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Aviation History
1950
1950 - 1414.PDF
FLIGHT, 27 July 1950 UNPREPAREDNESS of the ROYAL AIR FORCE Air Defences "Seriously Deficient": Air Chief Marshal Sir Guy Gar rod's Warning AN outspoken warning about the unpreparedness of theRoyal Air Force, in both manpower and equipment,- to meet the crisis which now threatens, was given last week by Air Chief Marshal Sir Guy Garrod, G.B.E., K.C.B.,D.S.C., A.F.C. He was speaking at a luncheon given at Londonderry House, on July i8th, by the Council of theAir League, of which he is chairman. Four months ago [he said] the Council of the Air League ofthe British Empire issued a manifesto expressing grave anxiety about the state of our air defences. It was suggested in somequarters that we were alarmist, and even that we were irresponsible. But what was troubling us was the thought that, with the inter-national situation as it was, there might at any time arise some incident, some crisis, that would find, this country with insufficientair defences. What we feared is exactly what has happened. In a grave and deteriorating international situation, our air defencesare seriously deficient. Three months ago, with a full sense of responsibility, we described the state of our defences as alarming.To-day even that adjective is inadequate. The broad issue is that our air defences—the Royal Air Force,and almost as important, its Auxiliaries—must be strengthened, at any cost and without delay. If to do this requires more money,that must be found, even if it be at the sacrifice of things that we would all like to have. We shall have to consider a number of questions, of which byfar the most important is manpower. Even thing, in any air force, depends upon the existence of an adequate number ofhighly trained technical personnel. It does not matter how many aircraft you may supply, it is the number you can put up, andkeep flying, that matters, and this depends entirely on the number of men available to fly and maintain them. In the R.A.F. atpresent there are serious deficiencies in some of the most important and highly skilled trades. Those are not my words—they aretaken from the memorandum accompanying the Air Estimates for 1950-51. Recruiting, although improved, is admittedly unsatisfactory. Making Service Attractive We are convinced, from long experience, that there is onlyone way in which the manpower problem of the R.A.F. can be overcome, and that is by recruiting long-service volunteers. Butthat cannot be achieved unless the Service is made sufficiently attractive both as reg-irds pay and amenities. The pay at presentis not good enough. How can you expect a skilled fitter to serve in the R.A.F. for considerably less emoluments than he is ableto earn in civil life? I know it is argued that there are various additional perquisites, but these do not tip the balance. To raisepay sufficiently to attract men would cost money, but the money must be found. It would not cost as much as many suppose,because if the R.A.F. consisted mainly of long-service Regulars, great economies could be achieved in training establishments atpresent maintained for National Service men. And, incidentally, many highly trained officers, warrant officers and N.C.O.s couldbe freed from instructional work for squadron duties. Then there is the case of officers, and particularly junior officers.Their net emoluments are practically the same as they were 20 years ago, in spite of the great increase in the cost of living.Officers with families are unable to educate their children properly, because, owing to their own frequent movements, they are obligedto send their children to boarding schools, and they cannot afford the fees. The wives of young officers overseas and of non-commissioned officers often have to go out to work to supplement their pay. The Royal Air Force is losing valuable officers whocannot afford to remain in the Service. There are some extra- ordinary anomalies in this matter. Why, for example, are officersin the National Fire Service compensated for the income tax they pay on allowances, while officers in the fighting services are not? Another source of great hardship for the Royal Air Force isthe shortage of married quarters. There is a considerable housing programme under way, but it is moving too slowly. The RoyalAustralian Air Force is tackling a similar acute shortage by erecting prefabricated buildings; an equally enterprising policy is needed here.This matter of manning the Royal Air Force lies at the root of all other deficiencies. Many expedients have been devised, but thedeficiencies remain, and something else is needed, and that must include not only long-term expedients, but, now that the crisisis upon us, other special measures which will produce speedy results. For example, there is a large reserve of skilled manpower in thecharter companies and firms which undertake maintenance and other work on aircraft, and there is good reason to believe that THE AIR LEAGUE rpHE Air League of the British Empire, founded in 1909 "*• under the title of the Aerial League, exists " to secure the maintenance of adequate air forces and of reserves for Empire and Home defence, and to ensure the fullest development of British commercial air transport and private flying." Deputy president is Air Chief Marshal Sir Philip Joubert de la Ferte and chairman Air Chief Marshal Sir Guy Garrod. Council members are G/C. W. N. Cumming, G. d'Erlanger, Maj. J. Vivian Holman, Sir Bertram H. Jones, F. W. Farey-Jones, W/C. A. Knowles Fitton, J. Lankester Parker, Maj. R. H. Mayo, G/C. C. S. Morice, R. V. Perfect, F. Gordon Petch, Eric Rylands, S. F. Sabin, Marshal of the Royal Aii; Force Sir John Salmond, Air Marshal Sir Robert Saundby, A. Cdre. Sydney Smith, WC. R. H. Stocken, Lord Strabolgi, the Duke of Sutherland and Maj. W. J. Taylor. Secretary-general is F. N. Hillier. many of .them could be employed in peacetime in the maintenanceof Service aircraft, especially those of the Auxiliary Squadrons, and could be available for service with the R.A.F. in an emergency. We are very glad to see the announcement of the Secretaryof State which promises a future of greater security for members of aircrews. It is very welcome, and details will be awaited withgreat interest But it does not cover ground staffs and, also, does not deal with the points I have just mentioned, such as emolu-ments and privileges. The next matter I wish to discuss is the grave menace of thesubmarine. Whether or not the atom bomb will be used in a future war may perhaps be a matter for argument, but that thesubmarine will be a major threat leaves no room for doubt. The aircraft is deadly to the submarine. In the last war, shore-basedaircraft destroyed as many submarines as did ships. When the war ended, Coastal Command had 70 squadrons, comprising 1,000aircraft. It is common knowledge that to-day Coastal Command, as Lord Douglas has said, is but a shadow of that once powerfulforce, and many of its aircraft are antiquated. Next there is the matter of fighter defences. This does notmean only fighter squadrons, but the ground services, including radar, without which they cannot operate. Our fighter squadronsare being strengthened on a plan which will not be complete till thy end of next year. At the same time we are supplyttig thelatest types of fighter aircraft in considerable numbers for our Western Allies. Why is this? In the House of Commons onJuly 5th the Parliamentary Under Secretary to the Air Ministry said, in reply to a question on this very point, that " if theseaircraft had not been built for other countries, they would not have been built at all." That can only mean either that theyare not being built for the R.A.F. because that Service has not the man-power to use them, or that sufficient money is not availableto buy them. In fact, both these reasons may apply. As regards the Auxiliaries, both the R.Aux.A.F. and the R.A.F.V.R. are 75per cent below their target strengths, and it is the volunteers of the R.Aux A.F who man the fighter-control units which areessential for the operation of fighter squadrons. Much more pub- licity and a more vigorous recruiting effort are required if theseunits are to be brought up to strength. But best of all would be a frank statement of the position and a clear lead on highauthority, and we urge that this should be forthcoming without delay. I now turn to the subject of bombers. The League has beenpressing for a definite statement from the Government that the R.A.F. will have an adequate number of squadrons armed withthe most up-to-date long-range strategic bombers. We therefore welcomed the recent statement by Lord Alexander in the Houseof Lords that it is the intention that the R.A.F. shall remain a balanced force and will not be deprived of bombers. But thisstatement was not precise enough regarding long-range strategic bombers. And there is one other most important point. Arewe to build modern four-jet bombers? It has been stated that "research and development" on heavy four-jet bombers is tocontinue. But that is not enough. We must actually build these jet bombers. It is essential that our magnificent aircraft industryshall be maintained at its high level of efficiency, and that cannot happen if, through lack of orders, design teams are broken up,and numbers of other skilled men have to be paid off, and are lost to other industries, where their special skills decline. There remains the question of air transport. Of all the fightingservices the R.A.F. needs high mobility. You cannot possibly accept the idea of an air arm, having great Imperial responsibilities,tied entirely to surface transport moving at ten or fifteen miles an hour. Yet, again for lack of money and because of the shortageof manpower it has been necessary to cut down Transport Com- mand and to cancel orders for transport aircraft with damagingeffects on the British aircraft industry. Bear in mind that a fighter or bomber squadron can only fly itself overseas; theremust be transport aircraft to fly its stores, its ground personnel, spare parts and workshop equipment. Then there are the demandsof the Navy and the Army for air transport to be considered. Mobility is of the essence of modern war, and for a countrywhich may have to meet aggression thousands of miles away it is a vital necessity. We urge the organization of the resources ofthe British charter companies and other private concerns, as an Continued on page 134)
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