AMERICAN HERO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24914, 13 May 1942, Page 6

AMERICAN HERO

JOKES WITH PILOTS “ DON’T FLY AS I FLY ” MELBOURNE, May 5. The Allied Air Forces were steadily gearing up to an all-out attack on the Japanese in his own territory, Briga-dier-general Ralph Royce, of the United States, said in a breezy talk to Royal Australian Air Force pupil pilots at Point Cook. General Royce, who is Chief of Allied Air Operations, presented “ wings ” to 74 air graduates. “ The American Air Force in Northern Australia is already swinging into action,” he said. “By the time you have finished your training we hope we will have started moving forward up toward Japan, In that we are not thinking only of protecting Australia, but of going out and winning this war. I hope you will be joining us in that northward move. “In America we are turning out about 2500 flyers each month in the United States Army alone. You can guess at the numbers of air-fighters we will have before the war is over.” The spectators laughed when the general warned the pilots: “Do not fly as I fly, but fly like I tell you to fly.” On April 12 and 13 General Royce led a flight of bombers from Australian bases on a 48-hour non-stop raid on Japanese concentrations in the Philippines. He added: “Young men who have just got their wings want to go out and try things for themselves. Many who have tried to work things out for themselves are not with us any more.” General Royce is the most informal of all the high United States officers. He joked with each graduate who marched forward for his “ wings.” To some he gave a correct handshake: to others a pat on the back. After the ceremony he posed for photographers in the centre of a group of trainees. He took off his jaunty Air Force cap, and showed them the wire which gives the brim an upward lift. In reply to one trainee, he explained the history of his seven lapel decorations. One of these was the D.S.O. awarded, him on his return from the Philippines flight. The only time during the ceremony that he lost his poise and assurance was when five nurses were led forward for an introduction. After a conversation broken by nervous silences, he excused himself on the ground of an urgent appointment back in the city.