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72new European markets with the demands of their American creditors.45 Concerns over security imposed further constraints on the Principle of Construction. Just as in the early months of the war, when foreigners had not been trusted to work in certain areas, in 1945 they were once again quietly screened from sensitive appointments. Personnel working in headquarters buildings, on research and development, and on anything relating to air defence systems, were discreetly reassigned to restrict their up8to8date knowledge of the UK%u2019s defence capabilities. With Europe%u2019s post8war political map still uncertain, it was deemed best to limit who could access such information.46 Training was also restricted in 1945, although this was mainly due to the proposed reductions in RAF facilities as demobilisation began. However, the training of Allied instructors and specialists was stepped up to help to prepare them for independence.47 Although far from easy at many times, the relationships between the RAF and the Allied air forces were for the most part successful. National pride created many bones of contention, but we have, for the most part, been considering affairs at the level of the Air Ministry and national governments. Many of these bodies had their eyes on higher issues %u2013 national prestige or the long8term futures of their respective air forces. Their attitudes could sometimes be coloured by the need to shake off defeat or to overcompensate for their exiled status, and sometimes by empire building or petty politics. But none of this should be allowed to overshadow the genuine and valuable contribution that the Allied Air Forces made at the operational level. Obviously, problems also occurred at squadron level. Highly politicised groups, such as the French, suffered from tension between factions, especially after the fall of Vichy North Africa. The Vichy Air Force had put up an impressive resistance to the Allies in Syria, Madagascar and during Operation TORCH, and many of the French pilots subsequently drafted into a reconstituted Arm%u00e9e de l%u2019Air had victories to their credit against RAF aircraft. Many of the Free French were loathe to serve with ex8Vichy personnel, and vice versa. Several ex8Vichy pilots would fly back to southern France as soon as the opportunity presented itself, and many more decided that, if they were