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Aviation History
1941
1941 - 1358.PDF
412 FLIGHT JUNE 1941:. should have a chance to live its daily life and training in a close and precise relationship with a particular num- ber of aircraft that it knows and that it can call up at will and need, and under its own command, for the pur- poses of everything that is a tactical operation." And he then went on :" It is the intention to go forward upon that path immediately and to provide the Army with a considerably larger number of aeroplanes suited entirely to the work they have to do . . ." To some extent these words se_em to describe the posi- tion hitherto held by the squadrons known as Army Co-operation Squadrons ; that is to say, units trained for short tactical reconnaissance. But Lysanders, or other aircraft of that class, could not deal with " every- thing that is a tactical operation," and the words indi- cate an important new step in organisation. Whether the words imply that the Prime Minister is not satisfied with the constitution of the newly formed Army Co- operation Command and intends to have the position strengthened does not yet appear. We must await developments. It is at least very good news that the Prime Minister, no less than the public, has realised the weakness of the old position—a weakness which has so often been pointed out in these columns. Safeguarding DemocracyP RESIDENT ROOSEVELT'S famous broadcast suggested many reflections. Many Britons recall that in the last war the United States declared war on Germany and her allies in order, as the phrase went, to " make the world safe for democracy." We know now, and the American people also knows, how that great object has not been achieved. In the inter-war years Britain disarmed and looked on with myopic gaze while Germany re-armed. As a result the United States is now obliged to turn her whole energies to the production of armaments for Britain and to hand them over with no real expectation that she will ever receive payment for them. In fact, the American taxpayer is now being penalised for Britain's 20 years of parsimony on defence. That we British are also being grievously taxed is not much consolation to the Americans. This war will end some day and we have to consider'^ the possibility that, after it is over, some party may come into power at Whitehall which will again adopt a policy of pacifism and disarmament. We British are slow to learn from experience. If that should happen it is easy to imagine a strong protest (doubtless in the most correct diplomatic terms) coming from the White House, to the effect that British weakness created a danger for America and that the United States does not relish the prospect of having to upset all her internal arrangements a third time because Britain was suffering from another attack of pacifism and economy. In fact, the best and perhaps the only way of paying for the help which we are getting : from the Lease and Lend Act will be to maintain our armed strength at a level which will put Britain and all other democracies outside the risk of another surprise attack by aggressor powers. In fact, we are now putting the United States in the position of having the moral right to dictate to Britain her future expenditure on armaments. J MIDDLE EAST HEAVIES : While still contributing their full share in the European campaign, Vickers Wellington bombers are carrying on the good work in the Near East. \ \J S
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