FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1942
1942 - 1204.PDF
568 FLIGHT JUNE 4TH, 1942 AD ASTRA "Flight" photograph. ". . . To bomb Germany into submission . . . may have a great moral, psychological and material effect.'' the losses been avoided and the numbers taken to the real danger spots we might indeed have avoided some unpleasant reverses. On the other side I am not in favour at all of the German system in which everything is subordinated to the Army. The dive-bomber, for instance, is a very valuable weapon for an advance by^ troops well supported by tanks, but it is a poor sort of business bomber. It was the lack of real bombers that was the reason for their failure against us in the Battle of Britain. True, on the shores of Dunkirk our troops very seldom saw an English machine, but it was for the good reason that they were well inland stopping enemy dive-bombers ever get ting to the beaches. Had Germany had really efficient bombers at that time the attack on our troops on the shores of France would have been devastating. Here the boot is on the other leg, and we see the disadvantage of swinging too much away from our R.A.F. independ ence of the other Services. It will be interesting to see how the American organisation works out. Here there is no separate Air Force as such, but the Army side seems conscious of its air role in the war inde pendent of ground troops. I pleaded' years ago in the House of Commons for one Service only. The advent of air power has brought them all together. I was laughed at, at the time, and there was even a picture in Punch of me dressed in a combination of all the Services. But the conception is right and it is the only way to look at the great problems of war at the present time. I do not say, as our forefathers did, that a General should command a fleet, but I do say there is more differ ence between a cavalry trooper and a tank private both in the Army than between a first-class artificer in the Navy and an air mechanic in the Air Force. All wars are prepared for on the basis that they are going to be like the last one, and they never are. That should be taken to heart by all professional fighting men, but how invariably it is forgotten. There is also a point on the psycho logical side that I would like to bring out. Because Air is th,e latest of the Services and is looked upon as—so to speak—progressive, one would imagine that within its per sonnel you would find go-ahead imaginative people jostling each other about. I find no such thing. Rather is the picture one of contentment and satisfaction with the existing position, and great resentment is shown when criticism is directed against a state of affairs that they consider the most perfect in the most perfect of all possible worlds. It would scarcely be right or proper not to draw attention to what was in fact the first great air battle on a large scale in history—the Battle of Britain. The planning of the defence, the technical equipment, the machines, the training of the pilots, all that happened to save us from irretrievable defeat, when we stood alone in the world against Germany, was due to those at the Air Ministry. We still have the right and privilege in this country of criticism, but because of it we are equally behoven to pay honour where honour is due, and to the Air Force we pay tribute for being wholly responsible for one of the great decisive, battles of the world. The destruction of 2,375 enemy machines between August 8th and October 31st put the possibilities of immediate invasion of this country out of the question. 3.—Post-war ""** It has been said by many, and there is much truth in it, that it would be better for us to win the war first before we think and plan for post-war situations. This is one of those half-truths that are so very dangerous, leading one really astray. The Germans are fighting for a post-war position. We are fighting to resist the imposition upon us and others of an intolerable post-war bondage. Surely, therefore, we both have in our minds the whole time a post-war position. If that is so there is nothing to be ashamed about or to find deplorable in supposing victory, and to allow one's mind to browse over some of the ameliorations that we should like to see introduced into our beloved country. On the social side we all have views as to many things we do not want to see exist again, and many new ideas we should like to see intro duced. But this is a paper on Aviation, consequently, although I would like to widen the scope into many theatres, I must confine my self to the Aviation aspect. Do not think, however, that is unimportant. Far from it, for I think much human happiness and per petual peace could and should result from a really sound planning of post-war flying. I have touched briefly on the early struggles of flight. When this had not got very far there came the first World War. Into that effort there was a tremendous concentra tion on aviation. For the first time all the efforts of engMBre . and scientists were concentrated on the subject with, moreover, unlimited money behind it. It was a mushroom growth not entirely on healthy lines. Field of fire, manoeuvrability, lack of blind spots, rate of climb were all points of first importance. Such things as pay load, initial expense, inherent stability, economy of fuel consumption, lack of danger from fire, all The dive-bomber is a very valuable weapon . .. but it is a poor sort of business bomber." . The destruction of 2,375 enemy machines betwee 8th and October 31st.
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
