Royal Air Force Heroes

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21821, 26 November 1940, Page 4

Royal Air Force Heroes

WHEN the history of the present war is written calmly and in perspective, it is likely that the Royal Air Force will be given the credit for having first turned the tide of battle against Nazi Germany. The Royal Navy’s mastery of the sea has never been seriously disputed in the past 15 months, so that advantage was with Britain from the beginning. Germany, therefore, to make a vital thrust at* Britain, had to attempt to do so in the air, or on land. The proposed invasion by military forces has been abandoned and the only choice remaining was for Hitler to strive to cripple the United Kingdom from the-air. A tremendous assault was launched, but it failed, and only because the sustained courage and resourcefulness of British airmen nullified Germany’s numerical superiority in machines. The Royal Air Force held the skies at a critical time and in doing this British airmen have preserved the ramparts of democratic freedom. These young men were called upon to do heroic tasks, and each one of them merits special gratitude from the people who were saved by their gallantry. But it was natural that in undertakings of this kind some, because of special aptitudes, should be able to acquit themselves better than others. On this account New Zealanders have special cause for pride in learning that the 50 Dominion airmen iu the Royal Air Force have now won decorations for distinguished service. These men, undertaking voluntarily duty which imposed extraordinary demands upon self-reliance and courage, have proved themselves worthy followers of the fighting traditions created by New Zealanders in all theatres of the war of 1914-1918.