UNBOUNDED COURAGE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 249, 2 August 1941, Page 5

UNBOUNDED COURAGE

RUSSIAN AIR FORCE. CHANGES IN THEIR FAVOUR. i ■ LONDON, August 1. In a broadcast, Air Commodore Goddard spoke about the figures of air victories and losses received from the Russians and Germans.

Remarking that he had spent several weeks with the Republican forces in Spain when the Russians were there, Air Commodore Goddard said that from the stories told him by the Spanish, he, was quite sure that the Russian air forces were” fighting with unbounded courage. “I also heard that, the Russians in Spain were no braggarts, but what they said was true.”

Regarding German claims, Air Commodore Goddard reminded his listeners that during the Battle of Britain, Gaebbels’ accounts of the day’s operations sometimes reached New York before the fighting began. The Nazi figures were naturally grossly faked, The result of the air war had, however, to be judged from the change of tactics or changed plan of campaign rather than from the daily figures. “We have been witnessing such a change,” he said, “a change in the Russians’ favour.’

Giving reasons for explaining the success of the air defence of Moscow, Air Commodore Goddard pointed out that the city was about the same latitude as Edinburgh, and at this time of the year the night was never much more than .twilight. Also the attack came from one direction, not from all .round as in the case of London. These two factors enabled the Russian fighters to work with great advantage, being able to see and also knowing the direction the enemy was approaching from. The Germans, he added, have had to change their tactics. “We are grateful for the immense help of the Soviet Ah’ Force now, as they will be for ours past, present and future.” — British Official Wireless.