Britain's Front Line Jet Fighter Force Is To Be Strengthened

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27346, 23 March 1950, Page 7

Britain's Front Line Jet Fighter Force Is To Be Strengthened

New Zealand Press Association—Copyright Rec. 8 p.m. LONDON, Mar. 22. The'Royal Air Force is to have a new guided missile for use against bombers, according to the Air Minister, Mr Arthur Henderson, when speaking on Air Estimates in the House of Commons last night. The doubling of the strength of Fighter Command’s jet fighter force was proceeding, and all the day fighter and ground attack squadrons overseas had been re-equipped with jet aircraft, with the exception squadrons in the Far East.

Mr Henderson said that Britain’s period of acute air defence danger was over. “We have now burned the corner,” he said, “ and can look forward to a period of consolidation to improve the operational effectiveness of our fighters against modern bombers.”

“Extremely valuable work is being done 'on an advanced air-to-air guided missile to improve the effectiveness of our fighters against the modern bomber,” he said. “It is our aim to enable our fighters to attack and destroy the modern enemy bomber from ranges beyond those of its defensive armament.” It was generally agreed between the Government and the Opposition that for a number of years Britain, which invented the jet engine, would not have a long-range four-engined jet bomber, Mr Henderson said. “We are dependent on America for the delivery of B-29 Super-Fortresses, which have a higher performance than the Lincoln, with which our bomber squadrons are at present equipped, in range, speed, ceiling and bomb load,” he continued. New Fighter Ordered Mr Henderson said that orders had been placed for the production in quantity of a new type of jet fighter —the Venom. The aircraft would have a performance exceeding that of the Vampire in all respects—a greater speed, a greater rate of climb, and a much higher ceiling. The Venom would come into the squadrons next year. In turn it would be followed by jet fighters of much more advanced types now under development, with speeds approaching the speed of sound—well over 600 miles an hour —and capable of operating at extreme altitudes. The jet night fighter, which could have a performance comparable to that of other types of jet fighters, was now in an advanced state of development, and orders had been placed for its production in sufficient quantity not only to re-equip the existing night fighter force, but also to extend it. The night fighters would be fitted with up-to-date radio and radar aids, and would be capable of operating by day in weather conditions in which the day fighters would be grounded. Economies Necessary Mr Henderson said that for some time to come the Air Ministry would be engaged in expanding the front line, and this year, in order to secure increases in the strength of fighter and bomber commands, there would have to be substantial savings in men and money. The most substantial economy would be a reduction in the number of transport squadrons in Britain. Command and group headquarters staffs would be cut by at least 10 per cent. The strength of the Royal Air Force on April 1, 1951, was expected to be about 198,000, Mr Henderson said, although provision was made in the estimates for the maximum number of 215.000, compared with 255,000 last year.