BRITISH SUPERIORITY

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20992, 20 December 1939, Page 8

BRITISH SUPERIORITY

NEW AIR TRAINING SCHEME SATISFACTION .OF MINISTER COMPARISON WITH GERMANS (Omclal Wireless) (Received Dec. 20, 3.15 p.m.) RUGBY, Dec. 19 In a broadcast on the Dominions’ air training scheme Sir Kingsley Wood said the scheme would put the British ascendancy over enemy in the air beyond challenge. He expressed the view that, considering the size of the scheme, which would give an annual outflow of pilots and air crews greater than the full outstanding strength of the Royal Air Force as it was not long ago,

the Empire had done a fine job in fixing up such an inspiring and constructive plan in such a short time.

“It will indeed be a great demonstration of Empire unity,” said Sir Kingsley, “when men of the Royal Canadian Air Force, the Australian Air Force, the Royal New Zealand Air Force, and our own Royal Air Force train together in the safe Canadian flying schools.” Sir Kingsley cited some impressive figures, given by the Canadian Prime Minister to indicate the magnitude of the training effort required from Canada alone. There were to be 67 training schools in Canada, including service flying schools, ten observer schools, ten bombing and gunnery schools, four wireless schools and two for navigation. The staffs alone would number 40,000. Some sixty new aerodromes were being contructed and the twenty existing aerodromes were being enlarged. The scheme would call for many thousands of aircraft, the bulk of which would be supplied by the United Kingdom, but each Dominion would supply locally-made aircraft to an increasing extent from its own manufacturing resources. While the negotiations had been in progress the participating Governments had gone ahead with the preliminiary steps, permitting of the rapid execution of the great plan. Superiority Beyond Challenge In connection with Sir Kingsley Wood’s estimate that the Empire training scheme would put British air superiority beyond challenge, informed air circles here give interesting facts comparing the relative efficiency between the British and German air forces today, when they point out that not a single British fighter aircraft has been shot down in the United Kingdom since the outbreak of the war, while Royal Air Force fighter command aircraft have brought down nearly half the German bomber and reconnaissance aircraft engaged by them during the first two active months of the war. During 51 engagements over British land or sea in October and November 21 German raiders were destroyed. and of these 13 were seen to strike the ground or water. It is also known that many more

failed to return to Germany. In all these engagements only one British pilot has been wounded and that slightly. This record is all the more impressive when it is recalled that in the fighting between British bombers and German fighters five Messerschmitts were shot down in flames during last Thursday’s air battle over the Frisian Islands and more than twelve during the action over Heligoland on Monday. OTTAWA, Dec. 19 The bead of tyie British air mission, Lord Riverdale, said he was particularly pleased at the way in whicn the Empire air plan affects Australia and New Zealand, “where there is danger of attack.” Lord Riverdale added: “They will have men in training constantly to augment their permanent defence force.” THE AUSTRALIAN EFFORT STATEMENT BY MR MENZIES (Untied Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Dec. 20, 3.15 p.m.) SYDNEY, Dec. 20 The conditions that will apply to the training of the comparatively small number of Australian airmen who will go to Canada under the Empire air scheme were announced by Mr Menzies. Mr Menzies said the British Government had agreed to take steps to preserve the national identity of the representatives of each country.