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Aviation History
1924
1924 - 0180.PDF
AUXILIARY AIR FORCE, AIR ESTIMATES, ETC. IN the House of Lords, on March 20, Lord Thomson, Secretary of State for Air, moving the second reading of the Auxiliary Air Force and Air Force Reserve Bill, said the purpose of the measure was to enable the Air Ministry to start recruiting on a suitable basis for thirteen non-regular squadrons, which would form part of the Air Force home defence force. As in the case of the Territorial Army, it would be possible under existing po\^rs to establish an auxiliary air force on a county basis, but that method had been found not to be sufficiently elastic. The Air Ministry desired to take full advantage of the readiness of the Terri torial Associations to assist, and the Ministry proposed to set up County Joint Associations. As a general rule, this system of County Joint Associations would be adhered to so long as it proved successful, but alternatively, as the scheme developed, both Territorial Associations and the Auxiliary Air Force Associations separately might be necessary in certain cases. Provision was being made for a third contingency where the Auxiliary Air Force Association would exist not for one county, but for two counties, or for a large industrial centre, or a group of towns. This third alternative form of associa tion would not be formed in any area within the purview of the County Joint Association. The bill contained a special definition of what was meant by home service. It was obligatory for any would-be officer or recruit to accept liability to be called up within the British Isles in defence of these isles against actual or apprehended attack, independently of the embodiment of the force. A flight on home service was one in which the points of departure and of intended return were within the British Isles or terri torial waters, notwithstanding that the course of the flight might extend beyond those limits. The primary function of the Auxiliary Air Force was exactly the same as that of the Territorial Army—namely, home defence. It was hoped to raise six squadrons for this purpose. It was hoped to start recruiting for two squadrons in the summer in the London area, and possibly for a third squadron in the Glasgow area in the autumn. There would also be the Special Reserve, the proposal being to form seven special reserve squadrons for the home defence force. The personnel of these squadrons would consist as regards two-thirds of special reservists and one-third of regulars. The endeavour would be made to throw the net wide and catch not only men who were willing to serve as citizen soliders in the Territorial Air Force, but also those who desired some closer association with the Regular Army. Enlistment and calling-up under the bill could be applied, notwithstanding anything in the Act of 1907 dealing with the Territorial Reserve Force, either to the Reserve or to Special Reserve, whether or not they had served in the Regular Air Force. That would preserve elasticity. Special reservists would be liable to be called up independently of general mobilisation. At least one special reserve squadron would be called up in the autumn, and there were hopes of making it two or even more. The bill provided for an Order in Council, in case of emergency, giving such directions as might appear necessary for calling out the Auxiliary Air Force or the Air Force Reserve, or both. The organisation of the Special Reserve was to a great extent experimental. For the first time a non- regular element was to be introduced into the Air Force. The object of that was to identify air defence with national life. As the auxiliary squadrons were associated with special areas, so the special reserve units would be provided with peace aerodromes in selected areas, such as industrial centres. In this way it was hoped to attract skilled mechanics who would require the minimum of technical training. Earl Beauchamp said that the Territorial County Associa tions had done admirable work, and he would be very sorry to see them displaced by new organisations to deal with this new branch of work. He would rather it were done by sub committees of the County Associations than by independent bodies. The Marquis of Londonderry said he did not think there was anything of a controversial character in the bill at all. In fact, it was almost identical with the bill framed by the Minister's predecessor. The country would benefit to a large extent if enthusiasm in the Air Force could be stimulated among the younger generation, so as to encourage them to equip themselves in the knowledge requisite for becoming efficient pilots. Lord Thomson said that in the case of all the six squadrons which it was proposed to form to begin with, it was intended to make use of the Territorial Associations. All the Bill did was to take power to set up other associations which would be used if necessary. That necessity might never arise. They had an agreement with the Imperial Air Transport Company for all their pilots and technical personnel to belong to the Air Force Reserve. He was inclined to think himself that there would always have to be a dual organisation. As regards stirring up enthusiasm in aviation, no effort would be spared. They had to get people up into the air. Whether they would have to do it by means of airships or aeroplanes, he had not yet decided. The Bill was read a second time. On March 20 the House of Commons went into Committee of Supply, on a vote for 35,000 men of all ranks for the Air Service. Sir Geoffrey Butler said the Estimates were founded on certain principles, and for the Government to taken them over without taking over the principles was to take the husks without taking the kernel. They wanted the Government to descend to details and to foreshadow reforms. The Govern ment must remove the stigma that the Air Force was a blind alley or the future of the force would be prejudiced. Steps should be taken to establish a sympathetic understanding with the various research centres of the country. He believed the country would not long suffer the Air Force to remain in the nerveless grasp of the Government. Lieut.-Colonel Meyler, who mentioned that he had served for four and a half years with the Air Force, said that there was one branch of the force which had been almost, if not entirely, obliterated since the War, and that was the balloon section. The value of that section was far greater than many people realised, and he hoped that the experiments which had been going on to improve the type would be continued. In war time even a single observer in a single balloon was able to do work of enormous value. He remembered that on one occasion an attack by five German divisions was frustrated by one observer in a balloon on a day when other aircraft could not fly. Major-General Seely said that even the most pacific man, even the Under-Secretary for Air, was convinced that although an aeroplane was not an answer to another aeroplane, in the sense that it could not give protection from attack, it was the only one there was except the Sermon on the Mount. He wished to deny the truth of statements, made in irresponsible quarters, that tfus use of air power in Irak, Palestine, Somali- land, and on the Indian frontier had been indiscriminate and cruel. On the contrary, if air power was directed by air officers in conjunction with political officers, it was far more discriminating than the use of indirect artillery fire. It was the most merciful and the most direct form of attack. More over, it was infinitely less expensive than others. Commander Burney said the Committee should realise that the development of air power might be of great advantage to this country. He very much regretted that the Estimates did not contain that assistance to commercial and civil aviation which he would like to see. Owing to the focus of naval power having shifted to the Pacific Ocean, we had to control three times the area of water than hitherto. If airships were properly developed. they would be able to carry out all the functions of patrol and reconnaissance required over large areas at a cheaper rate than would be possible by cruisers or the ordinary circuit Navy. An analysis of the cost of patrolling 1,000 square miles of the ocean by means of airships and light cruisers showed that the cost by airship would be 25s. and by light cruisers £17 10s. That was merely running costs. For capital costs they would .require to spend ^55,000,000 on light cruisers to give the same patrol and reconnaissance power which they could get with airships for ^3,500,000. By adopting airships, the annual upkeep would be reduced by ^11,000,000. He believed it would be possible to construct airships to travel from this country to India in something like seventy- two hours, carrying 140 people, and at a cost less than going by the P. and O. Co. at the present time, and that these airships could be made perfectly safe. Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy said that it was most important that the mail to India should be quickened. Surely if the whole route could not be flown, a large portion of it could. He suggested that this service should be entrusted to the Royal Air Force rather than to a private company, as there was a very strong case in favour of this new service being a national service. Lieut.-Colonel Moore-Brabazon said that although he was very strongly in favour of the New Testament as to the relations between one country and another, as a matter of 180
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