NEWS OF THE WEEK
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WENTY-FIVE years ago on Thursday the Royal Air Force was created by the merging of the Royal Flying Corps and Royal aval Air Service. It had gained supremacy in the air within a few eks of its birth, and today, the largest air force in the world, it unquestionably on top in Europe and in Africa. In the between- -3 s period of economy and disarmament it suffered seriously in
• antity—but in quality never. Even in the days when the Air
ce was numerically far inferior to that of any great European ri swer, the standard of service and aircraft production was un- 1 ualled ; and its splendid tradition has stood it in good stead in ese last five years of rebuilding. In 194o its fighters saved this untry from invasion, and in so doing saved the world from Nazi • mination. Now the R.A.F. is strong both in the number of achines of all kinds, and in the number of highly experienced ots and observers trained here and overseas. The brilliant vic- nes of the Eighth Army were achieved thanks to perfect co-opera- n with the spirited airmen open;ting in Africa. The large-scale mbing of German industry and communications has now reached at terrific intensity which the enemy has had reason to dread, d reconnaissance machines fly far over the. Atlantic in the search
r U-boats. For the airmen the war never ceases. In quieter times
• ere is no lull for theRi. In fair weather and foul, in offence or efence, they are out seeking the enemy over land or sea, suffering sualties up to now proportionately higher than those suffered by ny other service. By its daring and efficiency the R.A.F. has eserved the nation's gratitude at, every moment of its existence, nd never more so than today, when expansion and wear have in no egree impaired the superb standard of individual performance.
