PETROL FOR AIR FORCE CONCERT PARTIES

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23970, 10 June 1943, Page 6

PETROL FOR AIR FORCE CONCERT PARTIES

Sir—l would be very pleased to know from the powers that be why the local Air Force stations should be denied the same facilities as the Army in respect to petrol for conveying concert parties to and from their station. I am given to understand that a local Air Force station is only allowed eight gallons a month, divided amonj* three or four private car owners, who gener. ously give their services for transporting the concert parties, at least three times a month, the petrol being paid for by the owners of the cars, while the Army can send troop-carriers for the conveyance of their concert parties two or three times a week, some many miles distant, and rightly so. As both these services are making the same sacrifices in the defence of our country, they should be allowed the same facilities for entertaining their men. To me, an outsider, who has had the very great pleasure and privilege of helping to entertain, it does not make sense.—Yours, etc., H S June 1, 1943. [Commenting on this letter, Air Commodore Sir Robert Clark-Hall said: “Air Force. Regulations do not permit service transport to be used for conveying concert parties to stations other than those in isolated parts of the country. The granting of petrol to concert parties who so kindly give their time and services for the entertainment of airmen at stations in the neighbourhood of towns is. therefore, a matter for the Oil Fuel Controller.”]