BATTLE OF BRITAIN

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 September 1943, Page 6

BATTLE OF BRITAIN

SAVING THE WORLD.

RUGBY, Sept. 26. The debt which the world owes to the men who saved Britain in 1940 was spoken of to-day by the Minister of Aircraft Production (Sir Stafford Cripps). But for their efforts the world would be a much different place, to-day, he said. Britain would have been overrun by the Nazis and the Middle East would probably have fallen, too. Germany would have been able to concentrate all her force against Russia and the Soviet forces might have bgen forced back to the Urals. For a short time America might have a continent of liberty, but with Germany dominating Europe and the Japanese dominating Asia, America could hardly have survived. The men in the Battle of Britain had saved not only the British Commonwealth but also free nations throughout the world.

General H. H. Arnold, Chief of the United States Army Air Force, paid a tribute to the Royal Air Force in a personal telegram to Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Portal, on the third anniversary of the Battle of Britain. General Arnold recalled that three years ago to-day, after a struggle lasting from dawn to dusk for 50 days, the Luftwaffe first gave up the attempt to cross Britain’s skies in daylight. “The conflict with the British pilots was to continue unabated for 84 days in all, until the enemy realised that Britain was invulnerable,” said General Arnold. “The enemy had intended to ground the Royal Air Force as a prelude to invasion, but the. Royal Air Force could not be grounded. “It was thanks to her valiant fighters that beleaguered Britain held out. The change we see in our fortunes and prospects could not have been accomplished without the victory which we commemorate to-day. Mr. Churchill in a recent statement has given us the facts—that the Royal Air Force is now maintaining nearly 50 per cent, more first line aircraft on all war fronts than the Luftwaffe, and that the British and American air forces are being supplied with an ever-increasing number of new aircraft, exceeding the corresponding German supply .by more than four to one. The United States Army Air Forces join wholeheartedly with Britain in paying tribute to the dauntless Royal Air Force, and they are proud to be fighting side by side with the gallant airmen to whom the United States owes so much.” Personnel of the R.N.Z.A.F. who recently arrived in England took part in the Battle of Britain Sunday parade. They were led by Flight Lieutenant W. Scollay, D.F.C., of Wellington, who is a member of No. 75 (New Zealand) Squadron.