TRIBUTE TO R.A.F.

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 15, 18 January 1941, Page 10

TRIBUTE TO R.A.F.

OPENING OF PATH TO VICTORY

IMPORTANCE OF FIGHTERS

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received January 18,"' 11.30 a.m.)

RUGBY, January 17.

Sir Archibald Sinclair, Air Minister, emphasised the growing power of the R.A.F. in an address to Glasgow University students on the formation of a new University air squadron. "There is no doubt at all," said Sir Archibald* "that it was the R.A.F. that saved this country from an attempt at invasion, and from the very grave danger of defeat in the dark months of last year. It will be the R.A.F. which will go on striking far heavier blows on the vitals of Germany and Italy in the. coming year, and will blaze the way to eventual victory. I strongly believe we shall see, before the end of the year, the path to victory opening before us."

He expressed the view that "one of the great decisions in the history of the war will prove to have been that made two years ago, when we decided to build a particular kind of fighter, with eight machine-guns and a firepower greater than that of the German or Italian fighters." " : '

He also spoke of the Bouiton-Paul Defiant fighter and mentioned the record of one squadron of Defiants for the number of Germans brought down in a single day. It was during the evacuation of Dunkirk, and the squadron shot down thirty-six of the enemy in twenty-four hours. Defiants were still being used very largely now for night, fighting. He added that there were more modern types coming into use. Great bombers like the Hampdens, Wellingtons, and Whitleys, with "a sting in their tail," were now striking at the very sources of German and Italian military power. . At present they were in numbers only a fraction of the German air force, but all through this year they were going to increase in numbers, quality, and power.