AMERICAN AIRMEN.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 49, 7 December 1940, Page 5

AMERICAN AIRMEN.

PILOTS IN ROYAL AIR FORCE. * UNITED STATES CRAFT PRAISED

, LONDON, December 5

Captain H. H. Balfour (Under-Sec-retary for Aii’), speaking at a luncheon of the Eagle Squadron of Volunteer United States pilots with the Royal Air Force, said the squadron symbolised the absolute determination common to both the United Stated of America and the British Empire to preserve the right- to lead national and individual lives free from domination by the crushing heel of Nazidom. The personnel of the squadron had been watching the successive phases of the battle for Britain in the air. Now the Gerriian Air Force had transferred its attention to industrial centres, making a frontal attack on\ industry. “These enemy attacks bring in their train wanton slaughter of innocent civilians, but we must face the fact tlhat the front-line war factory is here,” said Captain Balfour. “We must and do accept the challenge of the enemy to damage, destroy and kill, but just as his indiscriminate bombing raids have failed, so will the effect of this present form of attack be countered. We accept the dark as well as' the bright passages of war, and to-, day wo nre more determined and more certain of victory than over in the past.’’. : t Y Pilots in the, Royal Air Force are enthusiastic about the performance of the United States aircraft which theyare now using, These. have, fought their way successfully , through: many operations, particularly, in the Middle. East. ,

It was American aircraft which wfife responsible for taking the Taranto photographs which have been featured in newspapers throughout the world. The responsibility of- the American aeroplanes is no surprise to the Royal Air Force pilots, who have learnt - to* -re* gard with real affection the Lockheed Hudsons, which are proving such a valuable aid"hT~Britain’s' raids" from' Norway to the Bay of : Biscay. As for the United States fighter types which have been in action, the Royal Air Force is greatly impressed by the fine work done by the Curtiss Hawke in France against the German Messerschmitt. In fact, the success i f the French Air Force in shooting down twice as many aircraft as they themselves lost was largely due to the Curtiss, which was responsible for the destruction. of one in every three German aircraft brought down.—British Official Wireless.