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Aviation History
1937
1937 - 1506.PDF
566 FLIGHT. JUNE IO, 1937. Ministry. The mind of Mr. Duff Cooper on this subject is not known, but it may be presumed that he, when at the War Office, could hardly have approved of the system by which the Army's air work was done by the R. A.F. Now that he has gone to the Admiralty he finds himself face to face with a more acute case of resentment at a similar arrangement. He may therefore probably be counted on to press hard for this very desirable reform; although, not having any experience at the Air Ministry, he can hardly speak with the authority which Sir Samuel Hoare was able to command. In this matter the Cabinet can count on little help from the Chiefs of Staff committee. Its members have prob ably agreed to differ on this point, and left it at that. The problem will have to be solved by higher authority, unaffected by departmental jealousies and thoughts of Service prestige. The Prime Minister will have the last say, and it may be guessed that Mr. Chamberlain, having had to find vast sums for defence, and being a very practical business man, will be determined to get the best results for money spent. Efficiency in defence has never been brought about by divided responsibility and divided control, and Mr. Chamberlain is the sort of man who will be quick to recognise that obvious fact and to act upon it. He will also probably see the desirability of leaving in the hands of the Air Ministry the placing of all orders for aircraft and engines, the organisation of research, and the conduct of all schools of elementary flying. But as for having men on board His Majesty's ships who are neither naval men nor marines, who are recruited by another Department than the Admiralty, and who look to their own Department for promotion, rewards and, if need be, punishments, it is difficult to imagine a man of Mr. Chamberlain's character and training tolerating such an anomalous position. The opinions of Mr. Hore-Belisha, Minister for War, will probably also count for something. Hitherto his greatest preoccupation has been the reduction of casual ties. In war, casualty lists are always swelled by faulty administration and organisation at the top. He will soon realise, if he has not already done so, that if the Army were suddenly to be ordered to a war overseas it would take with it only some seven squadrons to reconnoitre for it. Doubtless it would soon be begging the Air Ministry to lend it bombers and fighters, and without any doubt the reply would have to be that the Air Ministry urgently needed every fighter and every bomber it could raise for its own air campaign. Then Mr. Hore- Belisha would see his Army casualty lists going up in a way which would stagger even him. Mr. Hore-Belisha must be prepared to give as well as to ask. The most important (if not for the moment the most urgent) reform in our defence system which will have to be made'is the handing over to the Air Ministry of full control of the Territorial anti-aircraft battalions and brigades. Operational control of the searchlights and guns by the A.O.C. is not enough to make the air defence of this country reasonably efficient. The prin ciple of single responsibility and control must be applied to each branch of our national defences. SWIFT AND PURPOSEFUL : Probably one of the most grimly Impressive photographs of its kind ever taken, this Flight picture shows our first Bristol Blenheim unit in the air—>No. 114 (Bomber) Squadron from Wyton, near Huntingdon. Equipped with Mercury VIII engines (825 h.p. each at 13,000 ft.), the Blenheim is the world's fastest bomber. Normally a crew of three is carried. Another photograph appears on page 579.
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