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Aviation History
1939
1939 - 0124.PDF
52 FLIGHT. JANUARY 19, 1939 Ministry factories are in future to be built underground. The point is that these factories are to play the tune called for by the man who has paid the piper—that is to say, the public. It is an eminently reasonable pro position. Mr. Cooper does not seem to be either a strategist or a tactician, but, none the less, it is to be hoped that when other public factories are constructed steps will be taken to make it as difficult as possible, not as easy as possible, for an enemy bomber to obliterate whole blocks with one salvo. The Germans have paid great attention to this point, but in Britain it does not seem as yet to have received sufficient consideration. The Middle East T HE raising of the Middle East Command to the dignity of a Command-in-Chief, which is announced on page 59, it a notable step. The Middle East has always been a most important, yet strangely inchoate, Command, including as it does Egypt, the Sudan, Kenya, and the R.A.F. element of the British Forces in Palestine and Trans-Jordan. It was the late Sir Geoffrey Salmond who first demon strated the importance of this Command, when in 1918 he provided the air co-operation with Lord Allenby's force, which first blinded the Turkish armies and then .destroyed one of them completely. In addition to that, Sir Geoffrey organised the first aeroplane flight from Egypt through Iraq to India, and also laid out the first air route from Cairo to the Cape, which was used by Sir Pierre Van Ryneveld and Sir Christopher Brand on their historic flight. The Middle East is, in fact, the great air junction between Europe and Asia. Recent developments have wrought changes in the Command. The troubles in Palestine resulted in the Army taking over the chief responsibility there from the Air Force, but the co-operation of aircraft with the THE OUTLC troops is still a factor of great importance. The Italian conquest of Abyssinia has led to the inclusion of Kenva in the Command, and the present uncertain state of affairs in the Eastern Mediterranean has also increased the responsibilities of the R.A.F. in that part of the world. The Command now has at its disposal two fighter squadrons, and it is the only Overseas Command to possess any fighter aircraft. In fact, this Command is now so important that it has become only reasonable to raise the dignity of the officer who is in charge of it from Air Officer Commanding to Air OTficer Command- ing-in-Chief. The Middle East is the first Overseas Command to be thus honoured. Probable Reorganisation THE change naturally called for the appointment of a very senior and experienced officer, and Air Vice-Marshal Nicholl is succeeded by Air Mar shal Sir William Mitchell. A better man could not have been chosen. A reorganisation of the Command is indicated, which will doubtless take the form of in creased preparedness for war. It is also probable that the strength of the Command will be increased from the present establishment of eight equadrons and one flight (not counting the two squadrons and two flights which are pretty well occupied in Palestine and Trans-Jordan), of which four and the odd flight are bombers, one is bomber-transport, one army co-operation, and two are fighters. This strength is all too small for the respon sibilities which the Command would have to undertake in the unfortunate event of hostilities breaking out. Again, readiness for all eventualities will certainly be « " Flight " photograph. UTILITY RATHER THAN BEAUTY sums up this Avro Anson, which has suffered in appearance by reason of its dark camou flage. It is one of those used at Desford for training direct-entry observers, as described on page 60. There is not a tea-party in progress in the cabin—merely a navigational lesson.
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