FRENCH OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE · (MORNING) ~he following Official Communique was issued this morning from French General Headquarters:­ ']he German attack is developing with increasingviolence. · Nothing of importance to report in central Belgium. The enemy has reached the Meuse from Liege to Namur and Sedan. The latter tovm has been evacuated and particularly desperate fighting is taking place in its immediate vicinity as well as in the region of D)inant... Tihe battle continues from the s.outhern outskirts of Longwy to the Moselle. Enemy attacks have been re­pulsed in the region of Wissembourg. Everywhere our troops and the allied troops are fighting gallantly against the enemy, who is putting forth his most intense effo.rt, chiefly by means of his tanks and aviation. Hy the end of May 13th, sixteen enemy aeroplanes were brought down. These must be added to the number given in the evening communique of May 13th. rn the course of the night our ·aviation carried·. out numerous reconnaissanceso ---000--­ 1Lt/5/Lt.O -No. 3. ALL FOR THE ALLIES IN 11AL!~YA. Japanese and Chinese Support. Whatever the Japanese and Chinese may be doing in China, in Malaya they are at one, and heart and soul with the Allies. Japanese appreciation of the way in which non-British nationals are allowed to work in complete freedom in this colonial territory has just been exemplified in a gift of £1,250 to the Malayan Patriotic Fund made by a Japanese rubber companyin the state of Johore. This gift was accompanied by a letter from Mr. S. Matsumoto, expressing his company's gratitude to the British for their protection. The Chinese in Malaya also are extremely satisfied with the treatment they recei ve from the British authorities. Their feelings were expressed by a Singapore Chinese leader, Mr. Tan Kah Kee, in a recent broadcast from Chunking. In this he said: "The Government of the Straits Settlements has on many occasions expressed sympathy with our relief work, praising us not only for our supreme patriotism to our f atherland, but also for our high responsibility and l aw-abiding conduct under the Colonial Government." Dominion & Colonial Affairs. G.P.O. P.N. 1650. 14/5/40. -No. 4. CORRESPONDENCE TO FINLAND The Postmaster-General announces that correspondence and Money Orders may again be sent to Finland, but the service is subject to heavy delay. The Air Mail and Parcel Post services are still suspended and insured letters cannot be accepted. GENERAL POST OFFICE .1_~5/40~ -No. 5. KENYA'S PART IN EMPIRE AIR TRAINING SCHEME. Ex-Governor's Confidence. Kenya is enthusiastically addressing herself to her role in the Empire Air Training Scheme, concentrating on the training of pilots, for which purpose a flying school is being established at Nakuru. Observers, wireless operators and air gunners are being trained in Canada. Air Marshal Sir Robert Brooke-Popham, formerly Governor of Kenya Colony, and now head of the Air Mission to the Union of South Africa and the Rhodesias, has explained that the flying school at Nakuru will be run on exactly the same lines as similar schools in England. Speaking of the development of the technical side of British Aviation, the Air Marshal said: 11W e are ahead of Germany type for type o In the last war we started about the same. In 1915 the Germans came up and got ahead technically: and then in 1916 we went ahead of themo In the spring of the following year the Germans took the lead, and later on it Vias our turn. "But there are definite indications now that just when the Gerrmns catch up with us we shall have gone ahead again, and that this time they will never be ahead." DOMINION & COLONIAL AFFAIRS. ·---·-­ Already Kenya has done much to aid the Imperial war effort ­40 per cent of the total male European population between the ages of 18 and 40 have enlisted with the East African Forces ­but she is resolved to do yet moreo The Governor has announced a re-survey of the Colony's man-power resources, in order to provide the maximum military ccntribution. Further volunteers are urgently required, though those men engaged in maintaining and developing production and in administering the Colony may be retained in their civilian capacities. DOMINION & COLONIAL AFF~~g§. ----·-~·oOo---·~-­ Weekly NOe 190 , • J ; , , n , T • ' ; ' 1 -; '­ AIR MJ:::J:HSTRY WEEKLY l'ifE'YS ~ETTER~ Note: The information contained in this News Letter may De used by the Press without acknowledgement. If it is desired to refer to the Lir Ministry as tho source of the information tho The Air Ministry' announces:-' is NOT C O,N TENTS. AIRCRAFT PRODUCTION SPEED-UP. W.,A~li..F. HAVE THEIR OWN DOCTORS NOW., GERMii.N "MYSTERY" FIGHTER& BRITISH BOMBER MAKES LONGEST WLR FLIGHT. MJJ'DC PILOT'S OWN WAR. MOUNTING GERM.AN AIRCRii.FT LOSSES,. P':''ess and Publicity Branch. Air Minis~ry, · King Charles Street, Vvnitehall, So\1\T., 1 0 17th May, 194Jg 2. iUJWRii.FT PRODUCTION SPEEJ2 UI:,., J.nothcr famous British aircraf·t firrr; ':ias i.n°ti"od.ucod a new training scheme for rocruits t.J tho aircraft industry Yvhich is speed·· ing up :production for tho Royal J,_ir Force~. Saunders-Roe Ltd., recently built a c~mplete school for instructing unskilled workers in operati~ms not requiring expert craftsmanship~ Many of tho new wJrkcrs arc men over tho military age, who have given up other work, not of national impcrtance to 0 do their bit" in aircraft production~ The first batch have finished their six wocks 9 course and are alroa(].y at work on tho new Saro-Lerwick Flying Boats now going into service with the Coastal Command. Their entry into the aircraft. industr;y coincides with the recent announcement of a further expansion and speed up of British aircraft production. Tho "Lerwick" is a two-motor, high wing monopl ane , all metal flying boat 9 designed for long range reconnaissance duties. Like the Sunderland, which has gained a great reputation for the Coastal Command, it is powerfully armed for defence. The wing spa11 is nearly 81 feet and the length 63 feet, and a crew of six is no:t'.'mally carried. 'I!he speed and other performance figures have not yet been released, but it may be taken that its two ls-400 h.p. Bristol Hercules engines make the 11Lerwick~t one of the fastest types in its class., Five women doctors have now been appointed to the R. l:..F,, Medical Service for special duties with the W.~.AoF• . ' Part of their job is the medical examination of the large numbers of cand.idates now entGring the Service in response to the roc.ent appeal for clerks, cooks and fabric workers. One will assist with the welfare and maintenance of health at the Reception Depot where W~A~AoFo members are undergoing their initial training. So1ne will be on duty at the R. ii.. F. Hospitals which aro speciaJ.1.y equipped for looking after W.L.1l..F. patients. ~ppointmonts are also planned at ;~ir Force stations where large numbers of w.,'....J•• F. ·personnel are employed~ 1rhe new medical officers wear a uniform similar to that of officers of the n.~.~.F. But their rank badges will be like those of officers of the Medical Branch of the R.~.F. They will be addressed as "Medical Officer". On their collars the d ••l.. J,. F. Medical Officars will r!ua.r the distinctive badge of the R.A.F. Medical Branch, the winged Caduceus of Mercury9 surmounted by a crown. GERlVLJT "MYSTERY" FIGHTER. Nazi broadcasters have recently been telling British listeners about a nci.v Hoinkel fighter~ It is quito possible t:iE , this "hush-hush" aircraft is only the rlo.112 9 a single seat fight'2._' of.comparatively old design; at first rejected for mass production. in favour of tho Me.109. In its oarliG~ form this Nazi fighter haa a single Junkt-r·s Jumo mot.or vf about 700 h. p. Tho newer versions a:>: e :probably fitted with th0 Germans t nou DB 601.i'.. motor~ claimed t, have a power output uf ab .·ut 1100 h$p. The He~ll2 is rather smaller than most single-seat f·ighters, but is reputed to be heavily armed9 carrying two shell guns and t·vvo machine guns. 'l'he :front silhouette is reminiscent ;.)f tho Br1t~Lsh ':Master" trainer and has given it the nickname of tho "Flying wu,. The enemy claim that this n;::;v1 fighter 11 cvon surpasses tn.o Mcssorschmitc j.n rnanoeuvring~ 11 but Ro\.F. fighter pilots have prO\T-;../) in combat that both the single and two soat vorsic,ns of the Mc.sse:r'·· schrnitt are unimprossiv-u L1 th.~s respect.. BRl_'l'ISH BOMBER MJJ\.J~S LONGEST Wi.R FLIGH'l1 • 'firn recent two-thousand miles non-stop flight of a B:ri'cish Wellington b~1fuorv from Scotland tJ Narvik and back, is the 10ngest active servic~ flight ever made • • 4. 1 Had it floYrn in a direct line from v-rnst to east the ah·craft would have reached a p ,int near Kazan in central ••sia9 beyond l':ijni Novgorod (Gorki). Flying westwards 9 the Wellington would have reached Botwood 9 Newfoundland, in one hop. This 11 Pecord" flight is onl3r one of a number of long distance reconnaissance flights made by R. ,·••F. aircraft far up into the brctic circle. hll have been carried out ~ith standard Service 1-..ircraft, under ordinary active service conditions~ with full aE1rimni­tion loads and crews. Mi..NX p ILorr ' s OWN V L R. 1. Manx pilot of the Fighter Command, statloned i11 the North of Scotland made an unusual contribution to a discussion about the war in his mess the other night. Jmd he supported his st atement by . producing a copy of his favourite Isle of Man newspaper9 "In the Isle of Man" 9 he said9 "we have been at wari v;rith Germany ever since 1914. "The reason is that 1 having our ow·n Constituti:._; .1 and our own Parliament, we are really a separate dominionq V'lhenevcr vrnr breaks out involving Britain ·we declare war ourselves. We did it in 1914. "But after the last war they f orgcit us at the Peace Conference, and we didn't sign tho peace. So when this war started there was rio need for the Isle of Man to declare w ar on Germany. WE- were already in it!" 1VIOUN1'ING GERIVL.J,T ~ -IRCIL.PT LOSSES . During the first eight months of war nearly 140 German air · craft are known to have fallen to tho Royal J.ir F·orce. This number refers only t,::: those enemy machines the loss of which has been con­firmed and officially announced. It excludes doubtful cases; also the very heavy losses inflicted on tho Luftwaffe by the Royal Navy and by the Royal 1.ir Poree on tho aerodromes in Scandinavia and Denmark. 5. ' In addition the Fronch have reported tho destruction of about fifty of tho enemy. Of tho Royal l.ir F·orce score the Fighter Comrnand has taken the heaviest t 8ll of enemy a i rcraft, most of them raiding Heinkels; Bomber Command had the next larg0st bag, nearly all of ther;1 being Messerschmitt fighters; the British ,.ir FOI'CG in Franco accounted for a la1"ge number of various types; and Coastal Command for some­thing like a dozen, tho maj":)rity of them Dorniers. Causes other than action by tho J·.11ied ./,ir Forces rosulted in the destruction of a considerable number of enemy aircraft. "Other causos"include f '.)rcod landings in onutral countries, and crashes of operating aircraft n:;t due t ::• air combat. In adcation there are the losses suffered by the Germans in Poland, and training losses. 'rho German aircraft type which suffered the heaviest .'a.cual tics was tho Mcssorschmitt Mo . 109. Many cf those f orm the ~;ota1 of ab;Jut thirt~r enemy fighters whi.ch may bo croditcd t c tho Prcnch air dofencos alone during the period und0r review. ·rhe He.111 als.~ sufferod hc:avily at tho hands of the ;.,.lli6s, ab '. ut thirty of these having b.__ en destroyed during tho eight months off Britain's shores, as well as a number in France. Ono ended its flight at Clact'-.;n cm tho last day cf tho eight rn~mth. The next biggest l:..)ss t :-· the Nazis was of Dornier 17 "flying pencils11 ; and :ov. 18 flying b~:;ats and Me.110~ the new· t wo-scat fighters, suffered ab :.'ut equal casualties. .;.'.. numbGr ,.if the la·bost type long.;..rango b ;:m1bor, the Junkers 88, \Vas als·:J destr•oycd, I EVACUATION SJRE.MEo --.....---.....-...----------..-.-....,,__:_...... Message from Her Majesty the Queen to Householders. Delivery has started of the personal message which Her Majestythe Queen is sending to householders in recognition of ~he service they have given in caring for children, mothers and others moved from the t'0wns and citites under the Government:' s Evacuation Schemeo The m:3ssage is as follows:­ "'T wish to mark, by this personal message, my appreciation of the service you have rendered to your Country in 19390 In the early days of the War you opened your dovr to strangers who were in need of shelter, and ~ffered to share your home with them. I know that to this unselfish task you have sacrificed much of your own comfort, and that it could not have been achieved without the loyal co-operation of all in your household.,. By your sympathy you have earned the gratitude of those to whom you have shown hospitality, and by your readiness to serve you have helped the State in a work of great value." "ELlZABETH R. 11 Tributes to the service performed by all householders who have cared for children and others under the Government's Evacuation Scheme as a "national service second to none" have already been paidby Mr. Neville Chamberlain, Mr. Walter Elliot and Mr. John Colvilleo The message is intended as a token of recognition from Her Majesty for those especially who over a considerable period have had the continued task of caring fon strangers in their homes. In accordance with this intention, each local authority, at the request of the Minister of Health and the Secretary of State for Scotland, has submitted a list of names. The message will go to at least 320,000 householders in England, Scotland and Wales. Distribution will be by post from Buckingham Palace. The present issue of the message will be to about half the number of the reception districts, and distribution will be completed as soon as possible to the other districts, from some of which full particulars have not yet been received. The heavy task of addressing so large a number of envelopes has been performed by voluntary help. Design of the Message. The message takes the form of a card 11 inches by 7 inches, designed by Mr. G. Kruger Gray, FoS.Ao At the top of the message is the crvwned shield of the Queen, surrounded by the en10lem of the Order of the Garter, with Her Majesty's supporters and royal badge$o On the dexter side of the shield are the arms of Hi s Majesty the King and on the other side the arms of Bowes-Lyono The shield is supported on the dexter side by the crowned lion ~f the King, and on the other side by the gold and red l~on which is one of' the supporters of the arms of the Queen's father, the Earl of Strath­ more. Upon the mound on which the shield and its supporters stand are the royal badges of the Sovereigno As a reference to the Dukedom of His Majesty before his accespion to the throne, the artist has shown the white rose of York as the principal element of the English rvseo The Queen's side of the mound is decorated with the thistle of ~er native land. MINISTRY OF HEALTH. SCOTTISH OFFICE. 1405.40. -No. 10. FlrnNCH TROOPS STORM POSITION NORTH OF NARVIK --~----------­ UNDER COVER OP DRITISH NAVAL GUNS. Norwegian Batteries FiI'e on Retr'eating Enemey From Eye-witness With The North Western Expeditionary Force. Somewhere in Norwa~r, Monday (D~layed in Transmission). In the half light of early dawn this morning I watched from the fore-top of our flagship the naval bombardment and capture of Bjerkvik1 on Herjang Fjord. Under cover of the guns of our warships, the French troops landed and stormed the snow--clad heights with dash and precision in the face of machine--gun and rifle fire. French tanks, landed by our navy, supported the attack from the right. Machine-gun nests in the ruins of the town were systematically blotted out. Gunfire from Norwegian batteries could be heard as they engaged the retl'.'eating enemyo Local peasants 1 whose houses had been carefully avoided during the bombardment when they were not occupied by the enemy, assembled to greet the I'apidly advancing French troops. As the advance progressed inland, the French Tricolour1 which had flown beside the White Ensign, was hauled down, and the flagship steamed slowly out of the fjord. Herjang fjord is just north of Narvik. 1 MINISTRY O:BINFORMATION. ·---..-----­ 14.5.40. -No.14. It has come to the notice of His Majesty's Government that malicious reports are circulating to the effect that the Allies are preparing to take hostile action against Spanish pl.;ssessions. It should scarcely be necessary to emphasise the fact that these reports are mendacious and entirely without foundation. As has already been stated in the House of Connnons, His Majesty's Government intend to respect the strict neutrality of Spain so long as it is respected by others. FROM FOREIGN !OFFICE NEWS DEPARTMENT. -----OoO----­ 14/5/40 -NO; 15, PRESS NOTICE. Small Craft (Information) Order, 1. 9 4 0, By command of the Lords, Commissioners of the Admiralty.· In pursuance of the powers conferred on them by Regulation 53 of the Defence (General) Regulations, 1939, the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty hereby make the following order:­ 1. Every person who at the date of this order has on any premises in the United Kingdom owned or occupied by him any self-propelled craft (including motor-boats) between 30 and 100 feet in length which are used for their owners own pleasure or for carrying fare paying passengers for pleasure, and which have not already been offered to or requisitioned by or on behalf of His Majesty shall withirr. 14 days of that date send to the Director, Small Vessels Pool, Admiralty, London, S.W,1,, a written declaration stating as at the date of this order what vessels as aforesaid were on the premises, with full de tails of those vessels including (in relation to vessels not ovmed by him) the name and address of the owner. 2.. This order shall come into effect forthwith and may be cited as the Small Craft (Information) Order, 1940. By conunand of their Lordships (sgd.) R.H.A. Carter, ADMIRALTY, s.w.1~ 14/5/L~O. -No. 16. PRE S S N 0 T I C E. The Minister of Shipping has appointed Mr. Eric Bowring to be his representative in Newfoundland. MINISTRY OF SHIPPING For the Information of the Press. Mr. Bowring is the Managing Director of Bowring, Bros. Ltd., of Newfoundland. He was born at St. Johns, and was educated at Shrewsbury. His father, the Hon. Charles Bowring, was a member of the Legislative Council of Newfoundland, and his cousin, Sir Eric Bowring, was formerly High Commissioner in London for Newfoundland. 14/5/40 -NO: 18. MINISTRY OF HEALTH. The Minister of Health has sent letters to local authorities, insurance committees and voluntary hospitals in England and Wales drawing their attention to the liability of doctors to compulsoryservice in the medical branches of H-·.M.Forces where they are within· the age limit (at present 36) of Proclamations under the National Service (Armed Forces) Act, The letters explain the procedure by which the Central Medical War Committee (assisted by its local committees) ~11 recommend doctors for service with the Forces after takinf$ into aoaount the needs of the various civilian medical services {including A •.R,P. services), Local authorities, insurqnce committees and voluntaryhospitals are asked to consider urgently the situation of the services for which they are responsible, and to recognize that they must be ready to make every reasonable contribution to the needs of the fighting services which can be mad.e without serious impairment of the civilian services. The Secret~ry of State for Scotland has issued .similar letters to local authorities, insurance committees,-and voluntary hospitalsin Scotland, MINISTRY OF HEALTH, Whitehall, s.w.1, . ~--·' - Tho \.'ar Office, Londonp S. i.·J.1. 1L~th May, 19~-0. The 1do.r Office issues the followin,z corrununic.:.ue: Allied forces have made a successful landing at BJERKVIK seven miles North o:f N11RVIK, sufferinG onl;sr o. few minor casualties. BJ:SRKVIK is in rear of the German positions in the GRATANGEN area, where our forces made a successful attack at the same time. An enemy detachment which had landed at HEMNJLS was bombarded by a British warship. Casualties were ~nflicted on the enemy. . -? c,, I The iJar Office, Lonf]_on, s. .1. 14th May, 1940. LOCAL D:CFL:NC.E VOLUNT~. The War Office announces that in ox•der to supJ_Jlement, from sources as yet untapped, the Home Defences of the country, it has been decided to create a new force to be knovvii. as "Local Defence Volunteers 11 • This force, which will be voluntar~,r and unpaid, will be open to British subjects between the ages of' seventeen and sixty-five years of age~ The period of service will be for the duration of the war. Volunteers accepted uill be provided with uniforms and will be armed. Men of reasonable physical :fitness and a ~mowledge of fire arms shoµld give in their names at their local police stations.. The need is greatest in small tovms, villages and less densely populated areas. The duties of the force can be undertaken in a volu.'"lteer's spare time. Members of existing Civil Defence organizations should consult their officers before registering under this scheme. The force will be under the Command of the General Officer Crnnmanding-in-Chief', Home Forces. 14/5/40 Np.22. PARCELS FOR N. W.E.F. There is apparently some confusion about the correct way of addressing and posting i)n.rools for ~he .:N.u.E.P. Parcels up to 22lbs in weight will be accepted at any Post Office for transmission to British troops in Norway. They should be addres~ed as follows: Army or R. A.F. Number, Rank, Name, Squadron, Battery, Company or other section of a Unit, .Army or Air Force Unit N.W.E.F. The special rates of postage are the same as for the B.E.F~ viz, not exceeding 'lbs•••••••••• 9d. II II •• 0 ••••••• ?lbs l/6d.. " II 11lbs •••••••••• 2/-s. II II II " 22lbs ........., 3/6d. WAR OFFICE MEM. TO SUB. EDITORS. As this script is issued in advance please check with actual broadcast at 9.10 Home Service this (Tuesday, May 14) evening. THE LOCAL DEFENCE VOLUNTEERS. Broadcast Address by the Rt. Hdn. Anthony Eden, MeO., Secretary of State for War~ I want to speak to you to-night about the form Jf warfare which the Germans have been employing so extensively against Holland and Belgium -namely, the dropping of troops by par~chute behind the main defensive lines. Let me say at once that the danger to us from this particular menace, although it undoubtedly exists, should not be exaggerated. We have made preparations to meet it already. Let me now describe to you the system under which these para­chute raids are carried out. The troops arrive by aeroplane -but iet it be remembered that any such aeroplane seeking to penetrate here would have to do so in the teeth of the anti-aircraft defences of this country. If such penetration is effected, the parachutists are then dropped, it may be by day, it may be by night. These troops are specially armed, equipped, and some of them have undergone spedialised training. Their function is to seize important points,such as aer~dromes, power stations, villages, railway junctions, and telephone exchanges, either for the purpose of destroying them at once, or of holding them until the arrival of reinforcements. The purpose of the parachute attack is to disorganis.e ana. confuse, as a preparation for the landing of troops by aircraft. The success of such an attack depends on speed. Consequently the measures to defeat such an attack must be prompt and rapid. It is upon this basis that our plans have been laid. You will not expect me to tell you, or the enemy, what our plans are, but we ere confident that they will be effective. However, in order to leave nothing to chance, and to supplement,from sources as yet untapped, the means of defence already arranged, we are going to ask you to help us, in a manner which I know will be welcome to thcrusands of you. Since the war began, the Government have received countless en~uiries from all over the Kingdom from men of all ages, who are for one reason vr another not at present engaged in military s~rvice, and who wish to do something for the defence of the country. Now is your opportunity~ We want large numbers or such men in Great Britain who are British subjects, between the ages of 17 and 65, to come forwar~ n,ow, and offer their service, in order to make assurance doubly sure. The name of the new force which is now to be raised will be the "Local Defence Volunteers". This name, Local Defence Volun~eers, de~cribes its duties in three words. It must be understood that this is, so to speak, a spare-time ~ob, so there will be no need for any volunteer tu abandon his ~resent occupation. Part-time/ .. 2 ­ Part-time members of existing Civil Defence organisations hould ask their officers' advice before registering under the scheme e 'en who will ultimately become due for calling up unc1er the National ervice (Armed Forces) Act may join t emporarily, and will be released o joih the Army when. they are req_uired to serveo Now a word t o those who propose to volunteero \l\/hen on duty ou will form part of the Armed Forces, and your period of service will e for the duration of the War~ You will not be paid, but you will eceive uniform and will be armedo You will be entrusted vl"i th certain ital duties, for whj_ch reasonabl e fitness and a knowledge of fireams s necessaryc 'l'hese duties will not r eq_uire yo u t o live away from you:rr· '.Jmes e In order to vol unteer$ what you have t o do is to give in your :i.me at your local Police Station; nnd then, as and when we want you, 8 will let you known This a·o-µeal is dj_rectec1 chiefly to those who li ve in small )wns, villages ~ and le ss densely inhabit ed suburban area.so I must 3.rn you that, for certain mi litary reasons 9 there will be some )Calities where the number s r eq_uir ed vvill be small, and others where )Ur services will not be r eq_uired at all,, . Here then is the opportuntty f or which so many of you have ~en waitingc You loyal help, added to the arrangements which already ~ist, will make and keep our country safeo .R OFFICE /\.IR MINISTRY BUI.T,ETIN No~687. No.25­ OPERATIONS IN THE LOY.' COUNTRIES. The Air Ministry nnnounces:­ The object of our air opcrntions in the battle now developing in the Low Countries hns been twofold: to harass the enemy's deployment ~nd communications and to protect the ndvnnce of Allied troops. To this end throug~out yesterday and last night our Bomber J\.ircrnft continued to attack the enemy's rond and rail approaches to the Dut~h and Belgian battle fields. In spite of poor visibility and bad flying conditions, considerable damnge wns done to the enemy's lines of communication in this area. Vigorous attacks were made on enemy columns along the ronds in Brabant which were successfully blocked. Whitley and Hampden Bombers carrying out these operations used nurachuto flares to assist in identifying their targets. They encountered heavy A~· ll.. fire. Further north on the Dutch battlefield importnnt railway bridges were attacked nn~ 2 f~re was seen to break out following n direct hit from 4,000 feet. From these operntions ~11 our nircrnft returned safely. Fighter J\.ircrnft have been ~onstantly on patrol over the battl~field and the apnroaches to it. In nlmost every engagement they have unhesitatingly attacked formntions far larger than their own. In one encounter, three Hurricnnes attacked thirty enemy bombers nnd their fighter escorts nenr Vouzieres. One Messerschmitt 110 and one · Heinkel 111 were shot down. In this fight, a Hurric~ne pilot forced nnother Heirikcl 111 to crash, landed bea.ide the enemy nircrnft, and took the crew prisoner. In the grim battle now in progress the utmost gallrmtry and audacity nre being shown by the crews of our aircraft. In the dnys work our Fighter pilots have inflicted on the enemy at least four times the losses they have suffered themselves. AIR J,FFAIRS'!.. 14/5/40 ~ NO: 26. PRESS NOTICE. The King has been pleased to approve the following appointments:­ Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs The Rt. Hon. Viscount Caldecote, C.B.E. Secretary of State for Scotland The Rt, Hon. Ernest Brown, M.C o~ M.P. Minister for Aircraft The Rt. Hon. Lord Beaverbrook. Production President of the Board of The Rt. Hon. Herwald Education Ramsbotham, 0. B.E. ,M •. C •.,M. P •. Minister of Agricultureand Fisheries ' The Rt. Hon. Robert Spear Hudson, M.P. Minister of Transport The Rt.Hon& Sir John Reith,G.c.v.o.' G.B.E. 9 M.P. Minister of Shipping Ronald Hibbert Cross Esquire, · M.Po Minister of Economic Warfare Hugh Dalton Esquire, D.Sc., M.P. Chancellor of Lancaster the Duchy of The Rt. Hon~ Lord Hankey, G.C.B., G.C.M,G.' G.c.v.o. 10, Downing Street, Whitehall, s.w,1. 14th May. 1940. lW5/40 -No 27 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED ON THE CLUB TAPES OR BY BROADCAST OH IN ANY WAY BEFORE THE MORNING OF THE 15th MAY, 19400 The Belgian Minister of Finance The Chancellor of the Exchequer of the United Kingdom, and The French Minister of Financeo have con~luded a tripartite financial agreement whereby reciprocal financial facilities for the settlement of .their expenditure are granted as oetween Belgium and France on the one hand and as between Belgium and the United Kingdom on the other hando , This agreement is a token of the financial and monetary solidarity of the ·three countries with a view to their common victoryo TREASURYo 14th May, 19400 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN ANY COUNTRY BEFORE THE EVENING NEWSPAPERS OF W:GDNESDAY, 15TH MAY, 1940, OR BROADCAST BEFORE 7 A.M.. ON THAT DATE. Note: The information contained in this News Letter may -be used by the Press without 2c~mowlcdgemento If it is des i:ced to rq_:f.21::_t_Q_~;h.c Ajr Ministr;y as th£ s 01.:i.rcc of' t::.1c information, the cx~)ress ion mrhe Air Ministl"'Y Annou...J.ces-?':trisJ:joT -to··be used.., ------"""'"__..,_.__ ...... 11 CATERPILl.ARi' JUMPS BY NI GI-IT~ YELLOW FOR VISIBILITY.. TI-IE NEW ZEALANDERS IN AC'.1:1ION. v.c's OP THE AIR. B~Ao F,.F. RUN SNAIL FARM. WEY SIRENS ARE S ILEN're HIS LA.ST ASSIGNivIENT" Press and Publicity Branc4, Air Ministry, King Charles Street, SitW4' lo 15th May, 1940. "CATERPILLAR" JUMPS BY_NIQJi~o • Another fo_,AoFa pilot has qualified for membership of the Caterpillar Club~ He is a pilot at a Fighter Command station. His undercarriage was damaged and he was forced to "bale out" during recent night-~flying excrciseso While in the air thq pilot discovered that he could lower only one wheel of his undercarriageo He reported by radio telephone to his S~uadron CaOo on the ground, and flew low along the aerodrome's "flare path" to demonstrate the fault;y~ 11 undcr--cart"o To attempt a one-wheel landing~ risky at any time, might be disastrous in tho dar·kness; the Ca Oo ordered him to remain alofto Constant touch was kept with him by radio telcphoneQ He was ordered up to 61 000 feet where he flew in circles for a considerable time in order to exhaust his potrolo There was no need to add fire to the anxieties of the nightc Neighbouring Observer Corps and searchlight posts were warned to expect a crash. Exact instructions were given to the pilot, Another fighter was sent up to keep him companyo At length the pc srol was running lowo Last instructions went crapkling up by radiol) The pi1hot was facetiously reminded by the c.o. that when pulling tho hand-ring which releases tho parachute, ho must not drop the ring and lose it, because there is a fine of 5/-f'or its replacemonto Now the petrol was exhausted, the engine was idling. Directipg his aircra~ towards the open country away from villages, the pilot loft tho controls, opened tho cockpit door, stepped out onto tre main wing, took one look at the black-out below, and in his own words "went down like a bomb11 o Ho aimed to land beside a searchlight post, and actually drop~od on his back, only a trifle shaken, within 200 yards of it. The aircraft flow on to its lonely crash~ When the pilqt was picked up by a car sent out by his c.o., ho was found cn~oying a large cup of tea at a nearby f'ann. He still had his parachute ring~ Ho so.id he had boc;n uvory glad to have something to hang on to"• YELLOW FOR VISIBILITY. Bright yellow is the most striking of all colourso It is noticeable c:i.t n far g11 ontor di stance than white•. It has boon used for a long time to distinguish R.AoF• trainer aircraft~ Now I it is being used much more 'widely by the Air Force. To facilitate the search for crews of R~A~Fo aircraft who may be forced dovm into the son as a result of engine failure o~ enemy action, tho inflatable dinghies carried by all service airc~aft operating over wo.ter have bo;:,n painted bright yellow#' Bright yellow skull caps, which can quickly be donned by tho dinghies' occupants, are also to be supplied to flying crews, and experiments are being made with a chemical substance which will generate a largo yellow patch on the sea o.round the dinghy to guide searching aircraft. THE NLW ZEALA.L°'IDERS IN A.CTI ON. It is barely two months since tho men of the New Zealand Squadron of the R~A~F.. Bomber Command flew their aircr~ft on their first operational flight, a 11 swccp11 over the North Scao They have already laid tho foundation of a fine record. Tho New Zealanders took part in the bombing attacks on German air­craft concentrations at Stavanger aerodrome in Norway and Aalborg aerodrome in Denmark~ More recently a single aircraft of the squadron carried out tho longest reconnaissance flight of tho war, more than 21 000 miles from North Scotland to Narvik and back up the Norwegian Coast in broad daylight9 The Squndron has also performed two reconnaissance flights over north-wost Gerrnany~ On each of these the excellent navigation of the New Zealanders was specially mentioned in an official report. In their successful attacks on Stnvnnger and Aalborg the o.irc:rat't encount~red heavy fire from tho ground bnttol'ics but all returned safely to their base~ In none of these operations has the squadron suffered any co..su~ltios~ The spirit of the squo..dron is excellent~ I:i the words of tho Squc.dron c.,Oo: "After months of training>' tho crows were very ploasod to got off tho mark and have their crack at. tho oncmyQ11 VoC 9s OF THE AIBo .14o Lioutcnnnt Alan Jerrard,. Lieutenant Jcrrard Wcl:.! his Victoria Cross on tho Italian Front f'or his part in one of the most hectic air engagements of all time~ On the 30th March, 1918~ he went on an offensive patrol with two other officorso He began the do..y by c..ttacking five enemy aircraft. Ho shot one down in flruncs and followed it to within 100 i,. of th~ grounde Ho then attacked an enemy aerodrome from a height of 50ft. and engaged single-handed some 19 circraft which wore landing or attempting to tnko offo He destroyed one and it crashed on the aorodromco Jarrard was then attacked by a lnrgo number of German aircrafto While fully occupied with tho enemy Jcrrard noticed that another mcmbor of his patrol was in difficulticso Regardless of his own safety ho went immediately to the other pil0tts assistance and shot' down a third machincc Moro enemy aircraft continued to rise from the aerodr ome. ·Jorrnrd attacked thorn one after anothero He only retreated when ordered to do so by his patroJ. loader with five of the enemy in pursuit~ Again and again he turned to attack his pursuers until ho was finally forced down, wounded, behind the Allied lineso Jerrard h~d already distinguished himself on four previous occasions within n period of 23 dayo, dcnt:roying onemy aircrnft.. · ·. and showing courage and skill of the highest order. Born at Lewisham in December, 1897, Jerrard was educated nt 4,rundcl Schoolo Ho received his flying training at a Lincolnshire ncrodrom,; and jo ·n.... ...l th..; i{ ..l. .. Fo from t:nc South Stuffordshi r·e Regiment.. .~.!A~ F. F "-RUN S1'Ii..II~~l:i:_R)4o The s~na.llost c.nd pJ•obc.bly tho s tr.'.J.ngost fcam in the wor:v is owned by o. squr,dron of the B.J.i... F., in Frnncco It is a snail fnrr11 and its aron is oxnctly 16 sgucre fccto Members of the sau0.dro'1 loc.r:'l0d ropcntly from their French neighbours that £'.. qunntity of edible sno.ils was f'rco for the to.king in the surrounding cobntry" By ox:pcrionco they knew that the snnils wore good to e2t., So tho ·i farm'' was created. Snails do not take up n grco.t deal of room. .A. fOUP f'c.,.. sq_uo.ro wire-netting enclosure W'.:'..s constructed -not to prevent tr.t.. snails from straying, but to protect them from their nnturql enomi~ the birds -nnd tho fO.I'ill 1NO.S stocked c.t the Solo cost Of a l:i,ttlo labour'$ Early in the mornings the :=t.AoF• officers go snail hunting.. Tho ir cnpturcs _re brougD.t home o.ncl turned loose in their compound~ Libcr2l rations of fresh lco.vcs arc fed to tho snails. When large enough they o.rc sent t'.) tho squc.dron' s French chef to 1J,3 cookcd.:i But tho Jc~~F.F. docs no~ st~p at snnilse Dcmdclions hn.vo begun to nppco.r on Mess monuso In Frc1ce . and in the Unitea. Stc.tos, drmdc lions h2vc been used o..s vogetnbles and salads for goncrGtionso ~hoy o.ro even sold by pedlars in the strectso Tho French ce.11 tl1e weeds by a ra-&her unappetising .nrn.J:f: ·bu'cthc f1nvour is 7'Jl"Y :_1lcc.sant €.:ithcr rc.utt r.s n so.lad, or boiJ:-;a WHY s:::i.ENS f-i.RE SILENTQ W.ncn you ::•co.d •ccoun-~s of Gcrrnnn f'.ircra:rt e.ctivity near our cx.sts ycu 6.='tc:i sc'-' -:no words: ''No air re.id w2rnings were s ou..ridoa.0 • Some po<' ;10 nssumc thnt t hese words are a crit1cism, \ that nir raid warnings should hnvo boon sounded~ Spitf'iros nnd Hurricanes of' Fighter Commm1d hnvo brought down mnny of' t.ae raiders who ·~oolr pnrt in this netivity~ Others hnve been shot down by shore or ship AgA,, gunsa If' sirens hr.cl been sollndod every time one of those roia.ors hnd npproachod1 mo.ny valunblo hours of war:,1mc industry would ho.vc been lost; children ond old people would h~ve had their nerves upset unnecessnrily; · nnd tho rest of us would by this time bo treating nir rnid s irons with f'runilinl" contornpte The decision to give or not to give nn air rnid warning rests with the Air• Officer Corruu2nc1ing-in·4 Chief, Fighter Comm2nd. When the Germt'.ns start serious rnids on land objectives you will honr the air raid sircnsQ HIS LAST ASSIGNMENT.. Crippled in nn engC1gcmcnt over Frc.nco with a fighter o:f the A.,A"'S.Ft, n Germcm bomber mo.de n forced lnnding nt Limbourg, Belgium, recently~ Tho compass was shc.tte1"cd by machine-glm bullets md other instruments were shot awnyo A member of the crew wns mortally woundedo He was n German journnlist~ nnmod Fritz Storn~ He was shot in the lung nnd in the thighQ He died soon nfter the aircX'F~.:·t, landed and was buried with military honours4 ,