MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE 
55, WHITEHALL, LONDON, S.W.I 
7t h Au~u8t , 1945 
PJ:IBSS NOTICE 
M.1i .Ii'. 145.3 
CERTIFIED BkCKClf.J{rl1.J-tl"!T BUSHES 
The Mi ni s try of Agriculture has publish1d a R_egist er of st ocks of Bl ackcurrant Bushes whi ch have been certified in 1945 in re~pect of health and p urity . Ccpies of t he ~egister are available, fr ee anu post fr ee, fr o::.1 the Secret ary, Mi nistry of .iigr rculture and Fi sheries, Berri Court Hot el, St • .iinnes, Lytham St. ;ttnnes, Lanes. 
Not for publication, br oadco.st in overseas bulletins or use on club tapes before 2330 B.S.T. on 7. 8. 45. (i.e. for ilednesdo,y r.1ornin3s papers). Not t o be broadcast in the midnight nei7S of 7/8-8-45. Overseas messu3es should be prefo.cec1 ·with this enbargo. Air Ministry Nerrs Service .1)J1IB No. 19405 
THE HiiRVEST OF AIR/SE.A RESCUE 
It has nO'ii' been established that 5, 721 R.A.F. and .f\nerican o.ircrerr have been saved by the Air/Sea Rescue. Service in the wn.t-ers around Great Brito.in, during the period bet ween Februo.ry, 1941 , vhen the .Air/Seo. Rescue Organisation vvas formed, and the end of the wo.r age.inst Gernany. Of this total, 1,998 

Overseas, A • .3.R. units ~1ave r escued 3, 200 aircrei.-1 -a conservative figure in view.of the fact that conplete records were not kept in the early deys of the war . 
In addition, during the sGTae period, A.S.R. saved 4,665 soldiers, sailors and civilians in areas other than the seas ar ound Britain. 
Fr om a locnl r escue service, organised to opero.te during the Bo.ttle of Brito.in, the Air/Sea Rescue Service evolved, and an Air Iviinistry direct orate of 1/8/R was formed in February 1941. 
It is by no means an exclusively R.A.F. organisation. From the very beginning it has been closely associated with the Adr.iir~lty, '!fhe Royal Navy ho.ving playoo a very pror.1inent part in the \"lork. Other Services which have given the closest co-operation t hroughout the ·war include:­
Trinity House, Royal National Lifeboat Institution, G.P. O .. 
Northern and Irish Lighthouse Boards, Royal Observer Corps. 
Board of Trade, Merchant an'.3. FishiUE Fleets, c oastguards, polioe a nd 
of ouurse all R. A..F. operational Commands. 
Facts and figures formerly withheld for security reasons, now shorr Air/Sec. Rescue t o have played a vital role in restoring to active service o. large nur.1ber of highly-trained personnel. The iuprovised rescue service ultinately developed into the hiJhly-speoialised or ganisation playing an individual role in tD1 Day invasions, when 136 R.A.F. era.ft, n. lo..rge number of Naval craft o.nd 60 u.. s. coastG.·1 cutters wer e operating in the invasion areas al one. 
The story of A..8.R. is a story of constant adaptation to the needs of air wa.xf'o.re against a German-held Continent. In the opening stages of the Battle of Britain fight er-pilots had nothinG but their Mae Wests o.lthough all but single­
/ en3inea•••• 
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engined R. A.F. aircraft nere equipped vith rubber dinghies. _&.rly o.i rcre1;r 
losses in the sea. led to the fornn.tion of o. l oco.l rescue service at Dove:i;, 
operD.ted by R. A. F. high-speed kunches.9 navo.l craft and eight Lysanders harrowed from Ar:i-:1y Co-operation CoDLland. 
At this stage the Luftwaffe was better equipped in the rescue spher e, and a number of energency floats, stocked with the ueans to p.re·:exve lifel' v-ms stationecl along the Channel coo..sto All Geruan o.ircraft were also provided with dinghies D.!1d their bonber cre11s c..lso 'Cri.th a radio for distr ess signal s, One of their fighter~pilot di.nr;hies Ylas l ater captured and ~rently improved upon by the British service" A captured radi o was also used in like 
manner. 
R. A.F. rescues near the eneny coo.st were ve-::y ro.re,. Until the eneny l ost his coastline there -r1as a nurllber of occasions -r1hen the lives of R.. .A.Fo or i\r1,erico.n aircrew were K'..Ved by the enerJ.y1 s Eescue Service in response t o 
a.n international dist::ess si gnn.l.. 
Early in 1941 sixteen floo.ts were established alonr; the British coast on the same lines as the Geruan rafts., These proved helpful f:<om the point of vievv' of morale, but o.lthough visi.tea~, fro1.1 ti:·,w t o time, no o.ircrm7 was ever fourrl t o hnve taken refuge on them.. One ho.d bcoone the home of o. po.ir of seals.. 
In the early do.ys o. certain DJ11ount of chiValry existed between the German and British rescue servic2s but. in August, 1941, the .1eny attacked tvm R.A.F. high-speed launches and sunk then bo-~ho The t vm ,,303 guns on these cl:'aft were then replaced by four Brovmin~s, but throughout the mu: crews vrer-e under orders no;G t o attack but only t 0 defend themselves when necessary. 
With the forr.1ation of the Directorate of A. S.& in ::?ebruary, 1941 , rapid strides ·were mad€ in the development of the r escue system and rescue apparatus. By September cf that year the Rescue Service had 24 Lysanders and 9 1;falrus aircraft, the latter capable of coming dovm on the water close to a drifting crew. By March, 1942, its quota of H.S..Ls., had been au37;1ented by a further 50 Fairmile launches fro.n the Adniralty" In o. single yeo.r the number of R.A. F. aircraft open.ting in this Service had increased by 65~ 
One of the earliest developnents in_the means of dropping succour to ditched 
o rE!livS was the 1Thornaby Bagt, naneJ o.ftor RoA.Po Station '.l'hornaby, Yrhere it 
was 	i nvented. This was a contairer uf food o.nd first-aid., Subsequently/ the · I 'Bircham. ., ,, 
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'Birclw1 Bn.rrel' (n::ined after R.A. F. Stntiun Birchru.1 Nevrton) proved a.r.10re robust deVE:;lopnent of this idea, r.w.de frcn o. container of n. 250 lb,. bomb. This was an ir.1provenent on the Thorne.by Bo.13 but even nore successful vro.s the 'Linaholne Dinghy1 , d'evised c.t R. A.F. Sto.tion Lindholne• . This consisted of a l~ree o.nd y;ell-equipped dinghy to which survivors could transfer, nnd a string of f9ur containers stocked vrith f ood, wo.rr.1 clothing and distress signals•. Dinghy o.nd containers were dropped t o -vri.n~\-1nrd of the drifting tien, who c ould hel p theuselves to the food and c.lothing after tro.nsferring to the dinghy. 
Meanwhil e the 'K' type dinghy ho.d been issued to fightel'-pilot s. Thi s Yvo.s attached to their parachute harness and inflo.ted inr:1ediately they had ent ered the water and ho.d cast off t he harness. 
1..fter a nur.1ber of drifting nirorew ho.d been found deo.d in their dinghies, due to severe e:x:posure, it vms ces:icled tc equip din3hies ·with sails. These not only enabled the crevr to rnke sone pr ogress towards l n.nd but vrnre an iriportant factor in susto.inin~ noro.le. 
The first operation in Yvhich the Rescue Serv:i,oe officially took part Ylo.s Dieppe, in August, 194.2. Their lo.unches SD.Ved o. nur~ber of o.irorew, but three 
H.S. Ls. were sunk, with the loss of 2 officers o.nd 18 other ro.nks. By this t ime the 8ervice had been extended to .Anerico.n aircrei.-1s, who began to o.rri ve in Britain in increasing nur.1bers during 1942. ilnerico.n n.imen aocustoned t o flyi ng over vc..st tro.cts of land, fol1o·;;rec1 the pro.cti?e of bo.ling out if their chances of get bints the n.ircro.ft hone were remote., They Yvere unaccustomed to ±'lying over sea and were .untrained and not po.rticulo.rly well equipped for ditching. In the early sto.[_\es of thc;ir day o;ffensive the A.S.R. not only loaned the Amer i cans a great deo.l of equiph!ent but instituted training in the art of using every meo.ns then known to sustQ.in life until rescued. 
Americc..n fighter pilots were given 1K' dinshies o.nd Brit ish parachute harness. They \7er e also issued vr.i.th British M.ae Ylests, vrhioh had the advant age of a pad behind the neck to prevent th~ head fo.lling back in the water if the wearer l ost consciousness, 
The first occasion AJ:nericans were res.cued by A. S. R. YIDJ3 on the 9th Oct ober, 1942, $en a Fortr:ess crew, returning frot'l Li lle, ditched off the North Foreland. One of their two dinghies had been dnnaged but the nine men kept a.float and were rescued by leunches in 90 minutes, n.fter a passing Spitfire had radioed their position. / One... 
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0ne of A.S.R. 1s busiest da.js in respect of U. S. rescues wns in July, 194.3, v-rhe n the hea.vy J.,,r.1erico.n dcylisht a.ttacks hetd opened o.r;ninst the Continent. In tho.t rionth they sa.vcd 139 ncnbers of Fortress crews out of a total of 196. Cn July 25th they sewed 78 out of 80.. Their work eo.rned v-mrr-1 thanks and congr o.tulations on the po.rt· of Genero.l 11.n<lerson, of the 8th U.S*ii..A.F. 
_Six vmeks J.a.ter, in o. period '.)f tYrn dcys, the Service rescued 118 out of 121 l\r.1erica.n fliers. 
In September 1943. u. s. D.ircro..f t '.::ere r.10.de c..vnilo.ble to join in senrches for any l~llied o.ircreu lfoO\m t o have ditched in the Chn.rtnel. By J\Iay 1944, the Aocricans ho.d their own :EI:1er13ency Rescue Squadron, composed of 25 P.47s. 
The greo.test 3ingle developnent in the work of A. s . R. WD.S the o.irborne lifeboat, •1hich hc:.c1 been evolved after n considero.ble period of :r:esearch and e:x:-periuent. It wns first employed off the Hunber, in l1ny, 1943 1 when the crmv of a Hal ifn.x boarded a lifeboat dropped by po.ra.chute and navigat ed thei r way t owards land until pi cked up by lc.unches. 
The idea of a lifcboo.t dropped frCT:J. the a.ir had been Llaturing for sone t:i.r.le. The airborne lifeboat is petrol driven and equi 1Jped with every device likely to be useful to nen i>h:J have cone down in tho se~. The latest uodel i s larger than its predecessors. One of the chief advantages of the airborne lifeboat ever previous means of assisti nc aircrm7s adrift, is that it o.ffords the.i1 a nuch better chance of getting ro:ay frcn the neighbourhood of an eneny c on.st and returni ng "under their ovm steor,111 • Incidentally, it avoids the risk of xacrificing lives in rescue a.tter.1pts car ried out under eneny fire. The venture has proved a very great success. 
The fifth drop -and the first to an .N~erican crew -took place 77 niles north-v;est of Borkun, where c Fortress cre.-1 climbed aboard and navigated their way towards Britain, until picked up by a Dani sh fishing vessel. The next dcy, July 28th, a second ;\f,rnric[).n cre:a -iiere rescued by an airborne lifeboat, dropped neo.r the sar.1e spot. This po.rty cruised 100 niles before bein[; picked up. 
Perhc?S the QOSt perfect illustration of the use of an airborne lifeboat i n sustaining life, occurred on January 7th, 1944, when the orevr of a / Hosquito••• ••. 
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Mcsquito ditched 200 niles south of the Scilly Isles in very bad weather.. After surviving n ['.:Cin ordcnl in their din£:)1y they boarded the lifobol:'.t d1~02; )(;d by o. \:nrvdck sorae 180 uilcs out to seo.. They 1;ere nflont nearly four d11ys and four nights nnd were picked up in excellent physical condition, cue to the GOOd use r;iade of the equipc1ent they f :mnd on beard.. 1~lto[£ether they cruised 200 railes f r orn the spot where their aircro.ft cane dm-mo 
A r ecent addition t o the equipuent of dinghies i s the de-salting kit. For years experiments have been n::i.cle t o enable shi pr1reckec1 L1en to convert salt WD.ter i':"lto drinkinu; -r1nter, but D.ppo.rD.tus er.r1)loyed in vatious nethods proved fc.r too cw_1b ers on:e for cD.rrin.ge in aircrnft. 
At last a siDpler ncthod \7o.s found,, By usin2 chenical reagents o. din.r:;hy cr-eliV can nov-r produc e ~o~ 1)ints of C:l::iDJdng lln.ter fron eCJ)liPtJ.ent which takes up the spo.ce of n pint c'l.n of stored dri nkitte i;;nt er. 
J~ b!l'eat denl of the sp<:;cial equipnent stowed in dinghies throughout JGhe 'Far he.s been Dade by v-rnll-kncvm cum.1erciD.l firr1s, -rrhich t:J.anufactured sir,1ilar pr oducts in peacetir_w" ! Gadgets 1 1 which have often s c.ved life, include sea-dye tabl ets for attracting the no-f.;ice of seo.rch aircro.ft, f l oo.ti ng knives, f J.oating t orches, water-proofed natches o.nd o. vnriety of distress sigr.n.ls~ 
1 D1
In spite of vnst Day prepo.-;_~o.tions on the pnrt of A.S.P., June 6th, 1941+, did not ;?rove o.n exceptiono.lly busy do.y; f'o.r busier Vv2.S the A.rti.hen period, Hl1en a ne-r1 peak \7as rec.ched in the rescue of 181 airborne troops" The Rhine crossin'~s involved nuch less -.-mrk, tvo glider ore;1s being rescued v1hen their o.ircraft c.:une d01m in the sen. On that occasion nlso there was n very extensive A.S.R. coverage, and o.ircraft po.rticipating in the operations reported tho.t it uas not necessary tc mvi ::;o.t e aircrn.ft to the dropping zones ~ the course could be followed by observing H.S.L. tracks. 
lVb.ltc. i mprovised c.n A. S. R.. service and i~he sunner and autur.1n of 1941, whilst under cao.sel ess c.i r o.tto.ck,, the l oco.l A. S.R. rescued .30 R.A. F,.pilots4' The return of these men to the islo.nd pr oved a vito.1 factor in the defence. 
In the Middl e En.st n local Ji.. S. R. flight ho.d been opero.t:Ln3 si nce the entry of Italy into the war o.nd up t o ·(;he end of the Desert cnr.1pai gn this service achi.eved excol:ent results• .A good-deal of its rescue work took place in the desert, ·where st:>:<n.'.1ded pilots o.nd bcrnber crervs i,,-;ere o.s helpl ess as if they 
/ho.d••• 
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ha.d fallen into the l.iedi terrnnenn. DJ.ring the brief perioC: up to the t:iJ,1e the l!fiddle E8.st flii:;ht Yfo.s imrnrpornted into the of'.ficial service, it snved 193 nircrev; frcr:1 the sec. o.nd 131 f r om t he desert. 
In the iviediterro.nenn thontro, up t o the end of June, 1945, 1114 i\r.1erican airmen o.re known t o have been rescued by the Ai~ Sen. Rescue Service. 
In the Far East A.S.R. developr.ient >las hnndicnpped by shorta.ge of equipnent in the early dc.ys of the strug,sl e ago.inst Jo;po.n. The der:ID.nds of the strug15l e in Europe uade exter:sion of A.S.R. fo.cilities in the Fo.r Eo.st quite iri1possible when the JupD.nese poured U:nto Bur.wo. o.t the end of 1941. The A. S.R. organisation c-.t Singe.pore .-.i.th o. single hish-speed hunch n.nd houe-made equipment , rescued a total of 23 pilots in the tuo r.1onths, Decenber 1941 and J.::muary, 1942. The unit dis<:..ppeared vvhen Sinsn.pore fell to the eneny. 
Sor.1etir.1es, in the past five yen.rs, A. 8.R. personnel hD.Ve mad~ headlines. Perhaps the uost memornble occnsion mi.s when Sgt •. Cohen, fl ying tln .A/S/R Swordfish, lnnded on LD.r.1pedusn during o. heo.vy boobing assn.ult. He ordered the g!ll'rison to refuel his o.:i.rcro.ft, t ook off, o.nd reported the islo.nd's e-arrender to his headquarters. 
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NOT FOR PUBLICATION, B.."R.OI\.DCI\ST, mus~ ON CLUB Tll?ES BZFORE 0830 B. S. T. 
(i. e • FOR EVENilTG PAPERS) ON TUESDAY, _l\.UGUST 7, 1945. 
TEIS EIVIBil"R.GO SHOlJLD BE RESPECTED OVillSKl\.S BY PREFACING l'0JY. M:ESS_l\.GES FILED WITH THC Ei.vIBI\HGCl . 

CENSORSHD? PERMITS 
Under o. new C mtr·)l ·)f C::immunico.ti ::ins Order which c Jmes int J f Jrco t J-cby (Tuosdo.y) , C011s. Jrship permits n.re n ::iw required f:n~ pJst D.l o.nd freight dispo.tches Jvorsons .mly if they o..ro o.dc1rosscd t ::i destino.ti:ms in Chino. (ui1::iccupied), P:;:ctugo.l, Spo.in, Sweden .E Svr.i.tzcrlru1d . Tho 11evv­Order will o.ls::i o.pply t J _l\ust rio. o.nd Gor.mruw vrhen civil p ::istD.l 011d freight services t ·) these tvn c·)ui1ti~ies nro rost ::;rod . 
Similo.:cly, Cens::il.~ship c:mtr::il o.t tho p Jrts is n ::iw limited t .J tro.vollors pr::icoodin.z t ::i, ·)r m~riving fl.~ ·)m, tho c :::untries menti:.:mcd 

Jchoir po.pers f Jr pre-Cens::;rship ui1less they o.rc prJcoedins t J Jne '.:lf thJ so c 'Jui1trios . C'JPiOS' Jf tho new Order mo.y be ::ibto.inod o.t :His 1'ft[Cjosty ' s Sto.ti -mory Office . 
GENERAL POST OFFICE. 
7 
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1 1 ·. \. , -n' r·. 
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11 Yil.lill11 i'ii\F H ,TURNI NG PhOi-1I Hi. :t: , F, 
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(By ii. Mili t ory Obsu1..~ver) 
Expected bock in Britoi n shoriily is n former member of the 0,I.D, [\t Ne·,v Scotl[\nd Yord. He is M0jcr M.F.GOOD, J\,P,H,, S,I,B,, for Syri.:i, the Lebo.non nnd Cyprus, 
Major GOOD, whos e home Clddr'ess is 36 Mount Pl'.!'k Cresc ent , Enling, w.:;., wo.s onG of tho origi n8l oig.htoen men rel eEtsod from· the Yar d i n 1940 f'or duty ·rvi ih tho il.r rny.. Ho W8S ·ivi th th·o B.E,.F. i n 
Frcmco, nnd durine tho p8st four yor.rs hns served i n Egypt , the Western Desort, Nortb. Africn, 8icil_y, Italy, Malta, Cyprus, Persia, Irnk 8 nd Pnl esti no. 
In th8t tLmo ho hos suEervisod invos tigntions into about forty murdur cases, 
The rr.ost int cr ostine of these , ho disclosed i n an interview, W8S thnt concer ning e Brit ish wor~8n ·tho ·,vos strnngl cd in 0Etir0, The body W8 S discov ur od. on tho floor of' her bedroom, o thin cord round tho neck. It hocl boon tiglncncd by 8 h8~rbrush, us ed os n l over, 
Tho murderer loft fi nger pr ints on bott:los nnd gl asses ·;filich ·Nero strewn about to give tho nppoElrnncc of' o l;Jnrty , 1::nd. t hose , ·rvith t ;10 discovery of 0 piece of strin13 in n rllD.n1 s pocket , identical with t_"nt used f'or tho murder , lod to tho solving of tho cri me, Scion~if'ic bl ood tosts wore 111Dde in coll.nb0:rC1tion ,-,vith the Cni i::o City Police. 
For his 7JOrk in Itc:ily, ll18jor GJOD 7~os mcntionod in clospE1tchcs. 
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MILITJ\RY AFF1\I RS 
7/8/45. NC?_~ 

HIT DY ~=nlZ -BUT SHE STEJ,EED 7 ,500 r IL.ES HOIE 
'.!ith hoses pl aying on her bearings to pr event her overheating her propeller shaft out of alignoent and her bottom buckled, H.L. S. 3ILVIO, a 7 ,000-tons infantry landing ship succeeded in IT;alcing the 1,200 mile voyage from Rangoon to Trincooalee unQ.er her own power. 
The SILVIO was mined during l anding operations a t Rangoon. 1-.rhen she arrived at Trincomal ee , her engineer-office:r , Li eut.­Commander (E) James 3rown, R.N.R., of Heswall, Cheshire, went down in a diving suit to inspec t the daoage to the hull. 
J,ft erwards , it was decided that the ship woul d be nble to sail on another 7 ,500 miles to Britain provided the engines were carefully nursed and she stoci.ned only in good vreather. 
Now she has just arrived in the London Docks. 
"Fortunately the v1eather forecasts worked out more or le ss right, 11 said Lieut. (E) G.E. Shir.unin, R.N.R., of :'.)ouglas, Isle of J,lan, " and the engines s toad up to the s tr :::'.in we11. 11 
Built in I,os Jmgel es, California, in ITovember, 1943, H.11. S. SILVIO f irst sail od under the Red ~nsign, taking part in the J'Tormandy Invasi on. 
Later she was cor:irJissioned as a British r.1an-of-war and went out to join the East Indies Fleet at the end of l ast year. Hor Cornnanding Officer i s Comnande r H.B. }?eate , :J. 3. C. , R. D. , rt, N. R., of Great Se.ughall , Cheshire. 
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NAVJ'J_, AFF_'~IRS. 
I ' 

NOT FUR PUBLIC.il.TION, BROJ\DCAST OR USE DN CLUB TIPES BEFORE 0830 HOURS B. S. T. (i.e • F· iR EVENING PJD:'ERS) ON 7th A~GUST, _194~, 
THIS EMBlffiGO SHOUIJ) BB RE'.:iPECTED CVB:'.SEl\S BY PR8J..i'i\CIHG ANY }J:;:;SS.i\GE ·.'.'ITH T~-ITS Elffi.i\RGO 

Air Ministr y Nm-m Service PIGEON DEMOBILISATION S_l\IE 'OF RECORD-BEEAl\D\fG

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Wi th the consent '.)f the No.ti:mo.1 Pigocm Service C'.)rnnit"cco, "Per 1\.rduo.11, the 
R.A.F. pigeon uhich cut tho British 1, 000 mile rcc'.)rd in ho.lf, is t .) bo ?ffcrcd f '.)r so.lo by o.uct i 'Jn o.t the _l\llicd F:)rcos l'ID.sc .d; Club P.otc o.t ChoJ.scD. E-;s:pito.l Grounds, Cholsoo., L::mctcrn, ::m So.tt..~1~do.y, September 8, in o.id of the R. 1\.F. Bcnov'.Jlont Fui1d o.nd the lJ.. liod F '.)rcos _l\nimo.l ..\far IYicmorio..l Fund . 
other distinrsuishcd Yrcrr· pigeons bred by the R.A.F., including "Ruhr E:-::-prcss 11 , 
o. Dicki n Modo.l vvi rmor, DJld p '.)ssi bly tho po.rents '.)f :'Per _l\rduo." will o.lso be o.uct i '.)nod o.t tho sc-uno time in tho sruno co.use . 
1To1~ .i\nfoo. 1 s n rcc'.)rd :night wo.s from Gib1~0.lto.r b Gi l lingb.o.rn, Kent , 1090 miles, singly o.nd ·without spocio.l propo.ro.ti'.)11, o.s o. y'.)Ul18: bird, in N?vomber . Tho previous Briti sh 1, 000 mile roc'.)rd, mn.dc 32 yco.rs n.go by tho wi nner <:)f o. rn.co in Y.ihich ?Dly specially selected experienced '.:lld birds wor e oligibJ.o, wn.s 28 do.ys . ''Per Il.r d un. 11 , D. y '.)UJ.1;::'; bird ti.~ru.1sfor1~od t::i Gi brn.J..to.r f1~ Jr.' Gill.ingho.m, cut loose fr'.)m Gib1~0.ltn.r on her ovv11 o.ccount m1d homed t :J Gillingham inside 12 dn.ys . 
Bof '.)re being sent t o Gibro.ltn.:t, 1'Po:c _t\rdun.n ho.d distinguished ho:cself by boo.ting n.11 civilio.n co1Ipotit ::irs in n. rn.co f1~om Penzcmce -280 miles. She is o: Red Chequer hon, o.nd sh'.)WS n:J ill effects whn.tovor fr '.)m her BTUelling trip 
n.s n. y'.)ui1g birc1 in t ho 'vnrst soo.s'.:ln·c:f tho yam~. She Yiill be '.:lnc '.)f tho l)i rds 
'911 exhibition o.t Stru.1loy Pn.rk, Bln.ckp'.):Jl, cm August 22 o.nd 23 . 

Po.rticul.D.l.~s ::>f tho so.J.c n.ro in p:ccpn.rn.ti::>n by tho i\ir Ministry (Pigeon 
Section) .i\do.st:co.J.. H::iuso, Kingswo.y, L'.)nd:m, W.C.2. 

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• 


Determined rcsist[mce wos cr.c0untcr -.:c1 by our troops operat ing in the ilooded ar c<! between Hyitkyo 8nc1 the clc1. Sittong River Chf!nnol. In thu J\by8 · or c0 enemy positions astride tho Pogu-?fortf!bon r8ilwoy behi nd our for-.wrd troops -,vorc clc8rc;c1•. .i\n cnoqy ott8ck on 8 villc:gc; on tho Seuth kir:k oi" tho Sitto.ng chnnncf, t-,;,•-::nty miles Eost of Pq;u, -.;ws rupulsocl. 
British troops -.vho crosscct the JittDnr; in thu Sh-rvcgyin <.1r c8, t -Nclvc mil ss F,o st of Nyounglcbin , met 01~posit~_or. r n tho Nor th bf!nk of tho Shwc ,yi n ch .ung. 
On tho Toungoo-}.fo·;vchi ro8d our tr oops odvoncocl to nij_lcstonc thirty-one -.-t.thont op-p9sition. 
ki~t8cking in su-pport of' ou:c grouncl forces on 	1\u3u3t 5th , Spi tfircs 8ncl -
Thunclc:".:'bolts of Air Conrn:md boT"lbccl oncl str8,fcd J cip&nosc positions 8l1cl m:.1chine c~un pvsts f rom P:yu to Ky8ikto (South-Eost of J,Iokpalin), hi-G-~in~ l'n cncr:y 

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P.P.S. TO 'l'HJ~ CHf\~TCELLOR OF '.L':'IE EXCHEQUER 
The Chancellor of t h...: Exchequer h~s cippointed }!Ir . E.F.ivi. Durbin 


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7/8/45 No. 13 AUSTRLLL',N AREY STLFF AUSTRALIAN ACTIVITIES IN SOUTH WEST PACIFIC i\.RBA 
Officio.l Austrnlian Ar.my Staterrien t dili;ed1Ji:t'l'gusi-4th 
In war of extermination o.nd re-occupD-tion of territory in Nl~d GlJI NEA and 
BOUGJ1INVILLB troops of 1st AustrE1lian J1rmy killed further 500_Japanese during vreek, 
bringing total confirmed dead since current operations began to 13712 in addi t ion 351 
prisoners taken, 
One of most remarko.ble features these campaigns is closeness of tallies of Japs 
killed. 

In NE1N GUil'TEA, where 6th J1ustralian Division is operating, latest count is 581, 
while 2nd Corps in BOUGLINVILLE .has killed exactly 3 fevfer.­
Chief inter0st is now centred on o.rduous campoign beins fought across rugge~ PRINCE .ALEX!JIIDER J\lQUl\TT!iINS in inland sector of NEW GUHfEJ,.• 
Here veteran jungle fighters of 17th Brigade are increasing pressure against outer fringe of Jo.~)S inlElnd fortified zo:rre , -crux to entire system of their three year old defences in these parts. 
Vlith infentry ere members of hard-hitting native troops and tank att:i.ck troops 
fighting as infantry and pa trol men. 

The Australians are receivi_ng excellent close bombing <:'nd strc_fing s~¥port from 
R. Ji..-~.•'i'. Beaufort Pilots , ho have mode up to 50 sorti es: doily. In some/these attacks 
have 
entire villages/been flattened and extensive Ja9anese weapon pits smashed. 

Except thnt greater tacticnl significance nowinvo~v0R/t\i1\s drive the same war of 
liquidation of Japs in bunkers nnd foxholes sited on timbered slo-?es ond ridges 
continues, 
J npanese resistnnce shows no signs of changing. Fpr many months as Lustralians 
slogged on to capture the ktey village of Wli.-.PRIK they were without DnY artille~y support , 
their heaviest weapons being mortars., 
With the opening up of H!.PRIK Flying Field and· construction of roads by heavi er 
equipment then able to be flovm in , mounto.in type 75 mm Howitzers were able to be got 
i n. Now for first time infantry hnve support of 25 pounders which were abl e to be 
flown in. This formntion has inflicted cDsual ties on Japs iil.t rDte ~f 17 to 1. 
Bitter ac tions have been fought over wide area even as far south as 12 miles from foul SEPIK RIVBR area~ 
In BOUNGLINVILLE operD tions in soµth are slackening to intensive pntrolling b~ 
both sides ~nd hotly contested artil l ery duel s. rt is temporaril y sim9l y a ba ttle of 
supplies. Inf~ntry and tanks of 3rcl J,ustralinn Division which m~de such rDpi d earlier 
progress along BUIN RO~D now bogged dovvn in flooded muddy crusted erea between swol len 
MOBRILI and MIBO RIVERS. The, heaviest rnins for 9 months so badly churned up BUIN ROLD 
that hePvy traffic wns brought to standstill and only tractor drmvn jeeps and native 
carriers could get .supplies to our forvvard componie s on western bnnks of IHBO. The re 
has been some impoovernen t in weather but considerable repair work proceeding on d,_qmoged 
tracks and bidges is holding up immedinte resumption of our drive south east t owards 
BUIN fortress. 
/MeDnwhile , 

2 
:iicc.ni7hilo J g:is constr.ntly irii'iltrc.ting to our r oc..:c· .:ere ncoting with ninor success only. This bci.t1g chcckc;d. by intcnsii'ico. pr:.trolling. SrJorL.dic c..ttor;rpt is still being r.10.dc by pl'rtics of stcclthy JL.ps to mine 
The enemy gc..rrison cut off nithin BONIS PEllJINSUL.G'.. on northern, tip of BOUGl.mYII.LE settled itself into series of nc.in defensive positions stretching fron little north of BUOI FL:NT..LTION on west co.:-.st in lino <'-cross Pcninsulf'. to SLl.R PLJJil'~·..'TION on cast coast. Tho J ops fought savc.gcly to resist r::.ny c~,c~:er:!p t to pm1etrato this lino ~:nd they h2.vo boon forccO. novo bnck only diste.nco of 500 Y<'-:ccis cQong T:SU)I TRJ:c:c Tho onomy now holds 
c. f c:aturo about 70 f eet high astride this trnck. !.ustrclians using fl 2.Do ·throwers ousted hir:1 fror.1 positions in t his CToa. 
7.8.4-5 -No. 14 
AH?. :t,:INISTRY I'TGVvS .s ..Rvrm 	JiIR 11,1INISTRY BULLi:TIH No. 19414 
PLilHG :UlJTCI-IKEN IUT OCCUPBD DUTCH K.ST 11'J'DIES He adS&_~iar:ters, Air Connnand, South East Asia, Tuesday 
s-v'lfeeping at mastheight over •rjilatjap, the most important harbour on the 
south coast of enemy-occupied Java, Dutch -manned Liberator s of the I nd:i..an 
Ocean Air rorce on Saturday attacked and damaged a 3, 000 tons Japanese merchant 
vessel. 
The attack, which opened a new phase in the R.;,A. F. offensive against the Japanese in t he Dutch East Indies, wns led by Lieutennnt-cornmander Adrian De Br uyjn, of the Royal Dutch Navnl Air service , who sorvod in Javo. before the vrar and nhose family is at present in Australia. 
11It was a great thrill!', said Lieutonnnt-Com... andcr De Bruyj n, 1•to so~ the coast of JaV8 com8 up on tho hori:zo n and o.n evo n greo.ter t hrill to si.::;e the pooplo waving o.nd jumping for joy when. they savi the Dutch markings on our aircrnft as we flew over at something like 30 feot. 
11 J1fter wc had attacked tho r.1orchant ship and loft hl;r with smoke pouring out wc svvung low over the town. Above tho Governor's house -.:re spotted tho Japnnose flag flying, so wc go.vo that a burst of r:1achino-gun fire . I think vre knocked some holes in it." 
Other aircr <?-ft attacking tho vessel claimed hit s both on tho ship nnd on 
D. 	lo.rgo floating cro.no mooorcd nlongsido . + + + + + + + + 
7.8.45. No.15. 
D. S. C • FOR 1\DMITu\L ' S 00N. 
su-b-Lieutsn.8nt Ohri stopha:c Denis Boyd, R.N. ~ son of -~ice-1\clmird 
D.W. Boyd, C.B., C.B.B., D.S.C., i1c1mir8l (1\ir) h8s bGsn .:::·.v8rclec1 tho Distin~uishcd SEJrvice Cross, it is rnnou:...ced in to-nir)1t 1 s London GozettG. 
Sub.Lieut. Boycl ·rms serving in the sloop H. M. s. i1.ME'.iJfY8T which ovcngod the loss of' ;:i sister ship, tho corvette H.M~S. VERV1UN in Febru~1ry this ycr-r· by sinking the U-bo.c:t thot torpedoed her. 
1;f-G0r tho i,}.iE'lhYi'.:iT' s ;:itt8.Ck :1 Gormt:tn loothor j ~1ckot hel met nrid gloves, throe tins of Germon cgg-p o·Hclor, sever ol Germon books, ond novigotiond notes in Gorrran flootoc1 to the surfcce. 
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NJW./\L AFFi\IRS. 

7.s.45 -No. 16 AUSTRJ1LIAN JW]:fi STAFF 
• 
AUSTRALIAN AGrI VITI ES IN SOUTH w·.r";sT PACIFIC i.J?:EA 
Officio.l Austrdinn J;rmy Stntoment d0tod 7 f;U3;USt 1 94-5 
In fa.co of stiffening rosistia.nce, troops of the 6th Austrolion Divisi on 
y...;st crC..oy continued their drivl:! down tho slopes of tho PRINGB J11.iE:'J1NDER .RAl'iGES behind 

. 
WFXiAK in NEV! GUIJ\lEA. Thoy gained n.dc!.itioncl sround o.nd ccipturod the RIJ\J1)0CTt VILLJ1G:iJ 
c~rcup, one of the Jnps i mportont strongpoin'cs in tho ciroo.. 
Jo.p ncti vity onst nnd v.rcst of BI G-ROAD flc1.red up furi ously o..s probing infrtntry 
inflicted cnsuo.lties in o. south -.vest thrust. Throughout tho prccucding night Jcips 
threw gronodos into our perimeters .:;.tJd in plncos cut signnl lines. :;J.::>.rly ycstordoy 
mornins o battalion bogDx. to ndvo.nco along th..> ridge le.'.lding tc;i RINDOGIE. Ewry yo.rd 
wns bitterly oJ_-Jposcd by tho onerny with mortcirs nnd heo.vy on~-light moch:i.no guns . North 
.__::est ond of tho vill.'.:'.go v-1::is occupied nnd the rost fired by our t:.' oops. 
11.teo.nvrhilo on th0 track le.::cding flrom BIG-ROAD other Jiustro.lio.ns Gncountorod .:; strong 
'for ce dofonding BAR.;:G::'.EJM Village , hnlf o. m)_lo to tho -,70st. Somo ccsuolties vluro 
sui'f\;rod before clearing J c.ps from this r;oint . S0rios of shcrp skirmishes a.cross ontir 
f r9nt continued in inlilnd cnmpo.i~,n . North of Ki1BOIBUS inf~:ntr is ox~rting pressure 
on the next Om:!Jn:Y dcfonsiv" zone . 
Enemy gun positions on SOI-l!1NA ISLJiND in North BOUGAilN.ILLE y8stord~w w-.;rc 
hoovily bombed by RNZAF Vontur0s, while Austretlion h<Jo.vy c.nti-oircrnft guns plnyod ~:ow 
rcle., giving aireroft "covcringil firo. J8p guns on SOH!iNA nr.o kno'.-m to include hoovy 

o.nti oircrnft -120 T11lll guns. To prvvont thcD o_:'foring ony 0;1position, Austr.olinn guns 
sent owr bo.rrogo whilo vcnturo.s np0ronchod for their bomb rc ns, forcing Jc:ips re:n!.Gin 
in do0ply dug sholitors. 
Vcnturns dropped 63 four hundr~d poundo~s nnd ot 10nst hn1f tho bombs f oll in gun bnttory orons. Thon Austrnlinn guns svQtchcd to 0ngc.go Jnpe ~ssomblod on jetties in BUI\J; pnssngc, inflicting casualties by scoring diroct hit s on boo.~l9nds of troops. 
I\Jill.A Airstrip in SOUTH BOUG-J1INVITJ,;:;; vr.::s hit by Cors c:iir s nnd one bomb fnlling vr.A :t of tho strip raised dense clou.ds of smoke to o thousand foot. Ground forces foll~vv:i.ng up ~nothor nir strike occupied strong enemy post in i30LIS PENINSUIJ1. J~t least 4-3 nb.::indonod bunkcrs nnd woo.pan pi ts were found. Infnntry 
potrollod ovor wide o.OD.S i n southern 130UGJ1INVILLE. Thero vrore shnrp cl nshos E1t 
i.J:BO RIV.GR FORD. 
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, 

Public Inforrnn tio.li Section _li.§L,~"---.;.;..;;..::.•.JJL
4-5.No
U. S. NJV.,\1 J<'ORCES IN EUROPE London , 1Tng1 Dnd 
U. ::3. 8. HORNET' 8 SV/!1TH OF DESTRUCTION 

.ifter cutting e 150,000 mile S-iJ.:rlh of destruction through the Poci fic, leaving 1 , 270 ,000 tons of enerrJY shipping sunk or dnmnged Dl1d 1,410 dest royed enemy plones in her ·;vDke, the USS HORNEr is home for rop0i r s ond 1 eDve for her cre·il. 
/ 
· It "JJ[ls not tbe J9ps thDt sent the HORNET, nDmed ofter the corrier ·Hhich lounched the first pl 8nes to att.:;ick Tokyo, to drydock. Rother it ·11os the tYPhoon of June 5, the second sust oincd by the tough little cnrri er, with its 102 knot gol e. The HORNET rose on the crest of Dn 
e.norrrcus wove ond crashed into the t:coth ·;;ith such force that the out·n['lrd edges of t he flight deck fol ded do·;m ol ong t he sides of the 
C(lrrier. 
Even this did not stop the pil ots from toking off from the £lft er end 7vith the ship backing into tho vr.ind , "na. ossenbling uni t s of Tes!.<: Force 58 ·uhich htid been sc tittere:l. by the storm. 
Since h;r 1'1unching in llugust 194-3 tho HORNEr hC1s servec1 many purposes: troap trDnsport, DUxiliory t[lnker , prison ship, dr ug store for deliv0ry of ice-creDm "nd oth:c;r luxuries t c, sJnciller crnft, i'nd a home for D cre-;1 who never left h<::r decks in fifteen :imnths. 
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