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Aviation History
1955
1955 - 0261.PDF
4 March 1955 261 There were now 18,000 permanent and 2,000 temporary married quarters as compared with a total of 6,700 at the end of the war. A further 2,000 permanent quarters were under construction. As a result of a review, the Secretary of State hoped that, with the help of the Ministry of Agriculture, he would be able to dispose of a large number of the smaller disused airfields. Compared with nearly 6,000 requisitioned house properties held at the end of the war, the Ministry today held only 31 and, said the Minister, it should not be very long before they had all been released or bought or rented. New Transports for Air Trooping.—On the important subject of air movements, it was stated that about 56 per cent of Service passengers had been carried by air, compared with 54 per cent in 1953-54 and 49 per cent in 1952-53. A contract for a regular air trooping service between the U.K. and the Far East was now in operation. Increased use had also been made of air movement for the carriage of priority freight. In all, reported the Secretary of State, some fourteen million miles had been flown during the year by R.A.F. and chartered air- craft engaged on air trooping and air freighting tasks. Progress was also being made towards the introduction of more modern types of aircraft; Viscounts would, it was hoped, be introduced shortly by independent operators for medium-range work and in about three years' time Britannias should similarly be in trooping service to the Far East. The Secretary of State for Air concluded his Memorandum by referring to meteorological developments and the centenary cele- bration, this year, of the Meteorological Office. THE VOTES AS most readers will know, the estimates are divided into "votes." **• These, eleven in all, are briefly referred to below under then- individual headings. The sums quoted represent the gross estimate for 1955-56 with, bracketed after each, the equivalent figure for 1954-55. The net increase or decrease is then stated. In the tabulated abstract contained in the printed estimates both gross and net estimates are quoted, the difference being represented by Appropriations-in-aid. There is, in addition, Vote A, which fixes the number of officers, airmen and airwomen who may be maintained during the year. The Royal Air Force total of 260,000 is made up of 26,200 officers and 233,800 airmen and airwomen. Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service totals 500 officers. The Women's Royal Air Force has 600 officers and 6,900 airmen and airwomen. Others concerned in this vote are local forces abroad totalling 60 officers and 3,140 other ranks and other Commonwealth air forces with 340 officers and 460 airmen and airwomen. The grand total of those included under Vote A is 272,000. Vote 1: Pay, etc., of the Air Force.—£91,960,000 (£89,180,000).The net increase of £2,610,000 is mainly due to improvements in the rates of pay of all ranks and the provision of local overseas allow-ances for a large number of families abroad. Employers' insurance contributions are also at an increased rate. Vote 2: Reserve and Auxiliary Services.—£2,802,000 (£2,181,000).This vote shows a net increase of £530,000, mainly due to the pro- vision of reserve pay to a large number of class E Reserve airmen. Alarger number of R.A.F. Reserve personnel are also receiving ground training. Total strengths of Reserve and Auxiliary forces for 1955-56(and 1954-55) are: Reserve officers, 6,900 (3,900); P.M.R.A. officers, 100 (100); airmen and airwomen of classes E, H and K, 210,000(175,000); R.A.F.V.R. officers, 8,700 (8,500); R.A.F.V.R. airmen and airwomen, 4,300 (6,500); R.Aux.A.F. officers, 1,500 (1,300); R.Aux.A.F.airmen and airwomen, 9,500 (10,000). The women's R.A.F.V.R. com- prises 100 (100) officers and 300 (500) airwomen, and the women'sR.Aux.A.F., 150 (150) officers and 2,500 (3,100) airwomen. Vote 3: Air Ministry.—£4,676,000 (£4,347,000). The net increaseof £300,000 in this vote, for salaries of civilian staff of the Air Ministry and including the headquarters staff of the Meteorological Office,reflects improvements in pay and the provision of 123 additional staff. The clerical staff of the department of the Air Member for Supply andOrganization has been increased by 55. Vote 4: Civilians at Outstations.—£35,148,000 (£32,463,000). Ap-propriations-in-aid of £4,898,000, mainly from the U.S.A.F.., are £1,005,000 higher this year; thus the net increase is £1,680,000. Im-provements in pay, and the higher number of civilians engaged for the ' U.S.A.F., are chiefly responsible for the increase. Vote 5: Movements.—£14,930,000 (£13,230,000). The net increaseof £1,200,000 is mainly due to the greater use of civil aircraft to move personnel to and from commands abroad and to increased movement ofstores by rail and sea. Movements by Service vehicles are not included under this vote, nor are deliveries of stores from contractors. Personnelcovered include Reserves, Auxiliaries and civilians. Vote 6: Supplies.—£91,830,000 (£102,910,000). Provision is madeunder this vote for food, solid fuel, electricity, gas and water and—a major item— liquid fuel and lubricants. The net decrease of £9,840,000in the latest vote is mainly due to reductions in the price to the R.A.F. of aviation fuel. Vote 7: Aircraft and Stores.—£292,000,000 (£267,000,000). By farthe largest vote, and showing an increase of £27,860,000, this vote provides for aircraft in particular (£186m), for armament and ammuni-tion (£37,400,000), for radio and radar (£31,600,000) and for other items such as instruments, photographic equipment, vehicles, clothingand medical stores. The increase in the vote this year is due to greater supplies under the three main items listed above. Aircraft alone areincreased by £3Gm. Of the total estimate under this subheading air- frames account for £80m, spares and components for £26m and enginesfor £80m. Vote 8: Works and Lands.—£69,600,000 (£70,700,000). Reducedrequirements account for the £lm reduction in this vote, which is con- cerned with airfields (construction and upkeep), workshops, storagebuildings, roads and so on. Vote 9: Miscellaneous Effective Services.—£8,700,000 (£8,790,000).A considerable increase in appropriations-in-aid results in a net decrease in this vote of £1,600,000. Provision is made for telecommunica-tion and postal services, maps and charts, educational and other training outside the R.A.F., and compensation for loss and damage. The appro-priations-in-aid of £4,330,000 are mainly due to recovery of charges for training personnel of other departments and governments. Vote 10: Non-Effective Services.—£5,907,000 (£5,400,000). Thenet increase of £520,000 is due to the growth of retired pay, pensions and gratuities which, together with awards and compensation, comprisethe provisions under this vote. Vote 11: Additional Married Quarters.—£3,800,100 (£4,000,100).The net estimate for this vote is only £100, the remainder being covered by appropriations-in-aid of £3,800,000. The Armed Forces (HousingLoans) Acts, 1949 and 1953, refer. Appendices deal in detail with pay and allowances of officers, airmen,and airwomen, with salaries and wages of civilian staff and with the staffs of certain special establishments. Reference is also made tomedical, educational and meteorological services. Naval Estimates Statement: p. 265. Army: p. 264 NUCLEAR POTENTIAL : THE VTCKERS-ARMSTRONGS VALIANT B.I In the foregoing ac- count of the Air Esti- mates it is recorded that the Air Minister announced the primary task now confronting the R.A.F. as that of building up the V- bomber force, with its nuclear potential, to a state of high efficiency and preparedness. Illus- trated is a Vickers- Armstrongs Valiant B.I, fresh from the produc- tion line. Machines of this type will equip the first R.A.F. Valiant squadron now forming at Gaydon, in Warwickshire.
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