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Aviation History
1948
1948 - 2022.PDF
648 FLIGHT DECEMBER 2ND, 194S The fact is, of course, that no practicable scheme of National Service will do very much to relieve the trouble from which the RfA.F. suffers. Aircraft and equipment are getting more and more complicated, and have become far removed from the days when, as Viscount Portal recalled, two men, neither highly trained, could look after one aircraft. It is not only that many more men are required nowadays to keep an aircraft flying; they need much more extensive training. Operational efficiency of the R.A.F. depends almost entirely on the regular officers, airmen and airwomen. The real problem is how to attract them. The figures announced for increases in pay and /or allowances may help, but we feel sure more than that is wanted. Provision of better housing and amenities is needed, but will not by itself nor in conjunction with better pay, ensure the desired result. More than one speaker in the Lords debate stressed the importance of making better known the work of the R.A.F. in general and of its individual units in particular. The Navy was held up as an example, with its carefully nurtured veneration of Nelson and its "build-up" of names of famous ships. It was suggested that by giving squad- rons names instead of numbers, a similar tradition could be built up in the R.A.F. This is, of course, already done in the case of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, but we doubt if its extension to the R.A.F. squadrons would meet with general approval. We cannot imagine that No. 1 Squadron, to take but one example, would look with favour on being named Some- body-or-Other's Own. That squadron goes back to balloons and thus has its roots in the previous century. But that much could be done by energetic publicity of the right sort there is no doubt. Lord Gifford suggested that young officers from Cranwell might talk to boys in the schools, and that R.A.F. officers with fine war records might talk to the headmasters. In short, "getting it CONTENTS Outlook - " Plainfare" Service - - - Dart Details - - - - - Here and There - .... Civil Aviation News A King's Flight - - - Avro Tudor ------ Neptunes in the News .... Supply and Relief - Rest in Peace ------ Discussing the Helicopter - Corporations' Annual Reports - Accident Investigation - - r - O.U.A.S. Dinner • - Service Aviation Forthcoming Events page 67 f 647 649 651 652 654 657 660 662 663 664 665 66? 671 673 675 over'' to parents that they should encourage their sons to volunteer for service in this great Royal Air Force. The Air League of the British Empire is doing good work in exactly this direction, but at the moment it is sadly handicapped by funds. Not long ago, Lord Tedder and Sir Philip Joubert warmly voiced a plea for more generous support of the League. That appeal deserves to be heeded. Whatever the R.A.F. itself might do, the League could certainly extend the range. And finally there is too much secrecy—unnecessary secrecy—based on grounds of security. As one speaker said in the Lords debate, refusal to disclose information so easily results in a suspicion that all is not well. It is impossible to get the general public to take an intelli- gent interest in a Service about which it is not permitted to know anything. Certain things must obviously be kept secret, but a great deal of information could be disclosed which would help to revive interest in the Royal Air Force without giving any real assistance to an enemy. STRIKING OIL : Hunting Aerosurveys Ltd. are mapping vast areas of Iran for the Anglo-Iranian Oil Co. Ltd. Geologists expect the resulting maps and photographic mosaics to give a clear picture of the oil and mineral resources in this part of the world. The survey is being flown by Bristol Freighter aircraft operating at 20,000ft. Some further details appear on page 652. B4
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