Russia to operate from
Archangel; and material assistance was given to France and the other
Allies, but especially to the United States in the training and
equipment of her air forces.

At the beginning of 1918 the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air
Force were amalgamated and the Royal Air Force came into existence, and
during the year achieved a supremacy more complete than that at any time
since the Somme.

The following description gives a vivid idea of air activity at the
front in 1918:--

"All day long there were 'dog fights' waged at heights up to three
or four miles above the shell-torn battlefields of France, whilst
the low-flying aeroplanes were attacking suitable targets from the
height of a few dozen feet. Passing backwards and forwards went the
reconnaissance machines and the bombers, and along the whole front
observers were sending out by wireless to the artillery the point of
impact of their shells. Such was the picture of the air on any fine
day at the time."

1918, however, saw not only the accumulative effect of the tactical
co-operation of aircraft with our armies in the field, but also the
formation of the Independent Air Force and the carrying out of the
strategic air offensive against centres of war industry in the interior
of Germany.

A vast organization was also required at Home to meet the rapid
expansion of units in the Field and to supply reinforcements. Thus at
the Armistice there were 199 training squadrons, the pupils under
instruction including cadets numbered 30,000, and during the war some
22,000 graduated as efficient for active service. At the beginning of
the war pilots were sent overseas with only 11 hours' flying experience.
This was much too little and there is no doubt that increased training
would have ensured fewer casualties. Fortunately, however, the length of
training was increased in the latter part of the war and a remarkable
advance in training was made possible by the use of an entirely new and
extraordinarily efficient system of instruction evolved by Smith-Barry.

The war demonstrated the beginnings of what air power meant, though in
November, 1918, it was still in its infancy. Before many years the
ability to make war successfully, or even at all, will depend upon air
power.

Let us now briefly survey the development of the several duties of
aircraft, the evolution of machines and progress in tactics, strategy
and the