SEPTEMBER 8,

1938.

A WINNER, HANDS DOWNor up, according to which way you look at it. Fit. Lt. Philip Lucas shows that our new monoplane fighters are by no means intractable. In this unique Flight photograph he has put the Hurricane on its back and removed both hands from the stick ; one hand is hiding the other, but both were definitely raisedor lowered. R.A.A.F., and it is stated that far-reaching results are likely to follow. As a first step, Air Vice-Marshal Williams, who passed through the Staff College at Andover a few years ago, is likely to come to England for a refresher course. The R.A.F. has changed very much since he was last over here, and it seems onlv reasonable that he should come and make himself personally familiar with the latest developments. His absence will leave the air command in Australia temporarily vacant, and it is reported that an officer of the R.A.F. will be sent out at the invitation cf the Commonwealth Government to take command of the R.A.A.F. No name has yet been mentioned, as Sir Edward Ellington is coming home to confer with the Air Ministry before making a recommendation. This step is certainly surprising, and it evidently represents the recently awakened determination of the Com monwealth to let no consideration stand in the way of making its air defences as fit as possible to meet any demand which may be made upon them. civilian radio experts to train for incorporation in the Volunteer Reserve. The tactics of air defence, and to some extent of air attack also, depend on rapidity of communications. In time of war the Fighter Command must never relax or go off duty. At any hour of day or night the Observer Corps may send in reports of approaching raids, and immediately steps must be taken to set the guns, fighters, and perhaps searchlights in action to deal with them. Signallers must always be at their posts, and they must always be wide awake and thoroughly up to their jobs. Over-tired men might well cause a tactical breakdown which could have serious results. I t is also possible that regular R.A.F. signallers might have to leave their ground posts to take their places in bomber aircraft, and they would have to be replaced by men who were fully competent on the ground, but not necessarily trained in working from the air. Radio reservists may also be sent into the air.

A Radio Reserve

What is

Wanted?

VERY branch of the R.A.F. ought to have a reserve on which it could draw to replace either casualties or ordinary wastage in time of war. Pilots and other members of aircraft crews obviously need first attention, as they would be most subject to war casualties, but ancillary services are subjected to great strain and long hours in time of war, and it is only right that the R.A.F. Volunteer Reserve should contain non - combatant branches. A good move was made last week by inviting

HAT the wireless amateurs of the country are keen to give their services to the nation was proved by the prompt response made to the first announcement about the formation of the radio reserve. Next morning there were about a hundred enquiries and applications made at the Air Ministry before the post came in, and within 48 hours a thousand applications came in from all over the country. Yet, at that time no one knew exactly what the Air Ministry wanted and what the duties of the reserve men would be.