R.A.F. IN RUSSIA

Grey River Argus, 27 September 1941, Page 5

R.A.F. IN RUSSIA

Story of Wing’s Formation COSMOPOLITAN PERSONNEL. 8.0.W. RUGBY. September 25. The story of the formation of the RAF wing which has pone to Russia is told bv the Air Ministry News Service -The commanding officer ot a North of England station received a message a few weeks ago, stating brieflv that a new wing was bemg formed there, and would proceed overseas at short notice. Though nobody at the station knew it at the time, that marked the birth of the wing which has gone to Russia, and has already claimed seven Nazi fighters. The first of the new Wing to arrive was a' squadron leader, an original member of the City of Glasgow auxiliary squadron. He was followed by a stream of others They came by bus and train from all parts of the ccuntrv, some from squadrons already famous, some from operational training units or depots. None of them knew where they were going or what was in store for them. Tne first inkling came when equipment officers were ordered to issue everyman in the wing—ground crews and administrative officers alike—with the warm battledress that normally' 'is issued to flying personnel only. Then, one August morning, WingCommander G. Ramsbottom-Isher-wood, the New Zealand leader of ,the wing, gave orders to entrain. The journey to Russia had begun, though none of the rank and file, and few of the officers, knew it. Besides the leader frem New Zealand, there are Canadian. Australian. Scottish, Irish, and of course English pilots in the wing. One of the intelligence officers comes from Jamaica. Many ot the pilots have been in combat with the Luftwaffe in sweeps over the occupied territories. The entire personnel of the wing arrived safely in Russia. Wing Commander RamsbottomIsherwood is a son of Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Ramsbottom-Isherwood, of Blenheim. Their last news of him indicated that he had been stationed in Scotland until recently.. Wing Commander RamsbottomIsherwood, who is 36 years of age, was born in Petone, and was educated in Wanganui and Blenheim. He went to Melbourne to study ±or the Roman Catholic priesthood, but gave up the idea', and returned two years later to Blenheim, where he worked as an accountant He relinquished this position in IS3O to proceed to England to join the Royal Air Force. After serving in India, Egypt, and the Sudan, he was in England at the outbreak oi war. He was awarded the Air Force Cross in July, 1940. and was promoted wing commander last March. Before working his passage to England to join the Royal Air Force, he had flown only once, with Flight Lieutenant Noel Chandler, instructor to the Marlborough Zero Club. Wing Commander Ramsbottom-Isherwood married Miss Betty Taylor, daughter of the manager of Lloyds Bank in London, and has a twc-year-old daughter, Jacqueline. BRITISH ’PLANES AT MURMANSK.. INVADERS DRIVEN BACK. (Rec. 7.40.) LONDON, Sept. 25. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Stockholm correspondent says: R.A.F. ’planes are in action on the Murmansk front, driving off German Stuka and Messerschmitt ’planes, thuit permitting Russian forces to throw back Austrian and German troops ten miles behind the Liza Raver. GERMANS SURPRISED. BY R.A.F. AT MURMANSK. (Rec. 9.35). LONDON, Sept. 25.. The “Daily Telegraph” Stockholm correspondent says: The appearance of R.A.F. planes on the Murmansk front probably was the Germans’ most unoleasant surprise fpr weeks. When the Germans and Austrians there advanced six days ago, after forcing _ the Liza River, they threw in strong forces of dive-bombers to blast Russian positions. Hurricane planes met the Stuka machines, which promptly mads off under cover of morning mist's. The invaders held to the attack while squadrons of Messerschmitts were brought from Petsamo and Kirkenas. These, after a series of dog-fights, also made off, and the R.A.F. planes became masters of the air. The Russians then counter-attacked, throwing back the Germans and Austrians ten miles The R.A.F.’s advent to these operations was the best . kept secret Germans were fully informed of the facts, but had not dared to publish them for fear of damaging the Finnish and the German morale.

British Tanks

LONDON, September 25. It is authoritatively stated that British tanks may soon be in action in Russia. The Russian Mission selected the most powerful types, which are being delivered bv every system of transport at present open. On the third dav of Britain’s “Tanks for Russia Week/’ production is smashing alb records. Hundreds and hundreds of tanks are being assembled in a ceaseless flow. Women are giving great help. One factory has adopted the slogan, "All possible help for Russia until the job is finished.” This week’s apportioning of tne British tank output to Russia is no mere flash in the pan effort. “More to Follow” will be’'the slogan for the future. The Government has already planned for delivery of tanks to Russia in increasing quantities over the next nine months, and there are reserve plans for extension of this programme for 18 months or two years. Before long, It is hoped that British tanks will he on active service at the Russian front. The sending of a British technical staff to Russia, and of a reciprocal number of Russian experts, Is at present under discussion, in older that the Russian military authorities may get used to handling British types as quickly as possible. The type of tank Britain is at. present sending to Russia follows the request. of the Russian military authorities. This tvpe, which is of proved v eliabJitv. has been sufficiently Jong in production for spares to be available with delivery, and be easily handled bv the Russians. Britain has already made a very substantial contribution to Russia in raw materials, and is committed to a much heavier monthly programme of munition 7 and material A* present. there is being sent to Russia the maximum that can be not there bv any svstem of transport now onen. It is pointed out that tanks from Britain must, be shinned with runs and ammunition to make taem useable, and the tanks sent w’1 1 make a substantial call upon all armamey production because the weapons w> I be of calibres for- which no B] I™' 1 ™' ammunition is available ordain w'll have to” mnke enuivpVnt we:l-p'"-'s and ammunition, because of the rUfferenco in calibre r f’he number •'"> tanks being sent to Russia const’tutes a heav” sacrifice on the nart of Fyi- ♦ a : n. p-llwavq pnH road- ’n Hie Mmaip Hast pro boirirr deveinnod so fhoj-n rap bn orpeativ Increased traffic ■nn +his f’-nnt. pnC W ! th ’upny to much greater assistance for Russia.

: A national appeal, for “Help to Russia,” was launched to-day bv the National Council of Labour. Tim fund nas been opened with grants of £lOOO from the Trades Union Congress and £250 from the Labour Party. Orders have already been placed for the early despatch to Russia of a large consignment of medical supplies. In the course of its appeal, the National Council of L.abour states that, although the Government has accepted th., responsibility for the fullest possible assistance to the Soviet by supplying munitions, “it is known that the people of this country desire to come into direct participation hi the gesture of trendlmess and help to our allies, who ar* in combat on a J5OO-mile front Consequently, the National Council of Labour has decided to launch an appeal, particularly to assure the Russian people that even in the war conditions which we are experiencing, we arc thinking of them, their bereavements, and their lost homes, which thev burn ra th p r than leave to the invader, aad that wp des’re to give practical help.” Young organisations of all countrip's and of all religious beliefs and political outlooks were invited, m an announcement from the Soviet Embassy in London, to take part m nn anti-Fascist meeting to be broadcast from Moscow next Sunday. ‘Die meeting will comprise workers in factories and plants fighters of th* Red Armv. students, officers, workers. scientists, and artists. “For al] those to whom honour, liberty, and the independence of their native land is dear there is onlv one path, the struggle against "Nazism and the destruction of Hitler Germany,” says the announcement.