R.A.F. WING IN RUSSIA

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23447, 30 September 1941, Page 4

R.A.F. WING IN RUSSIA

—* — Warm Welcome Given To Personnel TWELVE ENEMY AIRCRAFT SHOT DOWN (Received September 2&, 11 p.m.) LONDON, September 29. Little news has reached London from the wing of the Royal Air Force serving with the Russian Air Force on the Eastern Front apart from the fact that for the loss of one machine they have already destroyed 12 enemy aircraft. The first detailed description of the fighting, side by side, of British and Soviet pilots in Russia is printed in the “Red Star” under the sub-title, “Soviet and English pilots jointly routing Fascists.” The article described how British and Soviet airmen study maps in deep trenches and it adds: “British Hurricanes are the pride of British aviation.” “The Russian pilots are stout fellows and things have been made very comfortable for us,” states a Royal Air Force pilot in a letter to his brother. “I have not yet flown Russian aeroplanes, but they certainly look useful. The Russian ’flak’ is very accurate and German aeroplanes in this area are rather shy of observer posts. The Germans often turn back when our fighters are seen. “The Russian commander is most helpful and friendly. Russian pilots yesterday invited us to dinner. We toasted everything imaginable and then, in conformity with an old Russian custom for the senior officers to do a step-dance, the Russian general and our commander make an attempt which seemed to gain general approval.” Russian Morale The crew of a Coastal Command aircraft which has been to Moscow came back vastly impressed by the morale, efficiency, and fine fighting spirit of the Russians, states the Air Ministry News Service. Coastal Command aircraft have made a number of flights to Russia and this was the first crew to travel right into Moscow itself. One of them said: “When we appeared in Moscow in uniforms they simply gave us the city. I never imagined that there could be such a welcome. We went wherever we pleased. Nobody allowed us to spend money on anything. We had only to say we wanted anything and it was promptly given to us. The warmth of the welcome would have been embarrassing except that they made us feel it was genuine and spontaneous. We knew that it jvas the Royal Air Force uniform they were welcoming, not ourselves as individuals.” The airmen saw practically no bomb damage in Moscow and they cannot speak too highly of the good spirits and morale of the citizens.