PERSISTENT RAIDS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20638, 19 August 1941, Page 9

PERSISTENT RAIDS

BOMBER COMMAND BLOWS ON GERMANY PRAISE BY MINISTER (Elec. Tel. Copyright—-United Preaa Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 2.30 p.m. RUGBY. Aug. 17. The Secretary of State for Air, Sir Archibald Sinclair, last night met many pilots, before and after they flew over Germany. He was accompanied by the Air Under-Secretary, Sir Hugh Seely. Sir Archibald Sinclair first visited a Stirling squadron, where he met the crews and was shown over one of the great four-engined bombers. He said to file crew: “Deadly thrusts at the military power of Germany are being made by the Bomber Command, and in making these thrusts you fellows in the four-engined bombers have a big part to play. You are playing it magnificently.” Later Sir Archibald Sinclair visited another aerodrome where the crews of Wellington bombers were being briefed before taking off for Duisburg. He heard all the instructions given to the crews and then said: "It is the Bomber Command which is going to be the main instrument of victory. It was the fighters who saved us from defeat last autumn. It is the bombers who are going to smash the war industries of Germany and break the will to win of the German people. Relief to Russians “The work you are now doing and have been doing in past weeks is of particular importance, because it relieves the weight of the attack upon Russia. The Government, Parliament and, I am sure, the people of this country want to bring the greatest possible help to the Russians in their struggle. The pressure you exert on the economic life of Germany, these attacks on the Ruhr where you are going to-night and where the great war industries of Germany are still centred, on communications between the Ruhr and the cast, your thrusts at the military power of Germany, Will direct relief to the Russians in the battle in the east. If we go on hammering at the Germans in the west, the time will undoubtedly come when the German people will insist that the High Command should bring back more aircraft from the eastern front to protect them and counterattack us in Britain. That will relieve the weight upon the hard-pressed Russians. “That is the importance of the task you have been carrying out lately and will be carrying out to-night. I commend you for the courage, skill and determination you have shown in doing it. Inspiration to New Crews “The work you have done and are doing will be an example and an inspiration to the new crews now coming forward for the greater Bomber Command which will be operating in a few months. I thank you for what you have done and wish you good luck for the future and for to-night." Sir Archibald Sinclair returned to the bomber station in the early hours of the morning to see the Wellington crews on their return from Duisburg. A young officer rear gunner told the Minister how he had shot down a German fighter into the sea off the Dutch coast. This gunner had participated in 52 other bombing attacks. He has shot down four German fighters and also damaged others which probably crashed as a result. Visibility was fairly good with moonlight over the target. The squadron had a successful night. The crews reported fierce fires at Duisburg, one being a quarter of a mile long. There was great opposition from the ground defences and many more searchlights than had been reported at Duisburg previously. Sir Archibald Sinclair waited until the commanding officer had' reported all his aircraft safely down. Then in the dawn he flew back to London.