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Aviation History
1935
1935 - 1533.PDF
FLIGHT. 685 the only step to take. That is only true up to a point. A very great deal can be done in the way of air defence, and, judging by experiences in the Great War, the defence may so far master the attack that the latter will become too expensive a game, too much like the operations of a suicide club, and will be aban doned. Likewise, there has been a lot of foolish talk about the counter-attack. It has often been assumed far too readily that all air raids are deliberate attempts to slaughter the civil population on the other side in the hope that the voters of the enemy will force their Government to sue for peace. Nothing has Gloster " Gauntlets " of No. 19 (Fighter) Squadron—the latest and fastest type of fighter in service in the world. Its top speed at 15,800 feet is 230 m.p.h. These remarkable Flight photographs were taken from a two-seater " Bulldog " which flew as a member of the single-seater formation. ever happened either in the last great war or in any pre vious war to justify the belief that " frightfulness " is likely to have such a result. Wars have been won by breaking the enemy's power to fight, not by trying to intimidate civilians. We may take it that air raids will aim at de stroying military objectives such as munitions factories, railway stations, harbours, and such like. Civilians may not entirely escape such attacks, but they will not suffer from them as they would if gas bombs were to be dropped on residential areas. The plans for the air defence of Great Britain make a very fascinating study. One complete section of the Royal Air Force is devoted to this business, and it is known as the Command, Air Defence of Great Britain, or for short, A.D.G.B. The officer who is at the head of this organisa tion has the title of Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, and we may allude to him as the C.-in-C. The term has a familiar smack about it, and recalls the days of Lord Wolseley and Lord Roberts. The present C.-in-C., A.D.G.B., is Air Chief Marshal Sir Robert Brooke-Popham, K.C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., A.F.C., who before the war was squadron commander of No. 3 Squadron, R.F.C. His rank is the equivalent of Admiral in the Navy and General in the Army. Here we may, perhaps, turn aside for a moment to men tion all the ranks in the R.A.F. and give their equivalents in the Navy and the Army. The highest rank is Marshal of the Royal Air Force, which is equivalent to Admiral of the Fleet and Field Marshal. Next comes Air Chief Mar shal, which was explained above. Air Marshal ranks with Vice-Admiral and Lieutenant-General ; Air Vice-Marshal with Rear-Admiral and Major-General. The next three ranks are practically borrowed from the Navy: Air Com- ***^*..
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