WL!±O -NQ: 1. ReA,F, PILOT'~ACCOUNT OF PRAGUE FI.IGHT. (Not ta be .quoted as an Air Ministry announcement). One of the pilots who was engac;ed·Qr.l a recent reconnaissanee flic;ht over Bohemia gives the followin3 aecount of his experience, Our particular objectives that night were Prague and Pilsen~ So we set our course to the East. The weather happened to be excellent. A good moon, with visibility in the region of thirty miles. '.I1hat is not alvmys the case. Many other crews have had to fl;}r in much worse weatheJ..... This time we were lucky. We climbed to our operational hei0ht, then throttled back our engines to cruisinz speed, anc1 got ou~ aircraft trimmed, On this occasion we were carrying a crow of six, comprising pilots, navigato1~s, gunners anc1. wireless operators. Our particular trip was .zoinz to take us ei ;..:;ht to 11ine hours. We also had to a:llow roughly another hour f'o1"' loolcing around and unloading our pamphlets. With the aircraft trimmed t here was nothing very much to do for the moment. The navigator was checking up on his landrnarlrn as they came into view, and from time to time, as the sky was clear, he woulr"l take a sight with his sextant. There was plenty of light from the moon, and features on the grouna. were easily discernible. As we reached the German frontier it was aifficult not to believe that the eyes of every German on the ground. must be lookinG up at us. But nothin.:;; !1appened just then, No se~rchli:shts were trained on us. No suns were fired., ana. no enemy fighters came up to tr-y anct intercept us. Sometimes on thes e flic;hts it is inten3ely co1Cl. and one needs all the kit one can possibly put on, .This night, hovvever, was comparatively warm and no one need.eel. his heavy flying clothing. 2 From the frontier our course lay· over the Rhine. Soon P.ranl<:fort p0ssed beneath us. Then Nuremburg was slipping past beneath our wings. We remembered the fRmous racing tr2ck there and wondered when it would again be uscd ·:Cor an interna­tional event. N.ow Germany lay beneath us under a cover o:.'." snow, and thou~h this added to the lightness of the night, it also me.de features on the ground. h8.rder to distinguish. After a time, we noticed that the rigid black-out, which had been mainti:»ined in Germany, wns 9.iminishing, ~d we knew that we had now crossed another frontier, into Czecho-Slovakia. Our next excitement was when the navigator warned us that we were a~pronching Pllsen, home of the great 8koda armament works, and of the, perhaps ever more famous, lager beer. We slowly lost height as we approached, and then, levelling out, we flew across the town and dropped a couple of parachute flares to announce our arrival to the residents and visitors. There was no re~ly, and the navigator set us on a new course, heading north-east for Prague. There was no mistaking Prague. The whole town was a blaze of light, houses, street lamps and factories were all lit up. Even the ornamental lir,hting on tho bridge was aglow. Again we flew low over the City, while two of the crew began scatterin~ the many thousands of leaflets which we were carrying. Without interrul)tion, we completed our job, anc1 when the last le2flet had vRnished astern, we swung round and began the long and monotonous flj_ght back to our base. By now everyone was feeling a bit sleepy. Some of them were h~ving a hot drink. Others were eatin~ chocolate or chewing gum. The time passed slowly, but at last we recrossed the Czecho­Slov~kian border and were back again over Germany where the bl~ck-out was as effective as before. Once we passed over an areo.. where several searchlights leapt into action at our ap~roach. But we were flying too high for them to be effective. -3 ­ The weather was still good enough, but the sky had now beoome overcast and there was a slight drizzle of rain. We orossed the Rhine Valley and noticed that while the Valley itself was still covered with snow, the river appeared to be unfrozen. As we neared home we kept a sharp look-out for another aircraft which had left about the same time as ourselves on a similar mission, ancJ. which we knmv vras now a few miles ahead of us. We did not see ru1ything of him. Our Base aerodrome was now getting very close and the erew had already started to stow away their gear. There was going to be no time wasted once we had landed. A few minutes later the lights of ( our aerodrome came into view, and almost immediately we got the signal giving us permission to land, I oan assure you it was promptly accepted9 and we taxied in to find good friends on the ground with plenty of hot tea ready, waiting for us. AIR AFFAIRS . · ~. 0 1l1/40. -No. 2. FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. (Morning) Paris -March 2nd 1940 The following official communique was issued from French G.H. Q, . this morning~­ A quiet night on the whole. (Not to be (1uoted as an 2/3/49 ,.. No• .3.•. Air Ministry announcement.) ' NEH CAP FOR R.A.F. OFFICERS OF AIR .RANK. Ap:proval has been given for the introduction of a new pattern Field Service cap and badge, to be worn b~r R.A.F. officers of air rank in place ;)f the present Field service cap. The new cap is of the s mne material and general design of the present one, but the tip , :peak and flap are piped with a light blue faced cloth. The present eagle and crmvn badge is replaced by a gilt embroiderec1 clesign, similar to but smaller than the present air officers' cap badge worn with the Service dress _cap. It consists of a wreath of laurels surmounted by a lion and crovvn, all in gilt embroic1ery, with an eagle in gilt metal superimposec1. ---....000----­ AIR AFFAIRS. 2.3.40. No.4. I.S.7. NOT TO BE PUB:iI~HI<;D BJ:.F·o±~_l'IIONDAY 2 ,~th M.AHCH, 1940. MINI STHY OF SUP.i J_;Y. PRLSS NOTICE. IRON .A.ND ST'EEL CONTROL. The Minister of Supply has made the Iron and Steel (No.7) (Scrap) Order, 19·10, to take effect as from the 5th Mar.ch. It fixes new prices for iron and steel scrap and supersedes the Control of Iron and Steel (No . 5) (Scrap) Order, 1939 (S.R . and o., 1939, No . 1626) . The effect of the Order is to increase the main range of maximum prices of iron and steel scrap by from 5s. to lOs. per ton . Adjustments to meet changing conditions have led to l arger incre~ses in a few cases. In substance the scope of the Order remains unchanged but there have been certain ad.ditions to the specifications of the material covered by the maximum price provisions. The Direction (No . l) under the Order issued therewith repeats the provisions of the similar Direction under the previous Order exempting the sale ~nd purchase of scrap from the reQuirement of licence except for certain special types. Coyies of the Order may be purchased from H.M. Stationery Office or through any bookseller. Ministry of Supply, The Adelyhi, w.c .2. 1st March 1 1940. ~1( r-"i 2/3/40 -No. 9. Amendments to Chancellor of the Exchequer's speech. Page 2, line 7 after "Navy11 insert "Army". 3 5 II "Command11 , insert "Unity of policy". " " 3 " 15 ll "ourselves11 add "or our Allies11 • " 4 II 3, strike out "by well-meaning people11 • " u II II 4 9, "being applied11 and substitute " '0 taken place''. 4, last line, after 11 ought to be" insert "when a thingis scaroe, it is costly''. As this script is being issued in 2/3/40. : ~P• 2 advance it should be checked by the broadcrast in the B.B.C. Home Service at 9.15 this (Saturday) Evening. NOT FOR PUBLICATION UNTIL AFTER 9.30 µ.m. SIX MONTHS AGO AND NOW BEO.ADCAST BY THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER ON SATURDAY, MARCH 2nd, 1940 When we reach 11 o'clock tomorrow morning we shall have been at war for six months. In the west, the course of the struggle during these six months has certainly been very different from what might have been expected. ~here has been no air attack on our towns. Ae for land warfare, in every previo-q.EJ war during the past century in which Germany has been engaged, she bas started with the method of lightning smash and grab -it was so in 1864, in 1866, in 1870, in 1914. Within a few days of the outbreak of the war of 1914 Belgium was over-run and within a few weeks large parts of eastern France were invaded. Today, not a French village is in German hands. There is not a bend, not a twist, not a dent, in the fortifications that defend France, from Belgium to Switzerland. The German war machine was keyed up to the highest point of preparation from the start and it forced its way thr0ugh Poland until it made contact with its ch9sen ally.,. Communist Russia. But on the western Front, all has remained quiet, while the magnificent arITlY' of France holds the Maginot Line and British troops of the highest quality and eQuipment have taken up position at their side. Unquestionably, Hitler was persuaded that Britain and France would not fulfil their promise to Poland, and Herr von Ribbentrop, who gave him this misleading advice, now tries, instead, to persuade the world that we have been preparing to attack Germany for years! We can afford to disregard these frantic inconsistencies. The whole world knows that there are no peoples more deeply devoted to peace than the peoples of France and Britain. We have no conceivable desire to invade or attack anybody. No one can suspect us of aggression. It is not we who invaded c,zecho-Slovakia and Poland. And of all the circumstances surrounding the outoreak of the war, the most conclusive and the most /significant -2 ­ siGilificnnt is this -thnt the free peoples of Britci.in o.nd of France, who know whnt war menns, nnd whose whole interests and desires are wrnppcc1 up in the preservr.tion .·u1d promotion of pecwe, should hnve fcl t there wc.s no choice but to tnke up the chnllenge. 'I'here you h~ve the clearest proof of CLll thnt essentinl liberties nre at stnke. Apart, then, from the constnnt vmtch Elnd wnrd li10.intained dny <"'.ncl night by the Nc.vy c.nd Air Poree, cmd apnrt from exploits like the glorious bc.ttle of the Plnto nncl the Eliznbetho.n rescue of our men from the Altmnrk o.nd the bold ndventures by our airmen, the :first six months of wo.r ho.ve been n period when the immensely powerful forces which might be expected insto.ntly to 011go.ge hnve ret:10.Lwc1 quiescent. We cr:mnot count on such Cl situntion continuing, but this is n moment when it is useful to reckon the ndvo.ntnges or diso.dvClntnges of the six months' lull. Certninly, in some respects, vre hnve been c.blc to mo.kw good use of the time. Unlike the enemy, ~e do not live in a eontinuo.l st o.te of wnr prnd to the call. But what I want to say tonight is that these efforts, strenuous and devoted as they are 9 form but a part , and the easiest part 9 of' the price that we may have to :pay for liberty. Freedom is not as abundant in the world today as it used to be, or as it ought to be. And that rrakes freedom a very / expensive -5 ­ expensive thing to procure and to maintainc The Pinnish people are showing the world at this hour what is the price at which they value their freedom. Our freedom is at stake too 9 and there can be no limit to the price which we ar•e pj:>epared to pay to retain it. Inc1eed 9 the issue may be put in even wider terms. The outcome of this war is going to show whether the self-discipline of a free Democracy like ours is not a more potent instrument than the rnecl1anical dPilling of the most pmverful Totalitarian State. And when we think of the hePoism and the devotion of our fighting men; ready to face every peril in defence of all we hold dear, there can be no limit which we would set to our willingness to accept and endure burdens and restrictions, aye and privations, if need be, here at home. TREASURY. ·s~vv.1 :-­ 2/3/40 -Noo 6. Not for publication in any form before delivery of the speech on Sunday afterooon, THE CHOICE: STRUGGLE OR SLAVERY. LIFE IN BRITAIN IF THE NAZIS WON. MR. !lliRBERT MORRISON'S SPEECH AT BiilliiINGRA.1-Vi. Speaking at a Labour Party demonstration at Birmingham on Sunday afternoon, Mr. Herbert iilorrison, M.P., said.­ "If the British people are to realise the grave character of the issues involved in this war they must have ever present in their minds the picture of the might-have-been if Hitlerism had been permitted to continue to march over the liberties of the peoples of Europe, "To anybody but the ignorant OI' the wishful thinkers, it was abundantly plain that Herr Hitler and his Nazi associates were carrying through a programme which aimed at the Nazi domination of Europe and, if possible, of the world. "At the time we declared war on Germany Herr Hitler had already acquired considerable territories and resources and had thereby built up a position in which he was a grave danger to the whole European Continent. "Step by step, stage by stage, he was adding territory and resources to his military power, preparing for the day when he could with reasonable prospects of success make a direct challenge to the status and rights of Britain and France; and if successful become complete master of Europe. "Had that happened our liberties would have gone, and we would probably have been doomed to that same enslavement that has cursed the people of Germany for the past seven years. "A lying government-controlled Press. Steadily faked broad­casting. The suppression of all political parties other than that of Fascism. Secret police and private spying, even to the extent of children spying against their own parents. The corruption of the mind of childhood and youth. The destruction of the trade unions. The confiscation of properties and savings of co-operators. The reduction of the British standard of life -such is the picture of life as· it would be in Great Britain if the Nazis conquered. Such indeed is the picture of life for the neutrals unless the German Government is defeated in this war. "The Labour Party hates war -all its instincts and traditions are against it. We do not ·regard war as any permanent solution to t>-~~ problems of the world. But what we are up against, what Europe is up against, is the sheer brutality of aggressive force. The choice is between struggle and slavery. The struggle must go on~ The victory must be won. "And let it not be forgotten that victory is essential; but when the victory is won it will be the duty of all men and women of good outlook and sane instincts to see to it that the settlement is such that justice is done and that lawless aggression becomes impossible in future. The Air Ministry announces : Operations by the Royal Air Force over North West anc1 Central Germany proceeded throughout last night. Our aircra:ft were again ovei" Berlin. 'I1his is the t'ourth time this wecl;: that our o.ircraft have visited the enem:r co.:;;:ii tal. r 2/3/40 No~ 8. NEJIJ~-~~!.-•• :~1tAQE. Magnificent .• ~espon13~--~2-. c~).._l_ for Radio Mech8:fil:.£.~• The Air Ministry announces ~ More than 13 9 000 r adio enthusiasts have applied for enrolment. in the new R. A. F. trade of raclio mechanic announced by the Air Ministry three weeks ago. Besides inquiries made ·by applicants in person, the Air Ministry Inforrilation Bureau has dealt with 3,150 telephone calls and received 4,000 letters and postcards on the subjects This magnificent response has exceeded the most sanguine expectations of the signals experts of the R.A.F., but applications have been dealt with rapidly and efficiently. Medical and technical examina­nations have been held and a considerable number of recruits of the best type have been selected to serve in this new and speLl.allsed trade in which they are re-classified after one day's service "ri th the rank of Leading Aircraftmen and paid at the rate of 5/6a.. a day plus alloYrnnces. · Vacancies, though r apidly filling, still exist for rnen ·with the required qualifications. Ap1;licants should have a knowledge of the under­lying principles of super -heterodyne circuits. With few exceptions radio mechanics are required for ground duty only. A knowledge of morse is not necessary but the ability to ;'reason why" on radio r.1atters is essential.·' A particulnrly good response is being made by young men api;roaching the "calling up" o.Je. Iviany of them have vol'llnteered several months before t hey are r equired by law to register. There is certainly a splendid opportunity for young r adio enthusiasts to do their service in trade which will equip them with detailed knowledge of radio sufficient to make them expert. radio engineers when they return to civil life. ApDlication for enrolment as a radio mechanic should be made to a candidate's nearest combined Recruiting Centre or to the Air Ministry Information Bureau9 Kingsvvay, London, w. c. 2. ++++++++++ AIR AF:f..-1._I_RS. . w--J;l '5 ~ P/~~·~:t' Air Ministry Bulleti]l .?L2L.40 No. 10 R. A. F. BJGAT B:CIILIN AIR DE:B,DNCES ________ ­ __,__.-~...---~---­ _.._ For the fourth time this week aircraft of the R.A.F. Bomber Conunand were over Berlin last night. Thousands of leaflets were scattered over the city and parachute flares wore also dropped to drive homG the fact that our aircraft were once again over the capital of the Reich. Important towns in NortH·west Germany were also reconnoitred by other aircraft as well as Baltic sea port~. Aircraft, too, kept a close watch on the German sea-plane bases of Borkum, N orderney and Sylt., Operations continued throughout the night and it was not until well after dawn that the last of our a.ircraft returned to its base.. Pilots who were over Berlin rep.)rted on their retur•n that flashes. from anti-aircraft guns were seen as they approached the city and when they were over ito This is the first occasion on any of the flights this wee~ that the Berlin grourrlbatteriss have come into action, Their fire was wide of the mark and no evasive action by the bombers was necessary. There was intense search­ light activity over the capital, but the aircraft carried out their task witho~t being detected by lightsQ One ~ilot said that the search-lights, all of which has a pale blue beam, were too numerous to plote Another over the city at a different time reported that two search-lights were in action as some ,-.f the flares were drop2_•ed. One of the aircraft on reconnaissance over north-west Germany was momentarily caught in the beam of a big concentration of search-lightso The light flashed across the aircraft but did not hold it. AIR AFFAIRS n:o lj GIFT OF ROOKS HILL HOUSE • s:-;vENOJ\K8 TO R ,A. F. BENEVOLENT FUND The Air Ministry announces with deep gratitude that Mr. Alexander Duckham has presented Rooks Hill House, a large country house on hi gh ground above Sevenoaks, to the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, for use as a home for chilflPen of personnel of the Royal Air Force who lose their lives while flying. About 200 acres of land go with the house and in addition Mr. Ducl-cham is providing the Benevolent Fund vvi.th a substantial sum towards the cost of its maintenance and upkeep. This is the second benefaction which the Benevolent Fund of the Royal Air Force owes to the rnunific:o incc of Mr. Duckham. Shortly after the end of the last war he prosentoQ a large house (Vanf.brugh Caf3tle, BJ.ackhcath) for use as a home and school for sons of deceased airmen. Mr, Duckham' s act of generosity is espocia J.ly vvelcome at a time when heavy calls arc being made on the Royal.Air Force Benevolent Fund and when some of its main sou:·cos of poace-til'he income are not availar)le. Durin~ the 20 years of its existence tho fund has disbursed nearly £250,000 and its expenditure on relief of cases of distress in 1939 amounted to £23,000. AIR MINIS'I'RY AIR MINISTRY BULLETIN. TWO GERMAN AIRCRAFT.DESTROYED AT FRONT. The Air Ministry announces: ~ighter aircraft of the British Air Forees in Fl'ance to-day shot down two enemy aircraft -a Dornier which fell in France, and a Messerschmitt which fell behind the enemy lines. AIR f-iFFAIRS~ _____;_060------­ Y'3/4o FRENCH O_F_FJ.CIAL COMMUNIQUE (EVENING> Tho ~allowing officinl communique was issued this cvaning ~rom French G.H.Q:­ East of the Moselle one of our reconnoitring detnchinents wns nttnckod by a Germnn force superior in nUL1bors; n fight ensued with success to our arms nnd loss to the enemy. Incrensed nerL'.l nctivity between the Swiss frontier nnd tho Ardennes. +++ +++++++++++++ f.lIR MINISTRY BULLETIN. 2/3/40 -. No.... ....14. , (Not to be guoted ns nn Air Ministry o.nno~aement). DElill GERMAN AIRMEN WASHED ASHORE. The bodies of two Germo.n nirmen were wo.shec1 ashore on the .Northurnborlad Coast todo.y (.So.turday). A :rubber _d.inghy h~s nlso drifted ashore. A Heinkel r a1c1cr .wns shot down ten miles of:f the Northumberland const on Tuesday by the Nizrun of Hyderabad's Fi~hter 'Qornmnnd Squadron. The enemy o.ircr.1.ft foll into the sen in the midcU.e of n minefield. Three mombers of the crew were seon to take to their rubber boat. A Royal Air Foroe launch, with the hol:P of aircraft, went out in seamh of -the airmen, but f ailed to locate them. + + + + + + + + + +-:-++ + p;!.R MINISTRY ... 2/3/40 Addition to the broadcast b.y the Chancellor of the Exche~uer to-nighto The Chancellor concluded with these words: The test of courage for most of us is yet to come but with such a cause and with united determination to serve it to the uttermost ail will go wello +++++++++++