RAPID PROGRESS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 November 1938, Page 7

RAPID PROGRESS

EXPANSION OF THE BRITISH AIR FORCE SIR KINGSLEY WOOD’S SURVEY. .T BIG PROGRAMME IN HAND. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, November 10. Speaking in the Address-in-Reply debate in the House of Commons today, the Air Minister, Sir Kingsley Wood, declared his intention to make further additions to the first line strength and to provide for substantial increases in the reserves both of aircraft and material and of trained personnel. He announced that larger financial provision was required for this, programme to bring next year s estimate io about £100,000,000, as compared with £120,000,000 on the present year’s programme. The Air Minister went on to review recent progress in his department, which he summed up as follows: — The 1700 first line aircraft announced by his predecessor would be achieved by next March, and the Government was concentrating on expediting the completion of the programme as announced last Monday comprising a metropolitan first line strength of 2370 aircraft with an overall strength of 3000 planes and an expansion of the fleet air arm. MORE TRAINING CRAFT. The number of fighter aircraft now on order and to be ordered, under the new proposals, he said, would amount to between 5000 and 6000 craft. He also proposed to increase the reserve of the counter-offensive force and to provide additional aircraft for training. The requirements for the defence of overseas territories were under review, and the strength of these forces would also be increased if necessary. These measures, the Minister said, were on a scale that precluded’ their being completed until 1941, but results in the steady and progressive accumulation of strength would appear much earlier. The Government’s air defence policy was aimed at producing a balanced force at a high standard of preparedness for war. He mentioned that the response to his appeal of last June was already the equivalent of the intake in the pre-ex-pansion days. At the present rate Britain would have an air force of 100,000 trained men ready by June next. He also gave an. encouraging account of the expansion of productive capacity and the acceleration of production by the aircraft industry.

Referring to assistance from the Dominions, Sir Kingsley Wood said that he was glad toy announce that Australia was sending an increased number of candidates for short service commissions.

The Alliance of the Melbourne Squadron of the Australian Citizen Air Force with the City of London Auxiliary Air Force, made with his Majesty’s approval, was significant. This was the first Dominion air force unit to be allied with a unit of the R.A.F. PILOTS FROM DOMINIONS. Sir Murray Sueter (Conservative) welcomed the news that pilots were being trained in the Dominions. Some Dominion pilots, he said, had become great aces in the last war and were a wonderful success. He thought that the present Dominion pilots should be allowed to serve with the Royal Air Force in Palestine and India. Mr Anthony Eden declared that fortified towns were necessary in the future until the l?° m her had been tamed or civilisation destroyed. Britain must be a first class 1 Power or nothing. She could not, with her area of population, live as a second or third class Power. Sir Thomas Inskip, Minister of Defence, said that it was not true to suggest that the air force had been sub-’ ordinated to other departments. Production of anti-aircraft guns had taken precedence over field guns, and the Cabinet had taken new decisions for accelerating output. Britain was now in the possession of sufficient raw materials to carry through a long war. The debate was adjourned.