MASS FLIGHT PLANNED

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 244, 13 July 1939, Page 9

MASS FLIGHT PLANNED

200 British Bombers

ACROSS FRANCE AND BACK

(Independent Cable Service.)

LONDON, July 11

The greatest mass flight known will shortly be undertaken by. 200 R.A.F. bombers, flying in waves in squadron formation from English airfields in the south-west of England to France and as far as the Franco-Spanish frontier and back to England without a stop. The distance will be about 1200 miles. About a thousand men will be in the air together. Britain has become too small for training flights of R.A.F. standard long-range bombers with a speed of 200 to 300 miles an hOUr - ■ Twelve squadrons of medium and heavy bombers left their stations todrv for various districts in France. All are scheduled to Murn without landing. Twelve squadrons of heavy and medium bombers were impressively flown in formation for five hours from home stations to Bordeaux and back without mishap, at a general height of 6500 ft. IRE OF GERMANY Charge Of Warmongering (Received July 12, 11.40 p.m.) LONDON, July 12. The Berlin correspondent of “The Times says the French flights have angered Germany. “Warmongering from the air’’ is “Angriff’s” description.

BRITISH STAFF CHIEF Historic Luncheon In Paris (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, July 11. The Chief of the Imperial General Staff, Viseount Gort, and other British staff officers are to fly to Paris tomorrow on a two-day visit as guests of the French Government on the occasion of the French national fete day. On the morning of July 14 Viseount Gort will attend a review of the French army in company with Marshal Gamelin, and later will be present nt a luncheon at the Elysee Palace*—a historic occasion marking the close ties which now bind the two great democracies of Western Europe, for it is the first time France has invited any foreign officers to the luncheon, which is given annually by the President of the Republic to distinguished officials of the French army.