THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN'S AIR.

The article focuses on the wartime government's initiative to produce deliberate smoke as a means to obscure military-industrial sites from Luftwaffe bombing during World War II, which was met with strong opposition from the National Smoke Abatement Society (NSAS). Initiated in June 1940, the program aimed to increase smoke emissions from industrial works, which the NSAS argued would not only worsen air pollution but also potentially aid enemy aircraft in identifying targets. Despite the NSAS's efforts to advocate for fuel efficiency and reduced smoke emissions, the government's policy persisted until 1943, when it was discontinued due to a shift in priorities towards fuel conservation. The NSAS later evolved into the National Society for Clean Air and ultimately merged into the Institution of Environmental Sciences, reflecting its ongoing commitment to air quality issues. [Extracted from the article]