BATTLE OF BRITAIN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 September 1942, Page 3

BATTLE OF BRITAIN

CELEBRATION OF SECOND ANNIVERSARY DEBT TO THOSE WHO DIED NOT FORGOTTEN. AVENGING ARMADAS CLOSING ON GERMANY. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 14. Today is the second anniversary of the decisive day in the Battle of Britain, when R.A.F. fighters destroyed 185 German aeroplanes for the loss of 25. Commemorating the occasion, Air Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding, who was Com-mander-in-Chief of the Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain, spoke at a gathering which was' attended by 10 leading pilots who participated in the battle. Sir Hugh said he was p"oud and happy to be surrounded by them. “Today they are two years older than on the day of the great battle, with more rings on their sleeves and more ribbons on their chests,” he said. “But if they had what they deserved, their chests and sleeves would be completely obliterated with embroidery.” He pird a tribute to those who lost their lives in the battle. “Let us remember with sorrow and affection,” he said, “those who did not survive. Let the many be mindful of their debt to the few.”

Also marking the anniversary, Lieut.General H. H. Arnold, commander of the United States Army Air Forces, sent a message to Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Portal, Chief of the Air Staff: “On behalf of the flyers of rhe American Army,” he said, “I wish to extend our tribute to the flyers of the R.A.F. on the second anniversary of their brilliant victory in the Battle of Britain. The deeds of your flyers on that day turned the tide of war, ending for ever the Nazi hope of world conquest, and made possible final victory for the United Nations.

“This second anniversary finds those few now increased to sky-filling armadas, which are wreaking vengeance manifold on the Nazis for those terrible days two years ago. Free men everywhere will ever observe this day in remembrance of those brave men wno gladly gave their lives to secure freedom and victory.”

In replying, Sir Charles Portal said: “Two years later the few to whom so much was owed nave, become many, and the airmen of the United Nations are converging on Germany from east and west, obliterating her war potential and striking terror into the hearts of her people.”