November 1940, Page 7

MORE THRUST

THE ROYAL AIR FORCE CHANGES IN COMMAND NEW PLAN WELCOMED (United Press Association) (By Electric •plegraoli Copyrier.t) LONDON, Nov. 18. The following Air Force appointments are announced:— Air Marshal Sir Arthur Sheridan Barratt becomes Officer Command-ing-in-Chief of the Army Co-opera-tion Command. Air Vice-marshal W. S. Douglas succeeds Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding'as Chief of the Fighter Command. Air Vice-marshal A. H. Harris becomes Assistant Chief of Air Staff in place of Vice-marshal Douglas. Air Commodore J. H. D'Albis becomes commander of the British forces in Greece. Air Vice-marshal O. T. Boyd becomes deputy chief officer in the

Middle East, with the acting rank of Air Marshal. Air Marshal E. L. Cossage takes Air Marshal Boyd's place in command of the balloon barrage. Air Vice-marshal Babington takes Air Marshal Gossage's place on the Air Council as members of personnel with acting rank of air marshal. Air Chief-marshal Sir Hugh Dowding has been seconded to the Ministry for Aircraft Production for special duty. Co-operation Command Expert commentators regard the formation' of the new Army Cooperation Command of the R.A.F. as a vital step in the adoption of the fighting forces to the lessons of the present war and to meet the needs of the near future. It represents an essential feature of the plan alluded to recently by Mr Eden when he stated that the whole matter of cooperation between the army and the R.A.F. was now on an agreed and sound basis. The development is warmly welcomed in the press, which considers it in relation to the announcement of alterations in the higher appointments of the R.A.F., which represent sweeping changes in its operational control and bring to the front vigorous men in the prime of life. The Daily Mail says: " The idea of attack is inspired by the new appointments. We will employ our best thrUsters,' both in planning and operations." The Daily Telegraph says: "The versatility and enterprise which

directed our air operations with such glorious success are still to rule." The Times says: "For the time being the new Army Co-operation Command's essential duty will be training, though we may look forward to the time when it will be purely operational." Referring to Air Chief-marshal Sir Hugh Dowding's mission to America, The Times says: "He goes to America as a victorious commander —the best we have to send —to give our friends across the Atlantic his view on the materials needed in modern air warfare."