KING AT FIGHTER STATION

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIX, Issue 21958, 9 May 1941, Page 5

KING AT FIGHTER STATION

(Rec. 1.50 am.) LONDON. May 8. His Majesty the King, somewhere in England, saw night fighters go into action on their most successful night yet He shook hands with and wished good luck to the pilots of a famous squadron who a few minutes later took off to waylay the Luftwaffe’s moonlight raiders. It was his Majesty’s first visit to a night fighter station. As soon as the moon rose he saw powerful Beaufort fighters and sinister looking Havoc planes, which are American designers’ magnificent contribution to the air defence of Britain, strung across the aerodrome. He talked to the eager crews and then watched the night prowlers climb into the velvety sky and roar off to the kill. His Majesty arrived at the fighter station at dusk. No Royal occasion could have been more informal. He drove up to the mess and walked in unannounced just as a number of pilots were having a glass of sherry before supper. Air Vice-Marshal Brand introduced the airmen to his Majesty who joined them at supper, sitting at the head of the table where Waafs waited on him. It was a normal three course meal with no sign of the heaps of carrots which many believe that night pilots eat. However, one or two pilots dipped into a bottle of small red pills which contain .vitamins helpful for seeing in the dark. The commanding officer told his Majesty that some pilots can literally see in the dark but due almost entirely to their normal fitness and perfect training. His Majesty also met sergeant pilots of the squadron and spent a long time in the operations room before he entered the aerodrome for a talk to airmen standing at the ready. His Majesty climbed into the cockpits of several planes and was shown some of the secret devices contributing to the nightfighters’ success.