R.A.F. ANNIVERSARY

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 April 1943, Page 6

R.A.F. ANNIVERSARY

NEW ZEALAND’S TRIBUTE

WELLINGTON, April 2.

In a radio broadcast feature, “Wings Around the World,” organised by the 8.8. C. as a tribute to the R.A.F. on the attainment of its 25th anniversary, a message was contributed by the New Zealand Air Force last night and again to-day. New Zealand’s message was as follows: “New Zealand calling! Our island Air Force greets the first island Air Force of all. New Zealand airmen have been yours and with you since the beginning, in war and in peace, and now in war again; and so they will remain. On your design and pattern we have created, and your men here with ours —‘down under’ — are helping us in the air war against Japan. By your Battle of Britain, by your achievements in many skies you have inspired us. “The Royal Adr Force—here’s to you for the past!—well done! For the future!—‘Many Happy Returns’! Good hunting ’till the skies are cleared, happy landings while the battles are on, good rest when victory flies in beside your wings!” R.A.F. AS PALACE GUARD.

RUGBY, April 1. An R.A.F. regiment took over the guard at Buckingham Palace, to-day, the twenty-fifth anniversary of the R.A.F. The King and Queen, with Sir Archibald Sinclair and Sir Charles Portal, watched the ceremony in the palace courtyard. R.A.F. OFFENSIVE ~RUGBY, April 1. Mosquitos of the Bomber Command, this afternoon, bombed the railway workshops at Trier railway yards, Ehrang, Western Germany. Aircraft fighter and Army cooperation commands attacked railway targets in France and Belgium. STRAIN TELLING. "RUGBY, April 1. Discussing the bombing offensive against Germany, Captain Balfour said that more was coming to the Reich. There were signs that this bombing offensive was not only having a good material effect, but was undermining the morale of the German people. Reports received showed considerable discontent among the people at their leaders’ failure to protect them against the Allied offensive. CASUALTIES AT NAPLES RUGBY, March The Rome radio announced that 72 persons were killed and 1179 were injured in an explosion at an ammunition depot at Naples on Sunday. The victims included soldiers and civilians. In addition seven Germans were killed and 31 were injured.

(Rec. 11 a.m.) , LONDON, April 1. Although Rome admitted only 72 fatalities in the Naples ammunition depot explosion, private sources assert at least that number of servicemen were killed, while raid debris, which fell as far as a half-mile distant, killed scores and injured hundreds. These sources, says a Berne message, claim that at least 400 were iulied and 2000 injured. The centre of Naples was wrecked, with pieces of masonry strewn everywhere. Salvage gangs are working round the clock Tn an effort to clear the streets. Makeshift hospitals are filled to overflowing. Rescue squads are still digging for injured and dead. One report states that British and American soldiers were seen' near an ammunition depot prior to the explosion. This report is not confirmed but several people living nearby, are stated to have been arrested for harbouring enemy airmen. RAID ON ENGLAND "RUGBY, April 1. It is officially stated that three enemy aircraft dropped bombs at a place on the south coast of England to-day. There was some damage and a small number of casualties. AMERICANS’ BUSY MONTH RUGBY, April 1. • American heavy bombers of the United States Army Eighth Air Force with nine bombing raids and one important coastal operation to their credit, had during March, their busiest month in the European theatre of war. They destroyed 142 enemy aircraft, probably destroyed twenty-two, ■and damaged fifty-one. They lost nineteen bombers. More than sixteenhundred tons of bombs were dropped on enemy targets. TRAINING SCHEMES .RUGBY, April 1. Agreements were signed in London, yesterday, for the continuance of the air training schemes in New Zealand and Australia, and for the contributions to be made by the governments of those countries towards the cost of training their pupils in Canada, under the Commonwealth air training plan after March 31, 1943. Mr. Jordan signed the agreements on behalf of New Zealand. BLIND FLYING SAFETY. NEW YORK, April 1. Hazards of blind flying day and night have been conquered, declared Ernest Breech, president of the Bcndix Aviation Corporation. He told the “New York Times”: “You may remember milling around in the fqg waiting your turn to come in on the beams. It is an uncomfortable feeling. Some have said that wiien airlines can disregard weather, when pilots can see mountains through fog at night, flying will be safe. Well, I am happy to announce, through startling war developments, that the hazards have been conquered. It is no longer experimental. I give you a positive assurance that after the war, blind-flying in fog will join the long list of weather hazards' man has conquered. Man’s genius has added another great invention, assuring the pilot of ceiling and visibility unlimited, regardless of the actual weather.”