LACK OF MODERN AIRCRAFT CAUSE OF WORRY TO THE R.A.F.

Wanganui Chronicle, 16 February 1949, Page 5

LACK OF MODERN AIRCRAFT CAUSE OF WORRY TO THE R.A.F.

"It Is So Starved That Its Bones Are

Sticking Through Its Skin"

LONDON, Feb. 15 (Ree. 6 pm).—Lack of modern aircraft and other equipment for the R.A.F. is now causing the Air Staff as much anxiety as the shortage of skilled mechanics,” says the “Daily Telegraph’s aviation correspondent.

The Government for four years i gambled on improvement in the ; international outlook which 1 would obviate the need for spending more money on defence. Close | secrecy about British armaments ; was intended to hide defence de- I ficiencies from foreign Governments and possible critics at home. Meanwhile, the R.A.F. has been so starved for men and materials tht its bones are sticking through its skin. It has become a skeleton that no cupboard can conceal. In May, 1946, the Controller Air Supplies at the Supply Ministry, Air Marshall Sir Alec Cory ton, stated that only the future fighters and bombers of in- I terest to the R.A.F. were those 1 with jet engines. Nearly three I years passed and yet not a single I type of post-war jet aircraft is in production for the R.A.F. The '

Brtish aircraft industry built at least five prototype jet fighters, and two jet bombers. The majority of Fighter Command’s regular home-based squadrons are equipped with the latest Gloster Meteor and De Havifland Vampires, jet fighters developed (luring the war, which are not effective defence against bombers and they cannot carry bulky radar equipment. R.A.F. regular fighter squadrons overseas are still using obsolescent piston-engined planes. The correspondent says these are not fast enough to intercept jet bombers and are no match for enemy jet fighters. If it were decided tomorrow to re-, arm the R.A.F. with modern post-war planes, there could be no quantity or output from British factories c or at least two years. New planes for British and Doniinion Air Forces may have to be provided from the United States or Commonwealth factories.