THE AIR WAR

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 13237, 13 January 1941, Page 3

THE AIR WAR

FLARE UP IN SPRING?

CONFIDENCE IN BRITAIN

Gisborne, Jan. 11

The opinion that the air war between Britain and Germany will flare lip in the spring, directed toward a of the whole issue, was expressed by Flying-Officer C. Hansen, son of Mr and Mrs P. H. Hansen, of Gishorne, who is home on short Heave before taking up instruction ■duties, for which he has been loaned by the Imperial Governmnt to the New Zealand Government. Personnel in all Services, he says, expect the Nazis to make a great bid for victory, but they are confident that the enemy, who could not win last year, cannot win in 1941 [or any other year. »

I Flying Officer Hansen left New Zealand in 1939 to join the Royal Eir Force, and during his period of service overseas suffered extensive injuies in a crash early last year. | People in the United Kingdom, Die says, realised that Hurricanes [and Spitfires- held back the Nazis last year, the general feeling being [that but for the defeats suffered by [the enemy in the major air battles of a few months ago things would have gone hard indeed with England. The position has changed remarkably Jsinoe that time, and now Britain is exchanging blow for blow in-the air. In an interview, Flying-Officer Hansen paid a tribute to the men fwho are carrying out bombing raids [over enemy teritoy. This work, he taid.fi eceived too little recognition by the civilian public. Those who out with bomber flights had ■tougher duty and deserved the •greatest possible credit for what Jthey had done to hold back the enemy. Civilian morale in Britain, he paid, was standing the test well, .and despite all air raids and personal .and business losses suffered by individuals, there was no sign of any .weakening of resistance. The fact pat the Royal Air Force and Navy fwere hitting back did much to sustain the confidence of the civilian public.