HIGHLY EFFECTIVE

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 298, 13 September 1941, Page 10

HIGHLY EFFECTIVE

R.A.F. Tribute To Red Air Force (British Official Wireless.) (Received September 12. 8.30 p.m.) RUGBY, September 11. In a broadcast war commentary, Group Captain Helmore described the campaign in Russia as the opening of the third act. The first was the big battle of Britain and the second the bombing of Britain. He said help to Russia could now quickly be given by air action, and night after night and day after day for the last eleven and a half weeks “we have literally poured out our air forces on the job of harassing and distracting the enemy.” In that -period the weight of bombs dropped by the Royal Air Force on enemy territory—and this was the best method of measuring the intensity of the attack—was more than double the weight dropped in the immediately preceding eleven and a half weeks. The real truth about Russia’s own air force had been a deeply guarded secret and inference was the only guide to what was the truth. “If the Russian Air Force had not been highly effective,” Group Captain Helmore added, “then every "Russian town would have been a blazing ruin before Herr Hitler’s troops ever got within miles of it. Neither would Hitler’s air forces have been so urgently preoccupied with the air war on the Eastern Front.” The speaker paid a high tribute to the Soviet anti-aircraft defences, which he said had amazed experts.