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Aviation History
1943
1943 - 1487.PDF
AIRCRAFT ENGINEER FIRST AERONAUTICAL WEEKLY IN THE W6RLD •• FOUNDED 1909 Editor C. M. POULSEN Managing Editor G. GEOFFREY SMITH, M.B.E. Chief Photographer JOHN YOXALL Editorial, Advertising and Publishing Offices: DORSET HOUSE, STAMFORD STREET, LONDON, S.E.1 8-10, Telegrams : Truditur, Sedist, London. COVENTRY : CORPORATION ST. BIRMINGHAM, 2 : GUILDHALL BUILDINGS, T, „ r- .NAVIGATION ST. Telegrams: Autocar, Coventry. telegrams: Autopress, Birmingham. Telephone: Coventry 52 10. Telephone: Midland 297 1 (5 lines). Telephone: Waterloo 3333 (35 lines). MANCHESTER, 3 : GLASGOW, C.2 : 260, DEANSGATE. Telegrams: Iliffe, Manchester. Telephone ; Blackfriars 4412. 26B, RENFIELD ST. Telegrams: Iliffe, Glasgow. Telephone : Central 4857. No. 1798. Vol. XLIII. Registered at the G.P.O. as a Newspaper. June 10th, 1943. Thursdays, One Shilling Outlook The Saviour of BritainA IR CHIEF MARSHAL SIR HUGH DOWDING is the second officer of the Royal Air Force to receive the honour of a peerage in reward for his services to the R.A.F. The first one, of course, was Lord Trenchard, who was created a Baron after years of work as Chief of the Air Staff, during which he laid the foundations on which the present magnificent organi- sation has been erected. Sir Hugh Dowding has un- doubtedly been made a Baron because he was A.O.C.- in-C, Fighter Command, during the critica-l Battle of Britain, when the few saved the many—in fact, saved freedom for the world at large. Much has been written about the heroism of those few, and likewise about the merits of the eight-gun fighters which enabled them to master and shatter the great odds sent against them by the enemy. Little, however, has been made public about the tactical directio'n of the long-drawn battle, of the brains and staff work behind the squadrons of Hurri- canes and Spitfires which made that almost miraculous victory possible. A bad or indifferent General, Admiral or Air Marshal can lose a battle even when he commands superior forces; it takes a very good one to win against greater numbers. In Sir Hugh Dowding and his staff, as well as in the commanders of his Groups, generalship in the highest degree was obviously present. Some day we shall learn all the details of how the Groups supported each other and how the squadrons were deployed so that each attack by the enemy was met and defeated. Seldom has more been at stake, and seldom has masterly handling of gallant fighting men produced more decisive results. It is a characteristic British habit to pause and cogi- tate long before rewarding merit in action, and Sir Hugh has had to wait three years before receiving his well- earned peerage ; but it is a peerage granted during a war for supremely successful command during that war, and it may be compared with the ancient custom of knight- ing a particularly gallant squire on the field of battle. The V.R. BadgeI N announcing the abolition of the VR. badge from the lapels of officers and warrant officers of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, the Under-Secretary of State for Air, Capt. Balfour, M.C., stated that it would not be feasible to make a distinction between those who joined before the war and those who have joined it since. Why should it not be feasible? The reason is hard to see. Anything which encourages men to prepare in peacetime for the defence of their country ought f.o be encouraged. The American Army has given a ribbon (and presumably a medal to hang on it) to all its members who were serving before the. Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour. We should not advocate anything so elaborate as that for a British Sen-ice, but still it is i good thing that, so far as possible, a fighting man's record should be set forth on his uniform. The man who learns the business of fighting in time of peace deserves credit and ought to be allowed to proclaim the fact to the world. There can be nothing but approval for the decision to abolish the V.R. badge in the case of men who join up now. For one thing, it will save a small amount of precious brass metal. Another reason is that since the outbreak of war no regular commissions are granted in the Air Force, and a man could not become a regular officer (with either a permanent or a short-service com- mission) however ardently he might desire to do so.
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