ROYAL AIR FORCE

Southland Times, Issue 20564, 14 August 1928, Page 7

ROYAL AIR FORCE

NEW COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. SIR EDWARD ELLINGTON. Rugby, August 10. The following changes in the higher commands of the Royal Air Force are announced: — Air Marshal Sir John Salmond has been selected to succeed Air Vice-Marshal Sir Philip Game as air member of the Council for Personnel at the beginning of January next, and Air Vice-Marshal Sir Edward Ellington will at the same time succeed Air Marshal Sir John Salmond as Air Officer, Commander-in-Chief of the Air Defences of Great Britain.

Sir John Salmond has had a distinguished career as a flying officer. On the outbreak of the war in 1914 he went to France in command of No. 3 squadron of the Royal Flying Corps, and subsequently received rapid promotion. In 1916 he became Brigadier-General, and the following year was promoted to Major-General. Then he became General Officer Commanding the Royal Air Force in France, w’hich appointment he held until the conclusion of hostilities. In October, 1922, he was appointed First Air Officer to command the combined British Forces in Iraq, while in 1923 he was promoted to Air Marshal in recognition of his distinguished service in Iraq. On returning to England he was appointed Air Officer, Commander-in-Chief of the Air Defences of Great Britain, a new command. Shortly afterwards he was appointed Con-troller-General of Equipment at the Air Ministry. On the reorganization of the Air Ministry in 1919 he became Director-General of Supply and Research with a seat on the Air Council and held this appointment until 1922 when he proceeded to Egypt to take over the command of the Royal Air Force and control the air defences of the country. At present Sir John Salmond is in Australia at the request of the Australian Government, advising on the air defence of the Commonwealth and on the organization, training, and equipment of the Royal Australian Air Force.

Air Vice-Marshal Sir Edward Ellington became Director-General of Military Aeronautics in 1918, in the Middle East. He relinquished this command in 1923 on his appointment as Air Officer Commanding the Royal Air Force of India. Since November, 1926, he has commanded the British forces in Iraq.—British Official Wireless. NIGHT MANOEUVRES. London, August 12. Three hundred aeroplanes are participating in the coming week’s night manoeuvres which take the form of a bombing attack on London’s defences.—United Service