BLAZING VICTORY TRAIL

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIX, Issue 21867, 21 January 1941, Page 10

BLAZING VICTORY TRAIL

Heavier R.A.F. Blows At Enemy British Official Wireless RUGBY, January 18. The Air Minister (Sir Archibald Sinclair) emphasised the growing power of the Royal Air Force in an address to Glasgow University students on the formation of a new university air squadron. “There is no doubt at all,” said Sir Archibald, “that it was the Royal Air Force that saved this country from an attempt at invasion and from very grave danger of defeat in the dark months of last year. It will be the Royal Air Force which will go on striking far heavier blows on the vitals of Germany and Italy in the cr- ling year, and will blaze the way to c-en-tual victory. I strongly believe we shall see before the end of the year the path to victory opening before us.” He expressed the view that “one of the great decisions in U-e history of war will prove to have been that made two years ago, when we decided to build a particular kind of fighter with eight machine-guns and fire-power greater than that of the German or Italian fighters.” Defiants’ Record Sir Archibald also spoke of the Defiant fighter, and mentioned the record of one squadron of Defiants regarding the number of Germans brought down in a single day. It was during the evacuation of Dunkirk, and the squadron shot down 36 in 24 hours. Defiants were still being used very largely now for night fighting, he added. There were more modern types coming into use, and great bombers like Hampdens, Wellingtons, and Whitleys, with a sting in the tail, were now striking at. the very sources of German and Italian military power.