§ 18. Mr. Croninasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what proportion of flag officers in the Royal Navy have been qualified aircraft pilots.
§ Mr. R. AllanOf the seaman flag officers, one in twelve is qualified as a naval pilot. This figure excludes qualified observers and those who hold "A" licences for civil aircraft flying.
§ Mr. CroninAs the air is now the principal medium of naval warfare, is not it desirable that there should be a higher proportion?
§ Mr. AllanOur flag officers with air qualifications do serve in key positions in the Admiralty. The Vice-Chief of Naval Staff at the moment and the Director of Operations Division are airmen. There is no question of easing airmen out; they are given important and key posts in the whole of our Navy.
§ 19. Mr. Croninasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what proportion of the present captains of aircraft carriers have been qualified aircraft pilots.
§ Mr. R. AllanWe have five aircraft carriers in commission at the moment. The captain of one is a naval pilot; the captain of another has observer qualifications.
§ Mr. CroninAs the captain of an aircraft carrier is the person responsible for ordering pilots to take off and land—
§ Sir T. MooreWrong again. The hon. Gentleman should get his facts right.
§ Mr. Cronin—is not it desirable that a greater proportion should have some experience themselves of taking off and landing? Is the hon. Gentleman aware that, in the United States Navy, all cap 326 tains of aircraft carriers are expected to be seamen and fliers as well?
§ Mr. AllanI do not know that it is necessarily desirable. The captain is appointed in command of the ship. The commander (air) is responsible to the captain for all flying operations and for the officers, men and material in the air department of the ship. We in the Navy regard the aircraft as a weapon like any other weapon. The hon. Gentleman would not expect the captain of a ship whose main armament was the gun to be a gunnery specialist or the captain of a ship whose main duties were antisubmarine to be an anti-submarine specialist. He is in command of the ship.
§ Vice-Admiral Hughes HallettIs not it a fact that the proposal underlying this question is directly contrary to the recommendations of the officer committee of 1954, and that the American practice, which has its origins in history, has had very serious disadvantages, from the American Navy's point of view, in the operation of its fleet?