CHURCHILL’S RETURN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 August 1942, Page 4

CHURCHILL’S RETURN

WELCOME AT AERODROME PICTURESQUE NIGHT SCENE. BIG BOMBER ESCORTED BY SPITFIRES. (Bv Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) LONDON, August 24. The news of Mr Churchill’s safe arrival home tonight, after his historic journey to Moscow and Cairo, has been received with deep satisfaction. In addition to Mr Harriman, those who accompanied Mr Churchill included Sir Alan Brooke (Chief of the Imperial General Staff), Sir Alexander Cadogan (Permanent Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs) and Sir Charles Wilson. The party greeting Mr Churchill included Mrs Churchill, Sir Charles Portal, Major Randolph Churchill and Commodore E. J. Kmg-ston-McLoughry, D. 5.0., D.F.C. with bar, Air Officer Commanding the Ferry Command group which provided the Liberator for Mr' Churchill’s journey. When the Liberator was coming m to the Ferry Command aerodrome, the moon was rising on a cloudy sky and the flare path was lighted. As the Liberator did a first circuit of the aerodrome the waiting party walked oyer to watch the escort of Spitfires flying overhead. Although it was dusk, the Spitfires, in thick formation, were clearly silhouetted against the canopy of clouds. Captain Van Der Kloot, first nilot, brought the huge fourengined Liberator into a perfect landing. Mr Ciiurchi.il looked extremely well and not in the slightest degree tired. He was dressed in an air commodore’s uniform. He embraced Mrs Churchill in an affectionate return of her welcome and then met the rest of the party. Within a few minutes he was driven to a special train waiting for him near the aerodrome and was soon en route to London.