Page "Hugh Trenchard, 1st Viscount Trenchard" Paragraph 47

In the weeks that followed his resignation Trenchard was without a role and he kept a low profile, avoiding the Press and making no public comments.

The new Air Minister, Sir William Weir, under pressure to find a position for Trenchard, offered him command of the yet to be formed Independent Air Force which was to conduct long-range bombing operations against Germany.

Instead, Trenchard, seeking equal status with Sykes, argued for a reorganization of the RAF which would have seen himself appointed as the RAF's commander of fighting operations while Sykes would have been left to deal with administrative matters.

Weir did not accept Trenchard's proposal and instead gave Trenchard several options.

Trenchard rejected the offer of a proposed new post which would have seen him given a London-based command of the bombing operations conducted from Ochey, arguing that the responsibility was Newall's under the direction of Salmond.

He also turned down the post of Grand Co-ordinator of British and American air policy and that of Inspector General of the RAF overseas.

Weir then offered Trenchard command of all air force units in the Middle East or the post of Inspector General of the RAF at home but strongly encouraged him to take command of the independent long-range bombing forces in France.