14 JUNE 1940, Page 5

The brilliant attack by R.A.F. squadrons in Egypt on Italian

aerodromes in Libya and Eritrea deserves attention for more reasons than one. Soon after the war opened an airman friend told me that in his view the right man for the post of Chief of the Air Staff, whenever it fell vacant, was Sir Arthur Long- more, who possessed the qualities of imagination and initiative in a unique degree. Sir Arthur was sent instead to the Middle East. The swift attack on Libya seems to suggest that heat and sand have done little to take the edge off the imagination and initiative. His future activities may be worth watching. There are other theatres where his particular qualities could find scope. * * * *