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Aviation History
1949
1949 - 0179.PDF
JANUARY 27TH, 1949 FLIGHT 119 Boy a I Air Force and Naval Aviation News and Announcements SERVICE AVI -s:•- R.A.F. Appointments A NUMBER of new R.A.F. appoint-ments have been announced by the Air Ministry. A. V-M. L. Darvall, C.B., M.C., who is to be Air Officer in Charge of Administration, Flying Training Command, was until recently A.O.C. No. 3 Group, Bomber Command. Before this appointment he was A.O.C. Italy, from June, 1946, until March, 1947. He was commissioned in the Green Howards in 1916 and transferred to the R.A.F. two years later. The new A.O.C. lor Bomber Command's No. 1 Group is A.V-M. G. H. Mills, C.B., D.F.C., whose promotion to his present rank was announced in the half-yearly list, effec- tive from January 1st last. He has been Director of Plans at the Air Minis- try since June, 1946, until lately, and was formerly A.O.A., R.A.F. Mediter- ranean and Middle East for nearly a year. During the last few months of the war he commanded the Balkan Air Force. A.V-M. Mills was commissioned from Cranwell in 1921. A former Ireland and R.A.F. Rugby captain, and until recently Director of Weapons at the Air Ministry, A.Cdre. G. R. Beamish, C.B., C.B.E., has suc- ceeded A.Cdre. R. L. R. Atcherley as Com- mandant of the R.A.F. College. A.Cdre. Beamish was himself a Cranwell cadet in 1923-24, and won the Sword of Honour. Formerly Commanding Officer of R.A.F. Station St. Athan, A.Cdre. W. A. Opie has taken up the appoint- ment of Senior Technical Staff Officer at H.Q., Air Command, Far East. He joined the R.A.F. as a boy and be- came a pupil pilot in 1921, graduat- ing from the R.A.F. College the follow- ing year. Before going to St. Athan, A.Cdre. Opie was Director of Servicing and Maintenance at the Air Ministry STILL FLYING: Al- though seen in fewer numbersthan in war- time, the bulbous form of the barrage balloon is a familiar sight in districts where the training of parachute troops, both regular and territorial, takes place. This picture comes from the R.A.F. Balloon Training Unit at Cardirtgton The Women's Royal Air Force IT is officially announced that, fromFebruary 1st, women will be enlisted and commissioned in the Royal AirForce. The title "Women's Royal Air Force" will be used as a collective termto describe women serving in the R.A.F., with which they will be fully integrated.Women may volunteer for most R.A.F. trades. They will be trained side by sidewith airmen to the same trade standards and will have the same prospects of pro-motion to N.C.O. rank as airmen. Dis- ciplinary code will be the same exceptfor necessary modifications. Officers will normally be selected from among servingairwomen, and commissioned for four to five years, with possible extension to tenyears. Short service women officers will be eligible for permanent commissions inthe same way as men. Professionally qualified women may beselected for direct-entry commissions in the Medi-cal, Dental, Education and Catering Branches.Serving members of the W.A.A.F. may enlist inthe R.A.F. to complete their present engagementor enter into a new R.A.F. engagement for alonger period. Officers with over 4 years com- VAMPIRE IN Sim : Seen with the D.H. Vampire 3 which recently visited Bangkok, Siam are: (L. to R. ) A/C. Primrose, fitter ; Mr. L Westlake (D.H. "rep."), F/L. Francis, A.F.C., pilot; Cpl. Osborne, rigger; and AIC. Mason, electrician. missioned service may apply for a perma-nent commission, and other officers may apply for a short service commission, orfor a temporary commission, to complete their present engagement. Similar conditions for the Reserves arealso being introduced on February 1st. Women now serving in the presentW.A.A.F.V.R or W.A.A.F.R. will be enrolled in the Women's Royal Air ForceVolunteer Reserve or the Women's Royal Auxiliary Air Force. In the new women'sservices, both Regular and Reserve, the rank titles of Assistant Section Officerand Section Officer will be changed to Pilot Officer and Flying Officer. Theofficial Air Ministry statement says the changes are intended to avoid confusionwith certain civilian officers in the Air Ministry Works Directorate. Future Indian Air PowerS ARDAR BALDEV SINGH, the In-dian Defence Minister, told officers and men of the Royal Indian Air Forceon January 9th that the R.I.A.F. would be strengthened in keeping with the sizeof the country. Present plans were to increase its strength to 20 squadrons."As soon as we can get trained per- sonnel, we will do so," he added. Rates of ClimbT HE R.A.F. Mountaineering Associa- tion, which has increased its mem- bership from 19 to 75 in its first year is planning to hold its summer meet in the French Alps. Other climbing meets will be held in Wales, the Lake District and Scotland, and it is hoped to hold a ski-ing meet in Scotland in conjunction with the R.A.F. Winter Sports Associa- tion. More ambitious plans are contem- plated as the members gain in experienci- and the possibility of a future expedi- tion to the Himalayas was suggested at the lecent annual meeting by Mr. Frank 13 3'
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