THE ROYAL AIR FORCE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 24, 8 November 1940, Page 5

THE ROYAL AIR FORCE

NOW STRONGER THAN EVER. TRIBUTE PAID TO PILOTS. LONDON, November 6. The Secretary of State for Air (Sir Archibald Sinclair) to-day said that the German attacks, -which had been pressed homo with courage and resolution and with complete disregard for life and neutrality, had been in vain, and the Royal Air Force to-day was stronger both in aircraft and personnel than on August 8 when- the attacks began.

The fighter squadrons were worked too hard and they fought day and night and until their ammunition was gone.

Sometimes a pilot, with all his ammunition shot away, would ram a Nazi bomber rather than return. “One pilot saw a German bomber making for borne,” said the Minister. “He charged straight at him, but the German pilot put the nose of his machine down and dived straight into the sea. “The German fighters are brave, but they are no match for our pilots, and they are afraid of these head-on attack's with our guns spurting bullets at them. On one occasion a formation of 18 Junkers bombers turned away from a single Hurricane charging in at them head-on.”

Sir Archibald Sinclair paid a tribute to the pilots of the Coastal Command who ceaselessly patrol the enemy coasts, and he mentioned the work of the balloon sections, the searchlight and gun crews, as well as the observer corps, all of whom vitally contributed to the defence of Britain. It was a groat mistake, he continued to think that pilots wore only concerned with defence and he spoke of the continuous attacks made by the British bombing squadrons on German sources of military supplies. “The weight of our bombing,” he added, “has increased, is increasing and will continue to increase.”—British Official Wireless. 1