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Aviation History
1954
1954 - 1946.PDF
fLIGHT, 2 July 1954 7 RHODESIA'S AIR ARM [New Equipment to Guard and Serve the Central African Federation SMALL in numbers, large in spirit and versatile in duties performed, the Southern Rhodesian Air Force has for two reasons reached a crucial stage in its existence. In the first place, as a result of Federation, it finds itself con cerned with a country which has increased three times in population and territory overnight. Secondly, it is in process of re-equipping with new aircraft better suited to its needs than the variety of ex-wartime types hitherto in use. Its exact relationship and title are now somewhat uncertain and, until its new duties and responsibilities have been determined and its position regularized, the future course of development is rather obscure. Yesterday, July 1st, was, perhaps, the sig nificant day for the S.R.A.F., being the beginning of the first financial year of the new Central African Federation. The S.R.A.F. can boast a fine headquarters airfield outside Salisbury. The buildings, all new, were designed for their present purpose and have been occupied for about two years. The name they have given to the airfield is New Sarum, better known in commercial aviation circles by the unofficial name of Kentucky or Kentucky Farm. Eventually the local Civil Aviation authorities hope it will be known simply as Salisbury Airport (or the new Salisbury Airport) when Belvedere closes down. But there should be no mistake; the airfield is now entirely operated by the S.R.A.F. and the control tower and administrative buildings and all the hangars (these were first de picted in photographs of the Rhodes Centenary Air Rally staged there in June, 1953) are the S.R.A.F.'s. The handsome two-storey administrative block is designed to take a third floor should expansion make it necessary. When eventually the civil side takes over part or full control, several major problems will arise. Initial flying training, for example, will have to be undertaken at a satellite airfield. Whether a second new control tower will be built, or whether the civil flying-control people will move in on the military side of the field remains to be seen. Apparendy it is due to the visit of H.M. the Queen to Salisbury and New Sarum that a good tarmac road—one of the few in the area—leads out to the airfield. The men of the S.R.A.F. wear khaki and their Service is administered in a manner somewhat similar to that of the South African Air Force. The S.R.A.F. is under the command of Army Defence Headquarters and for what may be broadly called housekeeping it is a joint unit with the Army. Thus it may be regarded as the air arm of a joint defence force. The Spitfire 22s of the Southern Rhodesian Air Force pn the occasion of the final wings parade, before Federation, at Sglisfcury earlier this year. Passing in front of the administration building and control tower at New Sarum, Salisbury, is the first of two Percival Pembrokes so far delivered. Chief of the General Staff is Major-General S. Garlake, C.B.E. The Minister of Defence in the Federation is the Federal Prime Minister, Sir Godfrey Huggins. He is president of the Defence Council comprising the C.G.S., the Officer Command ing the Air Force, the Secretary for Defence and the Deputy Secretary for Defence. There is no separate Air Headquarters and the senior air command is held at New Sarum, by Col. C. W. S. Jacklin, O.B.E., A.F.C., who was trained in Rhodesia in 1937. He accompanied the first Rhodesian Air Unit Flights which took up war stations in Kenya on September 3rd, 1939. Next senior to Col. Jacklin is Lt.-Col. K. D. Taute, D.F.C., who is the S.R.A.F. liaison officer in London (at Rhodesia House). The S.A.S.O. is Major A. M. Bendey, O.B.E., A.F.C., Taken on the occasion of the Rhodes Centenary air display at Salisbury, this view shows the extent of the S.R.A.F.'s modern buildings and hangars.
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