SUPERB PILOTS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 124, 28 May 1942, Page 7

SUPERB PILOTS

DUKE SEES RUSSIANS

Great Volume Of Traffic Over

New Route

British Official Wireless Rec. 2 p.m. RUGBY, May 27. While touring the Middle East the Duke of Gloucester has had an opportunity of seeing a great deal of the British and American aid that is flowing to Russia. At an aerodrome where his plane landed a number of American-built bombers were dispersed. They represented only a small part of the bomber fleet that is being flown to Russia day after day. Later the Duke was shown some assembly plants for these aircraft. Many of them in the first instance had been assembled by the R.A.F. technicians, who are now increasing in numbers and American engineers are arriving and taking over the task. Once they are assembled the aircraft are handed over to Rjssian pilots, who fly them over the wildest mountainous country in all weathers direct to Russia and the eastern front. The rate at which aid is arriving cannot be divulged, but the Duke was given some idea of it when he arrived at another aerodrome. Just before his own aircraft arrived aircraft with Russian crews aboard had put down and refuelled and flown off straight to Russia. That was just part of the daily contingent. Not only aircraft are flowing through the Middle East at this rate towards Russia, but also weapons of all kinds for the ground forces are also following on much the same route—from tanks to motor transport. In fact, the Duke saw a section of one of the greatest supply routes in the world, which has been built up quickly by the three Allies. At aerodromes and assembly points all along this route communities of all three nationalities have been set up. They are very largely self-contained. Manv Russian pilots have brought their wives with them and formed small colonies side by side with the British and Americans. The Duke heard great praise of the courage and technical skill of the Russian pilots. The route over which they have to fly to _Russia is not an easy one. It traverses forbidding mountainous ranges where low cloud and duststorms have made flyine perilous. To make a forced landing at some places is to come down among wild tribesmen of most uncertain temperament.