TRIBUTES TO AIRMEN

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21198, 22 August 1940, Page 8

TRIBUTES TO AIRMEN

“SURE SHIELD OF OUR HOMES” PRIME MINISTER’S STIRRING MESSAGE

SOLEMN WARNING AGAINST COMPLACENCY (Official Wireless) (Received August 22, 3.15 p.m.) RUGBY, August 21 Sir Archibald Sinclair, Minister for Air, broadcasting last night paid a high tribute to the young British airmen, saving they were “a sure shield of our homes and liberties, and in their strong young hands they carry the destinies of the country.” Sir Archibald added: ‘"Aou can hardly rate the importance of the recent battles in the air too highly. Since August 8 we have lost, in the defence oi this country and in our extensive operations over Germany, 192 aircraft, against the German loss of 701 aircraft. It is true that in this fighting we have suffered a loss, either killed or captured, of nearly 300 pilots, air gunners, wireless operators and observers, but the Germans have lost substantially more in machine crews.” Sir Archibald also paid a tribute to the ground staff, who do valuable though unspectacular service, and to the workmen, who build aeroplanes “with such good honest workmanship that they can take almost any amount of punishment.”

Praising the air staff he added: “The decision to adopt a light-gun fighter like the Hurricane and Spitfire may well rank as one of the great decisions in the history of the war.

He then dealt with the necessity to make sacrifices in liberty in order to arm the Government with the powers needed for swift action, and added: “We shall win this war because we mean to show that a democracy can be as swift and formidable in action as a dictatorship. Nevertheless it should he our concern to ensure that civic liberties are not put to lasting jeopardy.”

“ Mr Churchill has authorised me to give you this message: ‘ That it is the intention of the Government to preserve, in all essentials, a free parliament and a free press, and that all the emergency measures, which restrict the liberty of the subject, shall disappear with the passing of the Emergency Powers Act. The extraordinary powers entrusted to the Executive Council will vanish with the advent of victory and peace when, with the instrument of freedom in our hands and something of the daring of the young pilot in our hearts, we must fashion —you and I—not an easier or softer world, but one in which free men and women will have a better, fuller life, with more opportunity and scope of realising the best in them.’ ”

Sir Archibald gave a solemn warning against relapsing into any mood of complacency and added: “ The future may well hold for us far greater ordeals than any through which we have yet passed. In spite of heavy casualties inflicted on the German Air Force, especially on their fighters and medium dive-bombers, only a small fraction of the heavy bomber force has yet been engaged. Vigilance, energy and the sacrifice of convenience and even rights and liberties are still urgently necessary to frustrate the invasion. Perhaps if we relax none of our preparations Hitler may recoil from launching an attack. If this is so it will be hailed all over the world as the first downward lurch in his rocketing, ranting career.”

Replying to a question, Sir Archibald assured the House of Commons that the Royal Air Force was well placed, thoroughly equipped and fully prepared to meet successfully any attempted inroad of the enemy on Northern Ireland.