ROYAL AIR FORCE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21648, 8 May 1940, Page 7

ROYAL AIR FORCE

Rapid Expansion

Increase In Factory

Output

New Training Commands

British Official Wireless (Received May 7. 5.5 p.m.)

RUGBY. May 6.

With a rapidly expanding Air Force, the British light alloy industry had to undergo violent expansion of nearly twenty times in order that most factories could meet requirements, and although production always has been good, well-informed London circles state that the Air Minister will not be satisfied until it has reached the highest possible level. It is considered that the appointment of Brigadier-General H. A. Jones as controller of light alloy will enable this to be accomplished more easily, and to-day’s announcement of his nomination was received with gratification. The Air Ministry’s determination to expand factory output as widely as efficient organisation can carry it, applies also to the training of personnel for tlie Royal Air Force. It is pointed out in authoritative Quarters that the hard winter conditions caused an interruption to the regular flow of trailed men. It is also stated that reorganisation into two training commands will provide a much faster flow of competent personnel which, in conjunction with the tremendous training resources of Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Kenya and Rhodesia in South Africa will give unsurpassed facilities for vigorous growth of the most powerfid air force. These resources will now be added to by the French, who have afforded facilities not only in France but throughout the French Empire. Training Arrangements The large and rapid expansion c,f the Royal Air Force has necessitated a reorganisation in training arrangements which will now be divided into two commands, one dealing with flying training and the other with technical training. Hitherto there have been two training commands each of which has undertaken both air and technical instruction. In February 1939, a separate reserve command was formed in order to relieve the regular training command and concentrated special attention to the Royal Air Force volunteer reserve, whose training, being on a part-time basis, had to be dealt with on different lines from the whole-time training of the regular Royal Air Force.

Full time was, of course, assumed by the volunteer reserve directly the war broke out, and thereafter training distinction largely disappeared. Moreover, competent authorities point out that it is desirable that intensive training of the personnel should remain under one command. It has therefore been decided to create a Technical Training Command under Acting-Air Marshal W. L. Welsh, which will undertake the complete training of an exceedingly large number of highly skilled men required for the maintenance of aircraft and equipment and a Flying Training Command under Acting-Air Marshal L. A. Patterson, which will be responsible for the training of pilots and air crews.