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Aviation History
1924
1924 - 0429.PDF
• JULY 3, 1924 INDEPENDENT ON June 24 the Sixth Annual1 Re-union Dinner of i the Independent Force, R.A.F., took place at the Royal Air Force Club, Piccadilly, when Air Chief-Marshal Sir Hugh Trenchard, Bart., G.C.B., D.S.O., etc., presided. Wing-Commander H.R.H. the Duke of York was present at the right of the Chairman, and the change of venue to and hospitality extended by the R.A.F. Club was much appre ciated by those who supported the function. Following the usual loyal toasts proposed by the Chairman, Sir Walter Lawrence, G.C.I.E., etc., proposed the only other toast of the evening, " The Independent Force." Sir Walter said he could see no limit to the expansion and development of the R.A.F., and that under their present Air Chief the Force would be the most efficient air force in the world. After a long paean of praise and poetic reference to the Force, Sir Walter said that in deference to the death-ray look which he had noticed in the Chief's eye at the length of his speech he would conclude his remarks, and was glad to feel that already the R.A.F. had a great tradition of dash and daring. Air Chief-Marshal Sir Hugh Trenchard, before replying, read a cablegram of hearty good wishes to the Re-union from three old fifty-fivers " who were absent in Vancouver. Sir Hugh then said that they were delighted to see the Duke of York at this their sixth annual dinner since the Great War. In regard to the progress of the R.A.F. last year, he read a decision of the then Prime Minister with regard to British air policy to the following effect :— " In addition t,o meeting the essential air power require ments of the Navy, Army, Indian and Overseas commitments, British air power must include a home defence air force of sufficient strength adequately to protect us against air attack by the strongest air force within striking distance of this country." That expansion had proceeded apace. He took that opportunity of saying that the scheme of expansion that had been worked to had been thought out and worked on for nearly four years. It would eventually bring about a force in England for the defence of this country of 52 squad rons. At present we had already formed seven complete squadrons and 11 partly-formed squadrons, comprising 37 flights towards the new force. The new squadrons were being numbered and would continue to be numbered with the numerical designations of the old war squadrons. It was really revivifying the spirits of those squadrons, as he felt that they never ceased to exist though they may have been invisible for a time. Their short service commissioned officers were doing splendidly. The system had, as it was bound to do, succeeded, and had come to remain. The competition to join was very keen, over 6,000 applications having been received in the past year for 400 vacancies, and that this situation was not a passing phase was shown by the fact that a steady increase in the number of boys who had recently left school and who wished to join was being maintained. This showed, to his' mind, that the Air Force was becoming recognised as a definite outlet for the activities of young men of the right type. As regards candidates for permanent commissions from the Universities, there had been a gratifying increase in their numbers, but he hoped to be able still further to interest the University authorities in the Air Force as a permanent career for their graduates. Without the goodwill of the tutors they could do little, and he made an especial appeal to them to give the matter their serious consideration. The refresher courses given to the reserve pilots had been carried out at the following civil schools with great success :— De Havilland, Stagg Lane ; Bristols, Filton ; Blackburns, Brough ; Armstrong-Whitworths, Coventry ; and Beard- mores, Renfrew. He hoped these courses had been of some benefit to civil aviation by getting aviation more connected with the country. Their great work, however, which was brought forward by the late Government, and which had been confirmed in the present Government's time, was that the Auxiliary Air Force and Special Reserve Force Bills would, he hoped, shortly be passed by Parliament. There were only very small numbers required for these two branches of the Air Force, and he firmly believed that it was possible to raise a special reserve squadron—that was. a nucleus regular flight and headquarters on a regular basis and the balance to be brought out occasionally for training. In other words, he FORCE, R.A.F. believed that an acetylene welder working at one bench could walk over to another one in the Air Force and commence work without preliminary training. It was really an effort to bring the Air Force into closer touch with the country so that people would feel they were defending their own homes. It would also avoid the great expense of training boys if they could get the skilled men to go to them for service with the home defence force. They might say, " But how will you manage for the pilots ? " Well, how did they get the old Militia officer who did six months' training ? " They might say, " But this is different." So it was. However, he was certain it could be done. It would, take time, but it would succeed. The Auxiliary Air Force was another great point. By bringing in the two schemes he allowed sufficient flexibility to push on with one if it proved stronger than the other. He also catered for those who liked to join a regular unit and live with it, and also those who had a local and intensive collective spirit, to join as a unit in the Auxiliary Air Force. There were plenty of both classes, as people had said to him, I will join if I can join a completely local unit," whilst others had said they would only join to serve with a regular unit. There was another great point he would touch on, the taking over by the Air Force of the chief command in Iraq. Sir John Salmond assumed command on October 1, 1922, and carried out the Air policy of, to use words which have often been used before, controlling the county without occupation. That must not be misinterpreted. It meant without close occupation. It did not mean that there was no one there at all, but that the numbers employed were infinitely smaller under air control than they would otherwise be. This policy, he said, was humane. The officers and men claimed to be as humane as the personnel of the sister Services. They realised that by the judicious use of the air weapon they saved the greater casualties that would eventually be caused if risings were allowed to spread and columns had to be sent out to fight, and lines of communications had to be supported. In regard to India, he had the best reports from there,. and everything was satisfactory. He also heard of the excellent work carried out in Egypt and other countries. He next drew attention to what the boys at Cranwell and Halton, both cadets and aircraft apprentices, were doing. There was nothing, he said, to touch them. They did very little drill, and yet their drill could not be beaten anywhere. They were taught to turn out the finest work, and they were taught to use their hands and heads with the greatest ability. He was certain that the success of Cranwell and Halton was assured. The boys themselves were the finest type he had ever seen in any collection of boys. Dealing with the serving officer, Sir Hugh said they were all agreed that not enough flying was being done per officer or per airman in England or abroad. The number of hours flown was increasing, but he wanted still more hours' flying done. He should not be contented until every officer in an active flying unit flew not less than one hour per day per year in the aggregate, and those officers who were on the staff of active service units flew not less than 50 hours per year, and those officers on staff duties at great administrative units like areas and the Air Ministry, where machines did not exist, flew at least 10 hours per year. The more flying that was done the better. He thought that the flying done in the past year and the year before impressed the promotions board almost as much as any other qualification or perhaps more than all the others put together. In regard to the forthcoming Pageant, which was the culmination of progress, showing what had been done in the year, he had impressed upon all that there was to be no competition in air acrobatics with the French visiting squadron. In conclusion, Sir Hugh alluded to the great loss which the Royal Air Force in general and themselves in particular had sustained during the past year through the death of Squadron- Leader Cleverly. His work in connection with the Royal Air Force both during the War and subsequently was invaluable. His efforts while acting as one of the honorary secretaries of this annual dinner of theirs were, he knew, appreciated by all. This year's work in connection with the dinner had been carried out for them by Wing-Commander Nicholl. He had been assisted by their old friend Toe Smith, and by a com mittee consisting of Group-Captain Newall, Colonel Waley- Cohen, Wing-Commanders Pattinson, Landon and Rathbone
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