HISTORIC FLIGHT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 November 1938, Page 5

HISTORIC FLIGHT

ACHIEVEMENT OF R.A.F. BOMBERS OFFICIAL AND PRESS COMMENT STRATEGIC CONSIDERATIONS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, November 8. Wing-Commander Gayford, organizer of the flight of R.A.F. bombers, from Egypt to Australia, broadcasting from Ismailia, said that the result was most satisfying. The record should stand for some time.

He revealed that their progress for the first 24 hours was ahead of expectations, but, after passing Borneo, storms delayed the planes and wasted petrol. The “Daily Express’ says that the people of the United States should be more interested in the R.A.F. nonstop flight than any other nation. ' South America is only 2000 miles from Africa, and Americans are now within the sphere of war terror.” The “Daily Telegraph’s” aeronautical correspondent, Group Captain Payne, said that the flight had shown the possibilities of, new methods of Empire defence and the feasibility of reinforcing the garrisons of the Dominion forces with aircraft flown from England. It had also re-emphasized that Britain could not neglect the strategical advantage conferred by establishing aircraft and munitions ,factories in the Dominions where they wbuld be immune from a European air attack. He quoted an American expert’s view that an enemy could wipe out Britain s aircraft factories at the outset of hostilities. KING GRATIFIED. CONGRATULATIONS SENT TO CREWS. (Received This Day, 9.50 a.m.) LONDON, November 8. The King has asked the Secretary of State for Air, Sir Kingsley Wood, to send his sincere congratulations to the crews of the Wellesley bomber squadron. • His Majesty said it was a source ot deep satisfaction to him to know that Royal Air Force men and machines were able to establish such a record.