THE AIR FORCE.

Wairarapa Age, 19 June 1936, Page 3

THE AIR FORCE.

IMPORTANT CHANGES MADE IN BRITAIN. FOUR DISTINCT DIVISIONS. APPOINTMENT OF COMMANDERS. RUGBY, June 17.. The Air Ministry announces that the Air Council has decided to carry out important changes in the, system of command and administration in the Home commands of the Royal Air Force in order to provide an appropriate organisation of the enlarged force which will function with speed and efficiency in peace or in war. The nefr organisation provides for four commands, as follows: — 1. Bomber Command, controlling bomber squadrons;

2. Fighter Command, controlling fighter squadrons, Army co-operation squadrons, and observer corps; 3. Coastal Command, controlling flying-boats and a general reconnaissance squadron, and the administration and shore training of squadrons of the Fleet air arm; A Training Command, which will with few exceptions control all training units at home. The air defence of the country will be vested in three operational commands, close co-ordination between which will be directly exercised by the Air Ministry.

The first appointments to these commands are:—To the Bomber Command, Air Marshal Sir John M. Steel; to the Fighter Command, Air Marshall Sir Hugh G. T. Dowding; to the Coastal Command, Air Marshall Sir Arthur M. Longmore; and to the Training Command, Air Marshall, Sir Charles S. Burnett.

Changes affecting administration, of a far-reaching nature, are also introduced, the main objects being to provide for decentralisation of administrative duties, for the exercise of fuller powers of responsibility by the various commanders, and for reduction to minimum of links in the chain of command in order to avoid delays and duplicated effort. The new organisation will be brought into force for the bomber, lighter, and training commands in July. The change in the coastal command will follow shortly afterwards — (British Official Wireless).