TACTICAL AIR FORCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 June 1943, Page 3

TACTICAL AIR FORCE

FORMED ON DIRECTION OF MR CHURCHILL FLEXIBLE & ADAPTABLE ORGANISATION. VALUE ALREADY FULLY DEMONSTRATED. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, June 13. The formation of the Tactical Air Force follows on direction given by the Prime Minister (Mr Churchill) some months ago. Preparations were then completed in time for a largescale inter-service exercise to be held in March and it was the valuable experience then gained in handling a selected air formation in field conditions, side by 'side with a corresponding Army formation that enabled the ’» main scheme to be organised so quickly. One of the most important features of the new formation was its organisation on a mobile basis throughout. It is therefore capable of operating independently of the “tarmac” conditions and telecommunications' system existing in Britain. Secondly, provision was made for a high degree of flexibility in the control and operation of the squadrons which composed the new force. In this way it is possible to vary the number of squadrons on each airfield and further to enable a force commander to operate any reasonable number of squadrons placed at his disposal from time to time without overburdening the system. A communique issued by the Air Ministry last night stated: ‘.’As a result of the experience gained in the fighting in North Africa certain measures of reorganisation have been effected in the metropolitan air force. "The Army Co-operation Command, which was formed in December, 1940, . to organise, experiment and train in all forms of land and air co-operation, has been merged into a Tactical Air Force which is designed to work with the army in the field. The organisation df this force confroms closely with that of the tactical air force under AirMarshal Sir Arthur Coningham. in North-West Africa.” The Tactical Air Force is located in the Fighter Command in order to ensure close integration of work of tactical and reconnaissance aircraft and of light bombers with that of the main fighter force. The new force is commanded by Air Vice-Marshal J. H. d’Albiac.