NOT ONE ATTACKED

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24244, 9 April 1942, Page 8

NOT ONE ATTACKED

BOMBERS FLY PACIFIC AMERICA TO AUSTRALIA SYDNEY, April 5 American bombers to reinforce the Allied air fleets in the South-west Pacific are being flown from the United States to Australia. An Australian airman, who has been taking part in this plane-ferrying service, said in an interview that on one occasion he lost a day while repairs were being made to his machine. Resuming the journey he landed on a Pacific island, from which, to make up lost time, he flew non-stop more than 2000 miles to the Australian mainland. "For security reasons," he said, "it is impossible to give any details of this service. Of all the thousands of planes which have been delivered in this way to Great Britain, as well as to Australia, not one has'been attacked. If the enemy knew when they were leaving and the route they were taking, it might be different. He would have fighters ready to attack us. That is one of the reasons for such posters as those which read: 'Don't talk; the enemy listens.' " This pilot, whose home was. formerly in Sydney, wiis trained at Point Cook and 'joined the R.A.F. in England in 1937. He was in the south of France when the French signed their armistice with Germany. He escaped by plane on the following day. After that he took Sart in bombing raids against the hannel ports.