Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 1943. THE CHIVALRY OF THE AIR.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 April 1943, Page 2

Wairarapa Times-Age FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 1943. THE CHIVALRY OF THE AIR.

GREAT part of the world rang yesterday with the celebra-

tion of the 25th birthday of the Royal Air Force, and few occasions in human history have ever been better worth celebrating. Within a period that is brief, but exceeds the age of a very great proportion of the fighting airmen of Empire and Allied countries, the Royal Air Force has evolved from crude but noteworthy beginnings into a supreme instrument of war. At the same time there is in this evolution infinite promise, if it can but be turned wisely to account, of the safeguarding and enrichment in many ways of future peace.

Merely from the scientific, technical and mechanical standpoint, the brief history of the Royal Air Force is one of marvels, but side by side with the march of invention and the everincreasing power, speed and all-round efficiency of aircraft there has developed a spirit of valiant and devoted service in no way inferior to that which has animated the officers and men of our older armed forces for centuries past. The evolution of air power and of the spirit of the fighting airman are not, of course, the monopoly of any one nation, but in the present war the Royal Air Force, including in its ranks from the early days of hostilities men from all parts of the Empire, from the United States and from European and other Allied countries, has won a glory that is all its own.

Not only Britain, but the whole world of democracy and every possibility of the extension of freedom and justice throughout the world, were defended and preserved from disaster by the comparative handful of airmen, many of them mere youths, who smashed the assaults of the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain in 1940. To that commanding achievement and to all that has followed in an increasing tornado of attack on Axis gangsterdom, in its homelands and on the field of battle, vital contributions were made by the air pioneers of an earlier day. In honouring the Royal Air Force we of necessity honour also its parentage and all who have helped to make it what it is. In contemplating our chivalry of the air and the supremely important part it is called upon to play in every field of conflict, the thought uppermost in many minds must be, however, the call that is thus made on youth—an ultimate call on courage, devotion and the spirit of self-sacrifice. There are no invidious distinctions to be drawn between those who fight gallantly on land or sea or in the air, but no more exacting demand could be made than is made upon our airmen, so many of whom have fought and died without attaining their majority.

To all besides that is to be said of the power and achievements of the Royal Air Force and its associated Empire formations, and of .the yet greater achievements that are in prospect, it is to be added that nothing else could justify the sacrifice of youth entailed than a truly worthy cause, looking resolutely and with assurance to a better and nobler life for humanity in days to come. Tennyson, who pictured air conflict with a prophetic vision which must have seemed fantastic to many people of his day, pictured also that conflict continuing only

Till the war-drum throbbed no longer and the battle-flags were furled In the parliament of man, the Federation of the World.

There the common sense of most shall hold a fretful realm in awe, And the kindly earth shall slumber, lapt' in universal law.

For the time being the Royal Air Force has a great part to play in destroying the power of bestial and, predatory aggression. But a time it may be hoped is coming in which the air forces of free nations will exist only to safeguard peace, to uphold that universal law of which Tennyson sang and to extend and enlarge the friendly contacts of humanity in a degree that otherwise would be impossible. In that happier day it may be held that the sacrifice of the youth of this generation was not made in vain.