PLEASURE CRUISE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 February 1944, Page 4

PLEASURE CRUISE

BIG ATLANTIC CONVOY MANY AIRMEN ARRIVE IN BRITAIN MARKED ABSENCE OF U-BOATS (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, February 28. Many thousands of American troops landed in Britain to reinforce the invasion army, says the “Evening Standard’s” correspondent with the United States forces. The convoy made the trip across the Atlantic without a casualty -and without one U-boat attack. All the troops have been in training and now they are here thdir main job will be to keep up 100 per cent efficiency until zero hour. The convoy included a large number of airmen to reinforce the ever-growing Eighth and Ninth United States Air forces. They are all ready to take over new planes which are being flown across the Atlantic in the hands of Transport Command pilots. Many ships in the convoy brought land and carrier-based fighters.

A man who came with the convoy said it was a pleasure cruise, compared with some they had experienced as troops. Because of the absence of Üboats they were allowed to sleep in pyjamas instead of their day clothes and did not wear lifebelts. Hundreds more Canadian soldiers and airmen, plus many experts, have also arrived in Britain.