R.A.F. DEFENDED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20618, 20 November 1941, Page 5

R.A.F. DEFENDED

DISPOSITION & TACTICS REPLY TO U.S. ADMIRAL “DISTORTED DATA” (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Nov. 20, 11.30 a.m.) NEW YORK, Nov. 18. Major Alexander de Serversky, the aviation critic of the United Press, replying to the attack on the Royal Air Force by Rear-Admiral H. YarneU, a former commander of the United State battle fleet’s air squadrons, said that Rear-Admiral Yarneil's data was distorted and his conclusions false. He said there were occasions when the Royal Air Force had not followed naval information concerning submarines, but the reason was that there were moi'e targets and tasks than the Royal Air Force could handle. He said the British Navy was fully and quickly informed when the Nazi transports were en route to Norway, and the failure to interrupt the invasion reflected the inability of naval forces to function under skies held by land-based enemy aviation. Major de Serversky pointed out that Rear - Admiral Yarneil’s article coincided with Congressional hearings on pi-oposals to separate the United States’ air force from army and navy control, and the timing was scarcely coincidental.

“The Royal Air Force has been ineffective as an all-round military tool, and there have been many instances of attacks on British units it was supposed to be supporting," writes Rear-Admiral Yarnell, in Collier’s Magazine, on the basis of “authentic and hitherto secret reports from our observers abroad,” stated a New York report on November 6. Rear-Admiral Yarnell said American observers reported that British soldiers were so resentful after Crete that members of the Royal Air Force were not permitted in the streets of Alexandria when the rescued soldiers disembarked; that the Royal Air Force time after time refused to attack Üboats off England, contending that it was the navy’s job; and that the Royal Air Force even bombed a British cruiser by mistake during the chase of the Bismarck. “Nothing I say is intended to deprecate in any way the truly great heroism and skill of the Royal Aii Force pilots or the magnificent job they have done in protecting London from bombing," says the writer. “The work of the Royal Air Force 'over the British Isles saved England. Its work elsewhere has added up to the major British mistake of the war. I believe the mistake lies in the fact that it is an independent unit.” Rear-Admiral Yarnell added that 48 hours before the German invasion of Norway Royal Air Force scouts saw the transports in the North Sea, but were only mildly interested and sent in routine reports, with the result that the news reached the Admiralty after the invasion had begun.