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Aviation History
1955
1955 - 0260.PDF
260 PLIGHT THE AIR ESTIMATES Important Points from the Air Minister s Memorandum: Cost Figures Summarized AS has become customary, the Air Estimates* for the year(1955-56) which were presented in Parliament lastweek, were accompanied by a Memorandum! sub- mitted by the Secretary of State for Air. Taken in the order in which they appear, the following figures, facts and reports of progress emerge from Lord De L'Isle and Dudley's memorandum: — The net total of Air Estimates for the year is £513,900,000,which represents a net increase of £22,260,000 as compared with the previous year. This allows for the receipt of £26,500,000 outof the aid given by the U.S.A. towards the defence of the United Kingdom, a figure which compares with £45,360,000 for last yearand consists of £16,500,000 for "special aircraft purchase" and a first instalment of £10,000,000 for aircraft and equipment to bebought in this country by the United States Government, but to be made available to the R.A.F. Thus, the total figure for AirEstimates and American aid is £540,400,000, against last year's total of £537,000,000. Commenting that the difference between the totals was small,the Secretary of State for Air nevertheless pointed out that the gross expenditure on aircraft and armament was expected to beabout £32,000,000 more this year and that greater provision for radio and radar equipment had been made, but that less wouldbe spent on petrol and oil (as a result of a reduction in the price of fuel to the R.A.F.) and clothing.Although the average strength of the Service would be lower, pay improvements and additional National Insurance contribu-tions would result in £3,000,000 more being required. Payments to civilians would increase for similar reasons. Of the £19,000,000provided under works for the United States Air Force, some £15,000,000 would be recovered. V-bomber Objective.—Following this financial preface, the AirMinister referred to the role of the Royal Air Force. He said: "The primary task which now confronts the R.A.F. is to build upthe V-bomber force with its nuclear potential to a state of high efficiency and preparedness. Thus the R.A.F., together with theU.S.A.F., will provide the main deterrent to aggression, since it is primarily by the threat of overwhelming nuclear striking powerthat an aggressor will be deterred." Reference was next made to the selection of crews, provision ofbases, and perfection of methods of operation to suit the V- bombers, which would begin to come into service during the next12 months. In the meantime, the Canberra force would be at its full strength. The Minister said that the expansion of Fighter Command hadbeen completed, but that the proportion of all-weather fighters would grow, the squadrons receiving their Javelins during the year.Other squadrons were being re-equipped with Venom night fighters. The first squadrons of Hunters had been formed and,although the rate of delivery had been disappointing, re-equipment was now proceeding steadily.Future of the R.Aux.A.F.—The Memorandum included an important statement on the immediate futuie of the RoyalAuxiliary Air Force, the organization of which was being adapted to meet new conditions. The new scheme differs from that provi-sionally notified. Each squadron is to be linked with a regular fighter squadron, and pilots who have the requisite experience andaptitude are to be given the opportunity to train on the high- performance aircraft with which the associated squadron isequipped. They will thus be able to provide an immediate reserve of individual pilots behind their regular squadrons. In addition itis now proposed that Auxiliary squadrons shall retain their full establishment of Meteor and Vampire aircraft, besides the train-ing flight, and continue to supplement as fighting units the defence against those other forms of air attack which might constitute aserious threat to this country. This arrangement, which makes the best use of our resources under the new conditions, is to bereviewed from time to time in relation to the threat. Intruder Canberras for 2nd T.A.F.—Referring to 2nd T.A.F.,the Minister said that effectiveness would be increased by the strengthening of the reconnaissance force in numbers and qualityby the introduction of more photographic-reconnaissance Can- berras [as reported in the Defence Statement of the previous weekland night-interdictor Canberras. He added that Coastal Command would be strengthened by the formation of special flights equippedwith Seamews for short-range anti-submarine reconnaissance. *"Air Estimates 1955-56," H.M. Stationery Office, price 8s. t"'Memorandum by the Secretary of State for Air to Accompany Air Estimates 1955-56," H-M, Stationery Office, price 6d. Mention was next made of the good work done by the Far EastAir Force in Malaya. In particular, helicopters and light aircraft had done excellent work in troop-carrying, casualty evacuationand transporting supplies, and Pioneers had helped maintain forts established in the jungle.Overseas-reinforcement Exercises.—Of great significance was a reference to exercises in rapid reinforcement overseas. In thecoming months fighter and bomber squadrons will carry out special exercises, frequendy supported by Transport Command.In due course, there is to be a regular movement of V-bomber aircraft to the Middle East and Far East. The Minister said that Vickers 1000s ordered for TransportCommand were designed to increase mobility for the strategic reserves of both land and air forces. In addition, and pending thedelivery of these aircraft, Comet 2s, modified and strengthened, were to be put into regular use on the military transport service toWoomera. The first Beverleys were expected to reach squadrons during the year. Under the heading of training, it was noted that all schools werenow working on the new system under which a pilot passes from Provost to Vampire before being awarded his wings. Standardshad been markedly higher than under the old system. Flight simu- lators would come into use this year as a training aid for the V-force. Efficient Use of Man-power.—Despite expansion and re-equip-ment with more complex types of aircraft, it had been found pos- sible to reduce the man-power figures from the 1953 peak of277,100. The Estimate for April 1st, 1955, was 259,300, and for April 1st, 1956, 254,000. The reduction was partly due to thepassing of the peak in flying training requirements, and to re- deployment in die Middle East, but it also reflected progress inimproving management and organization. It was encouraging to note from the Memorandum that thenumbers of airmen serving on engagements of 12 years or more rose from 35,000 in January 1954 to 40,000 today. The improvedpay and allowances announced in March 1954 have clearly been an encouragement. Contrary to his forecasts last year, said theMinister, the proportion of National Servicemen had, instead of decreasing, remained steady at about 26 per cent. During the nextfinancial year, 41,000 National Servicemen would have to be entered, and this would increase the proportion to nearly 30 percent. The Minister indicated that establishments in the aircraft en-gineering trade group had been filled by giving advanced training to airmen serving on short engagements. By this measure, it wasexpected also to make good the deficiencies in die armament and instrument trade groups by April. Although much larger numbersof tradesmen in these groups were signing-on for engagements of 12 years or more, it would take very many years at the present ratebefore any appreciable relief could be expected from the heavy and expensive task which this training imposed upon TechnicalTraining Command. Training Radio Engineers.—The most difficult problem was inthe radio engineering trade group. Training capacity had been expanded to take all the young men capable of absorbing train-ing, including National Servicemen. Since the training took about a year, National Servicemen could, however, give only one year'sproductive service. Remarking that the nuclear threat had intensified the need forthe highest possible state of readiness, the Minister said that both in the air and on the ground the reserves required must be keptfully trained, know their war stations and be able to move direct to those stations. The numbers of aircrew required for immediatereinforcement of the front-line squadrons in war had been calcu- lated. Suitably qualified serving aircrews not at present insquadrons had been selected and were being given such refresher training as was necessary to keep them up to full operationalstandards. Points of particular interest under the headings of "Works" andof "Land" were references to the provision of runways for the operation of V-bombers and the new fighters, and of special tech-nical buildings, pressure refuelling systems and explosive storage to accord with present-day requirements. Underground Radar Installations.—The largest single project athome had been the reconstruction of the radar chain. This now covered the whole of the U.K. Hundreds of new installations hadbeen built and vital parts of the system had been put deep under- ground and protected by massive thicknesses of concrete. Theextent of the work on any one underground installation was not much less dian that involved in building a new tube station.
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