Macready Seeks Use of RAF
Introduction from Chronology
General Macready, GOC-in-C of the British Army in Ireland, writes to the
War Office making the case for the use of military aircrafts in Ireland “fire
from aeroplanes would materially assist the forces on the ground, with little
or no danger to harmless individuals”.
However, British cabinet disagrees.
More Detail
Macready’s request is supported by the War Office but not by Chief of
the Air Staff, Hugh Trenchard, who says that the
difference between friendly and hostile people would not be obvious to people
in the planes. He continued that this
“would lead to endless mistakes” and “great bitterness would be
engendered”. With the exception of
Churchill (Secretary of State for War and Air), the British Cabinet agreed with
Trenchard.
As Townshend notes, Trenchard’s arguments
against using air power in Ireland were at odds with the arguments that he was
making in favour of the use of ‘air policing’ in the Middle East and other
parts of the British Empire at this time, strongly supported by Churchill
(mainly on the grounds of lower cost).
For example, see Catherwood (2004), pgs 82-89. See also
Jun-1920/6.