DEFENCE OF BURMA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 August 1941, Page 5

DEFENCE OF BURMA

HEAVY REINFORCEMENT r OF R.A.F.

AN ELABORATE SYSTEM OF AERODROMES.

MANY AMERICAN PLANES

(British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day. 9.27 a.m.) RUGBY, August 1. The Japanese occupation of IndoChina, which brings the Japanese armed forces to the eastern frontiers of India, gives significance to the news that the R.A.F. in Burma has been strengthened by the arrival of considerable reinforcements, including American built Brewster Buffalo multi-gun fighters, and that Burma is therefore now equipped for both offensive and defensive air action.

During the past few' months thousands of men and women have been constructing in the jungle aerodromes between the coast and the frontiers of China and Thailand, stretching from Lashio, in Upper Burma, to the Mergui Archipelago, in the south. These aerodromes are now completed. They are equipped with allweather runways, suitable for a take-off by fully-load-ed, heavy bombers. Plant for the maintenance and repair of aircraft has been provided, and pilot and ground crews live in comfortable quarters. Fuel, bombs and ammunition are stored to' meet all possible needs. The aerodromes are so located that they give Burma maximum protection against air or land attack from any quarter and give the R.A.F. advance bases from which to operate bomber squadrons. They ensure greater mobility for the R.A.F. in the Far East. Should the war spread to Malaya, Air Chief Marshal Brooke Popham will be in- a position to move squadrons to Burma in a few hours and to have his forces located to the best advantage. Buffaloes are arriving from across the Pacific in increasing numbers in the past’ few months, and have enabled fighter squadrons to be speedily formed. The pilots are all full of praise of the potential fighting qualities of these aircraft. One pilot, a member of a famous Spitfire squadron throughout the Battle for Britain, said the Buffalo has amazing qualities of manoeuvrability and combines high speed with a fast rate of climb and with its multiple large-calibre guns it is an aircraft to be feared.