ALLIES’ UNITY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20074, 21 October 1939, Page 12

ALLIES’ UNITY

AERIAL OPERATIONS MINISTERS’ CONFERENCE R.A.F. UNITS IN FRANCE TRANSPORT BY AIR (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 9 a.m RUGBY, Oct. 19. A meeting took place in France on October 18 between the British and French Air Ministers, Sir Kingsley Wood, and ft/I. La Chambre respectively.

There was a broad exchange of views on a variety of matters relating to British and French co-opera-tion and complete agreement was established on all points. The discussion, following on the meetings of the Supreme War Council on September 12 in France and on September 22 in England, is a further indication of the close and constant co-operation existing between the two Governments.

After visiting many organisations, the Air Ministers visited the Royal Air Force headquarters, where they received many correspondents attached to the Royal Air Force, and in the course of a statement, Sir Kingsley Wood, said: "Units of the Royal Air Force have now been operating in France since the outbreak of war. To a considerable extent the personnel and stores were transported from England by air. On the outbreak of war a large number of machines, with crews and the personnel to maintain them, were immediately brought to war stations in France. They were flown from England without any mishap whatever, except one comparatively small accident to a single machine.

Transport Achievement

“It was an achievement of transport never before attempted, and I am sure, will never be excelled. The units in France were maintained and fed by air for about 17 days after the outbreak of war.

“The flying personnel has been obtaining experience in the country over which they have been oporating on both sides of the line. Reconnaissances have been carried out over he German lines. I have seen myself the magnificent photographs obtained of the Siegfried Line and met and tallced to pilots and crew-' of the squadrons concerned. “I cannot speak too highly of the fine quality of the pilots and the aircraft in which they have carried out the work. As an example of the organisation which goes behind the building up the air force in France, I would say we have complete flying hospital units for the evacuation home of casualties and patients with all possible speed by air. To the present all casualties have been evacuated in this manner.’’