ALL HONOUR TO MEN OF THE R.A.F.

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 283, 24 August 1940, Page 12

ALL HONOUR TO MEN OF THE R.A.F.

Cleansing God’s Air Of Fouling Elements

AN ORDINARY MAN’S VIEW

OF THE WAR

(By Oiisr.nvia:.)

Goering’s boast of the invincibility of his Luftwaffe (“I have only to press the button . . .”) was Hung back last week by the fighter pilots of the Royal Air Force and the anti-aircraft batteries supporting them. He has received an answer, though not yet a complete answer, to what he told Mr, Sumner Welles would lie the consequences upon the British Isles should the Fuehrer order the release of the German Air Force in its irresistible might. A substantial part of Goering's legions is accumulating on English soil in the tangled shape of an ever-growing mound of swastika raiders "clawed down” to their doom; and a vaster wreckage lies beneath the unfriendly waters of the Channel. That much we know. But only they on the other side are in a situation to measure the full tale of destruction to personnel and material equipment wrought upon them by mere boys (as the years of a man are reckoned), who attained to the splendour of young gods in the defence of things those others never have understood. We are deeply touched by the courage, skill and resolution of the fighter pilots who contributed to the writing of so glorious a chapter in the saga of our newest fighting service. Who, calling himself British, or a free or fettered foreigner, has not found hope in the narrative of their triumph? Epic though it is, it remains but a part of the story of the ascendency of the R.A.F. The other part is in the achievements of the young men taking the bombers to the heart of Nazi war industries and communications, or ceaselessly on patrol to protect our seaborne trade. Our debt to these men is immeasurable. Their work and, if need be, their sacrifice, means the turning point in the course of the war. This is the picture in clear perspective. A Noble Duty. We idealize the men who are doing these tilings, and it right that we should. Theirs is a noble duty.. It symbolizes a cleansing of God’s air of the fouling elements infused by the powers of evil. It is for these cleanminded fellows to restore it to the jurity in .which He gave it and with which He overlaid the earth that all mankind might breathe without taint or danger. It seems to me that the pilot whose remarkable letter to bis mother, published in “The Times” after his death on patrol and reprinted throughout the English-speaking world, typifies them all. They are the elect of this generation of Britons. History resounds with illustrious names who have given all (he wrote), yet their sacrifice has resulted in the British Empire, where is a measure of peace, justice and freedom for all, and where a higher standard of civilization has evolved, and is still evolving, than anywhere else. . . . Today we are faced with the greatest organized challenge to Christianity and civilization that the world has ever seen, and I count myself lucky and honoured to be the right age and fully trained to throw my full weight into the scale. For all that can be said against it, I still maintain that this war is a very good thing; every individual is having the chance to give and dare all for his principle like the martyrs of old. . . . Those who just eat and sleep, prosper and procreate, are no better than animals if all their lives they are at peace. I firmly and absolutely believe that evil things are sent into the world by our Creator deliberately to test our mettle because He knows what is good for us. The Bible is full of cases where the easy way out has been discarded for moral principles. ” Conversion of Pacifist.— The dead airman’s letter, of which I have given salient points, was responsible for the conversion from pacifism of D. 11. Barber, editor of “The New World,” published in London. On June IS he wrote to “The Times” as follows:— ' May I thank you for printing in today’s issue the posthumous ■ letter from the voting R.A.F. pilot? As editor of a peace paper I have, perhaps as hard as anybody in this country, fought for an "agreement'’ with our adversaries, in those days when the idea of peace was "popular,” as at the time of the Munich settlement, and in later days when to breathe a suggestion that there might be anything to be said on the side of our enemies was to he ostracized and malignLike many in a similar position, my virtue of English obstinacy, has fought against my growing conviction that lor once the majority is right, but full conversion did not come until I read in your columns that truly remarkable letter. We who fought for peace did so from conviction, and can have no repentance for our struggle. Perhaps our very tenacity of obstinacy was necessary for England's full moral grandeur. But I. and I feel that I can speak for many others, cannot hold out any longer in lace of the unstudied eloquence of your dead anti anonymous contributor. This month I am not writing a leading article in my paper. I am printing the young mans let'er instead. So Gallant a Spirit.— Lord Wakefield, eminently known for his encouragement of British aviation, also, wrote to “The Times” about the inspiration he had drawn from the airman's let-' ter: — . . There are many like myself who, in the evening of their days, wish with the strength that remains to share once again the perils and trials with which the Motherland is confronted, but who can, perforce, do little. They know full well the bitter price of victory, the heartrending sacrifice which our youth so freely pays and their country so sorrowfully’ must accept. To such, this boy with the mind of a saint and the soul ot a hero speaks in words which have for them a poignant significance, They constitute the final and irrefutable Justification of the tdruggle in which this nation and commonwealth are united in comradeship. They give a renewal ot faith and courage. None but a now cause could inspire so gallant a spirit. We can even bring ourselves to pity nn enemy whose poverty in the realms ot faith and inspiration is by contrast revealed in all its nakedness. Lull In German Raiding. We need not be deceived by the relief Britain has enjoyed from massed German air raiding after the vicious onslaughts ot last week. We can be sure the Nazis will renew the blows, next time probably against the civil population, and more actively by night than up to now. It is fairly certain Hint the lull was forced upon the attackers. They would have kept up pressure by 600 or 1000 planes daily if they could. Such tactics are the essence of the German conception of modern war. Why then the breather? It is bad tactics to give the enemy a breather: the Germans let up because it is they who needed it. Imagine the disorganization at the German aerodromes--squadrons with tlie best part of their personnel wounded or missing; machines lost or badly knocked about; squadron leaders not returned to reconstitute the flights. Bases would need re-establishing with airmen and new machines, and aircraft repair and overhaul. The fact that the German Air Force had to desist at all is in itself eloquent testimony to the magnificent achievements of the R.A.F. and Britain's ground defences.