WEAKNESSES IN R.A.F.

Chronicle (Levin), 14 August 1948, Page 5

WEAKNESSES IN R.A.F.

(N.Z.P.A.—

- Reuter s

Jet Botiibers And Trained Mechanics Needed

Copyri-ght ) . .

iteceivea F fiday, 0.0U p.ili. LONDON, Aug. 13. ' "Long-term sehemes for edouolliic recOvery aild imprdvemelltS 111 the standard 'of living are 110 longer the .bni^"' ones that'it is riec'esSary td eonsiclef. , The mos't serious danger eonfronting Gritain is that its people and Governmeut will liot'awake to the grave risks even of invasidu which a Weak Royal Air Force invdives' ilhtil if is too late to take action." This observation tvas made by Air Gommodore L. G-. S. Payne,

air eorrespondent of, the Daily Telegraph,- commenting on the deticiencies in Britain 's air defences and a recent remark by Lord Tedder that urdess the R.A.F. gets vyithin the next two or three years the required number of regulhf entrants there will' not be • a British Air Force. The nattire of the only possible confliet which is now possible is 110 longer in doubt, says' Air Conl"modore Payne. European countries must still guard against invasion, but the military balanee oi power is materially different to day from what it was before 1939 with the strongest military powei being the United States. Within Europe itself there if little military- power to prevenl an aggressor reaching the Atlantic, Mediterranean and Channel coasts as rapidly as the German forces did, nor is it likely that the United Stfttes eoulcl send to Europe in the. early stages of a

year an army strong enougn to prevent this happening. To'protect Britain against invasion, Air Commodore Payne continues that air supei'iority over Southern England and the Channel would be- 110 less essential in any future war than it was in the last war. The case for redressing , the R.A.F. 's deficiencies has thus beeome urgent. "One of the R.A.F. 's prineipal needs is more trained mechanics," Air Commodore Payne continues. "The means for providing them must he i'ound. The R.A.F. also wants more modern e({uipment than it is now getting or is likely to obtain during the next few years under the Government 's previously announced plans. "The Ministry of Supply ano the British aircraft industry should be instructed to devote the major paprt of their efforts tc providing equipment for the R.A.F. rather than producitig an material for expoi-t or for use bj 1 British airline operators. Ilig-h-I speed jet bombers constitute oue of the most urgent needs. There j seems* to be 110 reasonable pros1 pect of the R.A.F. being equipped with eveil one type of jet bombei w'ithin the next few years. "The pmient- bomber force of Lancasters and Lincolns is out oi1 date. Recent Government statements have made it clear that no immediate re-equipment of thif force with modern bombers if contemplated. Steps to remedy this dc'plqrable situation" should bje takeh; •im'm.ediately. The Aircraft industry' should be" asked* fo provide as soou _as possible the nucleus of a civil repair oi'ganisation for military aircraft and engi-nes 011 the lines of that available during the war. "This would materially assist the R.A.F. to overcome some oi its diffieulties due to the shortagt; of trained mechanics and overseers. It may well be that British ' manufacturers will not be able tcsupply all the R.A.F. 's requirements either in peaeetime or in war when production might bc seriously curtailed by the scale-of the enemy attaek. If that is co'n sidered likely the R.A.F. should be suppliecl with equipment . from the United States -and the Dominions. "In the meantime the ,Govern: ment's programme for the development of rqekets and other forms of guided missiles should be accelerated. It is necessary to pass from the stage of experimentation to that of producF'' For that purpose new -factories may have to be provided, manned and eauinnecl.'"