Greymouth Evening Star. MONDAY, JULY 20, 1942. EMPIRE’S AIRMEN.

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 July 1942, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. MONDAY, JULY 20, 1942. EMPIRE’S AIRMEN.

JF blood be the price of air-mastery the British Empire has paid in full, to paraphrase Kipling. Every day and night some machines “do not return.” from a raid, patrol, or defensive operation, and this terse official communique covers tragedy bringing bereavement 1o some Empire home. The pathos of the loss is increased because it is usually a young life that has paid the supreme sacrifice. In training as well as in actual war operations, the airmen face risks, as the total of casualties annually demonstrate. In hostilities against a vigilant well-armed enemy, the danger is greatly increased, and whether by “veteran" or novice, each flight undertaken may prove to be his last. Mastery of the air is, to-day, so important, that many estimate ii to be the decisive factor in tin 1 war. thus, the debt owed to Empire aviators is not one that can ever bo repaid. Those apt to be critical of airmen’s conditions of service, as being somewhat better than other branches of the Defence Forces, may recall the other side of the picture. Much of the work by the Empire's airmen is taken for granted, and it is only, perhaps, when some well-known ace is killed that public feeling is aroused. There ■will be wid('spread regret, for instance, at the news that “Paddy” Finucane has been killed, almost by accident. Aged only 21. he had. personally shot down over 30 enemy craft, besides damaging many others. Tie was awarded the D.S.O. (ranked next to the V.C.) and the D.F.C., with two bars. His courage and initiative inspired many others in the R.A.F. and sister Forces, and his passing will be a real loss. Most of the famous aces pay with their lives for their devotion to duty. If may bo that their reputation prompts them to take risks beyond the ordinary, or perhaps the excessive strain hampers their judgment as well as their prudence. Be that as if may, when death overtakes them. Ihe Empire mourns, and others carry on the grim task. Finucane was Irish-born, and ineideniallv. if is interesting to note that, however neutral Eire, as a country, may be, thousands of her sons and their sons, are fighting with Democracy s forces, on.land, sea and in the air. Of the first 3o awards of the Victoria Cross in this war, to March hist, live were given to Southern Irishmen. Numerous D.S.O. s, D.h .(_. s, and oilier medals have also been won b\ men from Eire. .Not a had record lor an allegedly “neutral." people, and one that wiH he]]) to maintain the friendliest Anglo-Irish relations after the war. Finucane’s death was early avenged, by a Canadian, thus empliasising Hie co-opera-tion and good fellowship existing between the members ol the Air horce, no matin tlu* part of the Empire to which they belong. It is opportune to congratulate New Zealand-born \ ice-Marshal K. L. Park on his further promotion. There is little reason to doubt that he will add to his service laurels by his handling of his new Mediterranean responsibilities.