HC Deb 07 August 1940 vol 364 cc184-6
14. Mr. A. Bevan

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he will take immediate steps to make a distinction in title and description between those members of the Royal Air Force who have had flying experience on active service and others who have had no such experience?

13. Mr. Butcher

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether, in view of the large number of raids upon enemy territory and the great gallantry and determination displayed by the crews of our machines, he will devise some distinctive badge such as a star or chevron, one of which may he worn by each officer or man for each ten successful raids in which he has participated?

Sir A. Sinclair

While I share the sentiments of the hon. Member for Holland with Boston (Mr. Butcher) about the superb gallantry and determination displayed by the fighting crews of our bombing squadrons, I feel that the course he suggests would not be in the best interests or traditions of the Service. I think, too, that the distinction he has in mind would be unwelcome to the officers and men concerned, since they are fully aware that many pilots and air crews who are anxious to take part in raids on enemy territory must necessarily be employed on duties of a less spectacular kind but which are nevertheless just as vital to the war effort; and the highest qualities of courage and skill are also being displayed by pilots and crews of other commands.

The same considerations apply to the suggestion of the hon. Member for Ebbw Vale (Mr. Bevan) that a distinction should be made between personnel with flying experience on active operations against the enemy and those without such experience. The work of our pilots and crews, their confidence in their aricraft, armament and equipment and the efficiency of the Royal Air Force depend on the skill and devotion to duty of a very large number of equipment, armament, maintenance and other non-combatant personnel and any proposal to draw distinction between one type of service and another would require most careful consideration in all its bearings upon the efficiency of the Royal Air Force as a whole.

Mr. Bevan

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that while I agree with what he has said with regard to Question No. 13, the same considerations do not, in fact, apply to Question No. 14, because in- dividuals who are described as "flight-lieutenants" have never handled anything more deadly than a typewriter, and there is a great deal of feeling among many pilots that their own particular experience should in the future be distinguished from that of those who have been drafted into their office for purely ornamental reasons?

Mr. Granville

Is it not a fact that the wearing of wings on the tunic is a differentiation?

Sir A. Sinclair

I think there is that distinction. Although my hon. Friend has pointed out the difference between flying personnel and others, I am not basing myself entirely on that consideration. I should regard with a great deal of anxiety any proposal which would seem to assign a lower status to our invaluable non-combatant personnel.