DAYS OF PERIL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 January 1941, Page 6

DAYS OF PERIL

WHEN BRITAIN WAS SAVED

BY R.A.F. GROWTH IN STRIKING POWER. AIR MINISTER'S SURVEY. y (p,i-i li s h OlTici a I '.V ir< • h ‘ .Received This Day. 11.30 a.m.i RUGBY. January 17. The Air Minister (Sir Archibald Sinclair) emphasised the growing power of the R.A.F. in addressing Glasgow University students on the formation of a new university am squadron. . } c . "There is no doubt at all. sam A. Sinclair, "that it was the R.A.F. that saved this country from an miempt at invasion and from very grave danger of defeat in the dark months of last year. It will be the R.A ; F. which will go on strming fat heavict blows on the vitals of Germany and Italy in the coming year, and will blaze the way to eventual victoty. 1 strongly believe we shall see. before the end of ihe year, the path to victory opening before us." He expressed the view that: One of the great decisions in the history of the war will prove to have been that made two years ago. when we decided to build a particular kind of fighter, with eight machine-guns and a firepower greater than that of German or Italian fighters." Sir A. Sinclair also spoke of the Defiant fighter and mentioned that one squadron of Defiants held the record regarding the number of Germans brought down in a single day. It was during the evacuation of Dunkirk and the squadron shot down thirty-six m twenty-four hours. Defiants were still being used very largely now for night fighting. The Air Minister added that there were more modern types coming into use. Great bombers like the Hampdens. Wellingtons and Whitleys, with a sting in their tail, were now striking at the very sources of German and Indian military power. "At present," he said, "they are in numbers only a fraction of the German air force, but all through this year they are going to increase in numbers, quality and power.”