MIMIC WARFARE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 109, 11 May 1931, Page 8

MIMIC WARFARE

BRITISH AIR DEFENCES. Again this year the Royal Air Force will engage in mimic war, devised to test the home defence system. For a number of days and nights in July the. fighters and bombers of the R.A.F. squadrons, divided into opposing forces, will dispute again the age-old battle or defence and attack in an effort to gov further data about the many problems of efficiently defending Britain from possible air raids, and to exercise machines and men in warlike operations. Last year the opposing forces, fighting for mythical lands entitled respectively Red Colony and Blue Colony, worked out campaigns which threw considerable light on air tactics that might bo necessary, in certain circumstances, in some parts of the Empire. Incidentally, the 250 aeroplanes employed during the 63| hours of the “war” demonstrated beyond dispute the truthworthiness of British aeroplanes and engines. They flew an ag gregate of 2908 hours, much of it by night, and .sometimes in conditions ot poor visibility during the day, covering a distance equivalent to more than twelve times round the equator. Yet not a single serious incident marred the “war.” Not a machine was seriously damaged or a man hurt. This year, the exercises, reverting to the practice of earlier years, are likely to bo concerned more directly with the actual defence system of London. All and ground defences will be tested, ano not only the defending fighters, but the network of listening and observation posts, searchlights, and, perhaps, guns, arc likely to be called into action. The speed of present day aeroplanes means that raiders which cross tho English

coast k"an bo over London in less than twenty-five minutes, even in still air. The magnitude of tho job before the defenders may be. gauged from the brevity of this interval, in which all the organisation of defence must b<» thrown into gear. The task involvea most highly efficient system of intelligence and requires defending fighters which can reach operational heightof. perhaps, 20,000 ft. or more above tinground in a very few minutes aftCi leaving the aerodrome.