AIR CHIEFS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 430, 11 August 1928, Page 9

AIR CHIEFS

Changes Announced SIR JOHN SALMOND A DISTINGUISHED CAREER British Official Wireless. Reed. Noon. RUGBY, Friday. 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-Mar-shal Sir Philip Game as Air member of the Council for the personnel, at the beginning of January next, and Air Vice-Marshal s>ir Edward Ellington will at the same time succeed Air Marshal Sir John Salmond as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief the Air Defence of Great Britain. Sir John Salmond has had a distinguished career as a fiying officer. On the outbreak of war in 1914 he went to ranee in command of the No. 3 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps, and subsequently received rapid promotion. In 1916 he became a brigadiergeneral, and in the following year he was promoted major-general. Then he became General Officer Commanding the Royal Air Force in France, which 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. In 1923 he was promoted to air-mar-shal, in recognition of his distinguished service in Iraq, and on returning to England he was appointed Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Air Defence of Great Britain. Shortly afterwards he was appointed Controller-General of Equipment at the Air Ministry. On the reorganisation 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 organisation, training and equipment of the Royal Australian Air Force. Air Vice-Marshal Sir Edward Ellington became Director-General of Military Aeronautics in 1928. He relinquished this command in 1923, on his appointment as Air-Officer Commanding the Royal Air Force in India. Since November, 1926, he has commanded the British Forces in Iraq.