IN THE ROYAL AIR FORCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 August 1939, Page 6

IN THE ROYAL AIR FORCE

YOUNG NEW ZEALANDER’S EXPERIENCES. FLIGHT OF BRITISH BOMBERS OVER PARIS. “During the past fortnight I have been twice to France, a seven-hour trip. We flew over Paris and Lyons. 24 planes in formation,” writes PilotOfficer F. H. Long to his parents. Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Long, of Masterton. Pilot-Officer Long is now attached to the 102nd Bombing Squadron at Driffield, Yorkshire. "Paris is a marvellous sight from the air,” he writes. "We saw the Arc de Triomphe and the main street, the Champs Elysees. Altogether, in two or three formations, a hundred planes went over Paris. The streets were all lined with huge crowds waving flags and other things. . . We have been averaging about five hours' flying a day and most nights there has been nightflying. . . Today I went to a place called Cork, near Blackpool, to cooperate with the coastal guns. I had a good look at Blackpool. You could not put a pin between the people on the beach. . I have also seen Le Toquet, tlie famous French seaside resort. It is really beautiful —wonderful beaches and buildings. There were 30.000 troops marching down the Champs Elysees towards the Arc de Triomphe when we flew over.”