9.7.43 - No. 1 Air Ministry No. 10826 AIR MINISTRY COMMUNIQUE Spitfires, Typhoons and Mustangs carried out offensive patrols and sweeps over Northern France and the Low Countries yesterday* Two enemy aircraft were destroyed. Two of our aircraft are missing. 9.7.43 - No, 4 Ministry No. 10327 MINISTRY AND MINISTRY OF HOME SECURITY COMMUNIQUE During darkness there has been nothing to report* 9/7/43 - No. 5 Air Ministry News Service Air Ministry Bulletin No. 10828 BLOWN uP BY MUSTINGS .AFTER FORCED. LANDING Two Mustang pilots of a Royal Canadian Air Force squadron had an unusual bag while flying over North- West France yesterday, They destroyed a Fieseler Storch - a German type of three-seater cabin monoplane Brittany by - over the uncommon tactics of first forcing it to land and then destroying it with gun fire on the ground. The Storch is of wooden construction with folding wings and a fixed undercarriage. The Canadians, both flying officers - one an ex-professional hockey player from Ontario and the other a Toronto lawyer were out - train-busting when they saw the German aircraft flying at about 100 feet. Said the ex-hockey player afterwards: "He was two or three miles away when I first saw him, I closed in on him, by my No. 2, followed and evidently the hun saw us» When I got within 700 yards he made a sharp turn and came straight at me. "I thought he was going to ram me so I gave him a one-second burst at 250 yards. His propellor stopped and he went steeply down and force-landed in a field. My No. 2 got in a short burst as he touched down, "No one got out of the aircraft and when I turned and pranged him with my he just blew up." guns That was at the beginning of the Mustangs’ patrol* By the time they come home they hod added eight damaged locomotives to their bag for the day* Each engine received-a three-seconds burst and was left giving off steam. One of the qualities of the Fieseler Storch is its ability to land or take off with a remarkably short run. 9.7.43 No. 8 NEW RECORDS IN CHILDREN’S HEALTH SCIENCE IS SAVING LIVES Ernest Brown), speaking in London to-day at The Minister of Health (Mr. the annual conference of the Rational. Association of Maternity and Child Welfare centres, said; the Last health record-breaker for mothers and children - a year was lowest still-birth rate the lowest death-rate lowest infant death-rate, the smallest toll of motherhood. Here we see the fruits from diphtheria, and the of the combined efforts of Government abd local authorities, voluntary workers, themselves who to maintain the health of scientists, and the mothers struggle better their children in these difficult days. But we must go seeking on even results. There arc far too many women who still need persuading that the vitamin which provided milk, cod-liver oil children need the supplements arc - and orange juice - and that they themselves need extra nourishment they when life into the world, Next winter shall need all possible -bringing we are a new help to maintain the fight against epidemics. We must go on to persuade more and mothers to come to the ante-natal clinics and get expert examination and more advice before their babies are born. The "Rh" factor What three years ago was a mere scientific curiosity is now being applied successfully to save life. In 1940 an American scientist discovered that 85% of the American and British populations have a factor in the red cells white of their blood which had previously gone unrecognised. He found that this same factor occurs in the cells of the Rhesus monkey, and so he called it the have it in their red cells spoken of "Rh" factor. The 85% of people who are as Rh, positive, and the others as Rh. negative. Since 1940 we have learned to put this discovery to practical, use. A particular variety of jaundice and anaemia has been known for some years to occur in babies, if seemed to run in families, and often there were several such babies in one family, some of whom* were stillborn and others lived only for a short time. We have found that these jaundiced babies nearly always have the Rh. factor in their red cells. Their mothers, on the other hand, are Rh. negative. The babies have been jaundiced and anaemic because before birth their red cells have passed into the mother's circulation where anti-bodies to the Rh. positive cells have developed and passed back into the baby's blood, and destroyed the baby's red cells. If, however, the baby is given a blood transfusion with Rh. negative blood, these anti-bodies one soon destroyed and the baby's life is saved. If the mother should need a blood transfusion after the baby is born, we have found that she should also receive Rh. negative blood. The Emergency Blood Transfusion service, which we organised at the beginning of the war, now supplies specially tested Rh. negative blood, and one more menace to mothers and babies has been removed. As minds turn from sickness to positive health, the -work of our more so starting babies the right on road to health becomes even more importan. More emphasis on social conditions will be needed in the Health visitors' training, and we hope to be able to look ahead to homes in which the children can grow free from dirt • up and vermin as well as free from want. We want every member of the community to be health-minded, and to take an active part in discussing and thinking out the problems with which every good citizen is concerned. We need real health missionaries, not only looking ahead hopefully to a better world, but resolved to work for it. MINISTRY OF HEALTH please check against broadcast 9.7.43 No. 11 Following is text of broadcast by Stafford Cripps, Sir. Minister of Aircraft production after the 9 o'clock news tonight, Friday, July 9. I am speaking tonight particularly to those men and women who are working in the aircraft industry, and I am-doing so over the broadcasting service because it is impossible for me to do it in any other way. Since I became Minister of Aircraft production, I have visited some hundred factories, both large and small, which making very wide range of products arc a that are used in building up the fighting and training aeroplanes for the Royal Air Force and the Royal Naval Air Arm. I regard them all, both large and small, as equally important because each one is doing work vital to the war effort. I want to speak to you who arc aircraft workers tonight because we have entered upon a new and more intensive phase of the Air war, in which your best efforts will be more than ever . necessary. We are now on the offensive, and, at almost any moment, there may be a great intensification of that offensive. shall, We in cooperation with the Dominions, the Americans, and the other united Notions, be helping more and more our Russian and Chinese allies. What does this mean for those of us who carry the heavy responsibility of providing our pilots and aircrews with the aircraft that they need.? The assault upon the Axis powers in Europe and. the Far East entails dislodging them from the occupied territories. That will be a costly task, our casualties will inevitably be heavy, but we can help to keep down those losses. The heavier our air attack, the less difficult will it be for our armies and navies. The more we and our American and Russian allies can destroy from the air the industrial and transport facilities of the Axis, the weaker will become their resistance. The heavier our air attack, the lighter will be the total of our casualties. The Nazis are still very strong and still have great industrial resources with which to maintain their strength. Our objective is "unconditional surrender" of the enemy; it is for us, in the Aircraft industry, to supply the most effective means by which that unconditional surrender may be brought about. Now is the time for the most concentrated war effort. We are not so desperate as after Dunkirk; then we were all out to avoid imminent defeat, but now we must stretch ourselves to the utmost to achieve speedy and final victory. It is largely air supremacy which has already taken us so far on the road to victory. This superiority cannot be maintained automatically. Nowhere are more constant efforts necessary to preserve the lead than in air warfare. The country which lets up, even for a moment, will sooner or later lose its lead •with dire results. As you know, our aircraft are today in most respects superior to the corresponding German, Italian and Japanese types, but it would be disastrous if on this score we were to rest content. The search after quality - if necessary at the expense of quantity must go on. Remember this when you get orders for modifications to established types or other new requirements which seem to you an unnecessary upset to your work* During the last few months we have been planning and preparing for the very maximum effort. We have passed through a time of difficulty as regards raw materials, hut that I hope is largely past. No w, owing to the inescapable demands of the fighting services, we must economise our labour in every way possible, part-time women workers are now yet fully mobilised. Tens of thousands of women are finding satisfaction/ 2 satisfaction, in -their part-time contribution to the war effort in our factories, but there are still many more who could help in this way. I hope that we shall see a great increase in the part-time labour force, which has shown itself wonderfully ..efficient. - We are determined net to allow the difficulties'that lie .ahead to result in any falling off in' our increasing output. Our be programme has grown very rapidly last but it has..-got to year, expanded much further still before the end of this, year. This will be possible if each one of us does just' that little bit extra that we can do if we try. I know you have, nearly all of you, been continuously working long hours, and I doubt want hours increased - indeed I believe we might with advantage reduce them in some, Long hours- do not necessarily mean, the most efficient production* cases, Nor dosuggest doing away with reasonable holidays, which stimulate'"production I provided they are followed by a punctual return to work. What I want is the most efficient use of reasonable working hours. Within those hours, no minute sould be wasted. That is a job for the managements, for my Department and for the workers together in co-operation. Efficiency of production largely is human question. a 'Time and again I notice how in a happy factory where there is good co-operation there is also efficient production. That is why i have emphasized the very great contribution that Joint Production Committee-s are making to our war effort. More and more these Committees, are getting into the swing of their work and wherever they function well the tempo of production is good, -It is up to the management and the workers representatives to see that they do work smoothly. Then a word about sub-contract work. All'of those engaged on this very vital work should realise hew essential it is. It may be you are making nothing more spectacular than rivets or nuts and bolts, but these are just as essential to the final aircraft as any other parts. If you are behind hand you let down the whole team of aircraft workers and the pilots and crews as well.' We have with.those gallant airmen a partnership and a comradeship which makes each one-of us proud participants in their daily and nightly feats of courage, Never let us abuse the honour of that partnership. There are two matters on which I want your help. The manufacture of spares and the avoidance of scrap. The bigger our air fleet and the more is, the greater is widely dispersed it the need for spares. Our repair units doing magnificent work, but they can't are do the repairs if the spares are net there. So I hope you will see to. it that in your Joint Production Committees the question of spares is always actively before you. Spares are as important as complete aircraft. Then as to scrap. There is still an by the making of unnecessary wastage scrap which we must stop. With a lot green labour, of some scrap is unavoidable, but I know of factories where this problem has been seriously taken in hand and •the. amounts of scrap has been greatly reduced. very remarkable job You have done indeed in quality production. In of a spite all the difficulties, and they are many, you have improved the quality of prediction. That is thanks, almost entirely, to the unstinted help which the skilled technicians and artisans have' given to the new entrants into industry. The country owes a debt of gratitude to all you who have taught your skill to your fellow-workers• But we must not be content until we have reduced our scrap to a- much-lower figure. Here is another job for the Joint Production Committees. •I am sure you all realise that we are in a life and death struggle,- in which we aircraft workers have a key responsibility. Yet there are some of you who cannot realise the urgency of your job* Every .minute of -our time is a precious opportunity help ..our comrades and our country. /With that . ■ -3- ■ With that realisation it should be impossible for anyone to prefer his or her comfort, enjoyment or to these most urgent duties. Yet there is still too much voluntary absenteeism in our factories, delaying production and reducing output. No person is entitled so to disregard his or her duty in the critical and dangerous circumstances of war. The welfare of our airmen and I ask each victory over the enemy must be first in importance, one personally to put your country and your -fighting comrades first of you and to -Work punctually and continuously throughout every hour of the working week. Then there are unauthorised strikes which takes place from time to time, few in number and short in duration, but-nevertheless seriously interfering with output. .It is bad enough to have to lose machines by enemy action; but it is much worse to lose them through strikes. Most of these strikes are about wage-rates and in-every case the difference is eventually settled by the ordinary machinery of bargaining between Unions and employers. These strikes often arise from a feeling of loyalty to your comrades in the' shop, but they do no good to anyone except our enemies and I would beg you all to reflect before you take such action, and not use your key position, in the war effort to gain concessions for yourselves. I an certain that there is not one of you who would knowingly do an act calculated to reduce production and so to help the enemy. It is because of action without thought in the support of some grievance or to help some fellow worker that these strikes occur, I ask you to remember their effect upon your country. Your Trade Unions protect your interests well and the Minister of, Labour myselfand will see to it that no unfair advantage is taken of your willingness to devote yourself wholeheartedly to the cause of victory. There is one other factor that retards production, the excessive change of labour which goes on in some factories. This nay sometimes be due to bad personnel management, and we are doing all we can to encourage and train good personnel managers, Production is a human and not merely a mechanical problem. But I want to ask all of you to consider very carefully before you seek to change your job. Time has been taken in your training and if you change your job that time nay be wasted. The new worker who takes' your place has to be trained, with a loss of production. There are cases where a change of job may increase efficiency but there are many others where the change merely satisfies some per.Bernal desire. I ask you to stick to your job unless you are satisfied in your own conscience that your reason for change is not merely personal desire. The best thing is to consult your personnel manager if you feel the need to change and then accept his or her advice. My sole concern to-day is, to win a victory and I condemn unhesitatingly action by any person, whatever their position, that hinders our wart effort and so help the enemy. But whatever nay be the individual shortcomings of a few workers or managements, and they are often much exaggerated, I feel proud to be connected with an industry in which you are working so splendidly for the war effort, We, are approaching the great offensive when our contribution in planes and spares will become an increasingly inport ant contribution to victory. We can by our devotion to work hasten that victory and save many lives in the winning of it. Re must fill the sky with allied xylenes wherever the enemy are to be fought. We must outdo all our own past records, co-operating as a cheerful vigorous team to see that every hour of work produces its full fruit of production and that no minute of our effort is lost to our country. MINISTRY OF AIRCRAFT PRODUCTION 9.7.43 - No. 15 AIR MINISTRY COMMUNIQUE Air Ministry No. 10830 Last night aircraft of Bomber Command made a heavy attack on Cologne. Minos were also laid in enemy enters* Fighters on intruder patrol attacked enemy airfields and railway targets in France and north nest Germany. Aircraft of the Fleet Air Ann operating enemy- minesweepers off the French coast. with Fighter Command damaged three Eight of our bombers are missing* 9/7/43 - No. 16 JOINT INDIA WAR COMMUNIQUE No, 174 The following official communique from India has been received in London this morning. Yesterday morning, July 8, a formation of R,A.F, Vengeances escorted by Hurricanes dive-bombed enemy storage buildings at Buthidaung and followed up with a machine gun attack on the target area. In the afternoon another formation attacked Japanese Army hutments at Thaungdara, Many hits were observed on the target and further damage was caused when the Vengeances and their fighter escort followed the bombing with machine gun fire, Elsewhere in Arakan Blenheims bombed objectives at Akyab and fighters on offensive patrol sank or damaged thirty three rivercraft along the coast south of Akyab Island, In the Chin Hills area a formation of Blenheims attacked Japanese positions at Kalewa. Bombs were seen to burst well in the target area and several enemy occupied buildings were destroyed. From the days operations one of cur fighters has not yet returned to base. WAR OFFICE 9.7.43 - No,17 MIDDLE EAST AIR COMMUNIQUE Headquarters , Royal Air Force, Middle East, 9.7.43 Catania in Sicily was attacked by heavy bombers of the 9th U.S.A.A.F, in daylight yesterday. The locality of the railway station and industrial areas were bombed and hits were scored on locomotive repair sheds and a freight depot. Fires were started. Eight attacking fighters were claimed as destroyed. During the night of July 7/8, R.A.F. heavy bombers also attacked Catania and hits were scored near barracks buildings where fires broke out, heather conditions end smoke prevented further observation of the results of the bombing. Targets on the East Coast of Sicily were also bombed. Three satellite aerodromes at Gerbini by heavy bombers of the 9th •were attacked in daylight of July 7. Three aircraft on the ground were hit and a good concentration of bombs was obtained on the surface of the landing grounds and a concrete runway, Fires were started. The railway line at Brujoli in Sicily was bombed, but no results were observed. From these and-other operations two of our-aircraft are missing. 9.7.43 - No. 18 NORTH AFRICAN COMMUNIQUE No, 245 Allied Force Command Post July 9 Enemy airfields in Sicily were attacked try bonkers of the North. West African Air Forces on the night of July 7/8. These attacks were 'maintained, yesterday by forces of heavy and medium bombers. Many bombs were seen to burst in dispersal areas and on runways. Enemy transport and communications in Sicily were attacked by fighter bombers. Nine enemy aircraft were-destroyed during the day's operations and one during the night of July 7/8. From all these operations nine of our aircraft are missing. • 9/7/43. No. 24 NOT FOR PUBLICATION, BROADCAST, OR USE ON CLUB TAPES BEFORE 00.30 D.B.S.T. (i.e. FOR MORNING PAPERS) ON SATURDAY. JULY 10, 1943 THIS EMBARGO SHOULD BE RESPECTED OVERSEAS BY PREFACING ANY MESSAGES FILED PITH THE EMBARGO INVESTIGATION OF WAR CRIMES With reference to the proposal of His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom for the establishment of a United Nations Commission for the Investigation of War Crimes it is announced that Sir Cecil Hurst, G.C.M.G., K.C.b., K.C., has agreed to serve as the British member of the Commission. Sir Cecil Hurst leading British is a authority on international law, having been since 1929 Judge of the Permanent Court of International Justice, of which he was appointed President in 1934 - Before that he Legal was Adviser to the Foreign Office and was attached to the British delegation at the Peace Conference of 1919. FOREIGN OFFICE NEWS DIVISION 9/7/43 - No. 25 MR. HERBERT MORRISON IN NORTHMAN IRELAND' Mr* Herbert Morrison, the Home secretary, accompanied by Sir Frank Newsam, Deputy Under-Secretary of State, the prime Minister of Northern Ireland (sir Basil Brooke) and other members of the Northern Ireland Government, today .visited a war factory in Co, Armagh, Northern Ireland, The Directors of the firm explained to Mr, Morrison how the factory which had before the war produced fine linen, handkerchiefs and embroidered goods - 80 per cent for export - had switched over to production for war purposes. The most interesting development has been the establishment of a department wholly to work for the Ministry of Aircraft Production. In other -parts of the factory Mr. Morrison saw workers, most of them' girls, turn out aeroplane cloth, garments for the A.T.S., bush shirts, denim suits, etc., for the Services. He told that girls -previously accumstomed to the finest textile work had adapted themselves wonderfully to new jobs of -war production. At an American Air Station Mr. Morrison had lunch with Brigadier-General Edmund W. Hill, Commander of the United Abates Forces in Northern Ireland* At the end of the day, Mr. Morrison returned to Government House where he is the guest of the Governor of Northern Ireland and the Duchess of Abercorn. NORTHERN IRELAND GOVERNMENT OFFICE 9/7/4 3 No. Air Ministry News Service Air Ministry Bulletin No. 10831 .ANOTHER 1,000 TONS ON COLOGNE Cologne last night had its third attack within a fortnight. It was not such a heavy attack as the raids on the nights of June 28 and July 3, but the bomb-load was big enough - over 1,000 tons - to do great damage to the industrial district attacked in which there were many factories cither previously undamaged, or recon- structed after the 1,000 bomber raid of last summer. There was much cloud, with bad icing and electrical storms along the route. It was difficult to prevent the guns from getting iced up and many crews spoke of the intense cold. "Blue flames ran up and down my guns," said a Lancaster gunner. It was not easy to see the results of the attack but reports from experienced pilots making special reconnaissance flights over the target indicate that the bombing soon became effectively concentrated. Nearly all the journey to and from the target, crews had a quiet Many, however, hotly engaged were when actually over cologne. The searchlights were hampered by cloud, but the barrage was intense, Enemy fighters made repeated attacks when their pilots had a good chance of spotting the bombers silhouetted against the red glow of fires or the diffused light of the searchlights on the cloud. "One fighter tried to attack us in the middle of quite heavy flak," said a Lancaster pilot, plight Lieutenant D.F. Kinder of Guildford. "The searchlights could not penetrate the cloud but you could see them below looking like great white saucers of light. The fighter was carrying two white lights close together below its fuselage. It took no notice of the barrage as it made a circuit of our bomber, I took evasive action, and lost him," said "Last night’s was my second operational flight," Sergeant A.A. Stobart, a Lancaster rear-gunner from Melbourne, victoria, "and it was the first time I have met a night fighter. We were right over our target. The clouds were thick, but there were gaps in them. I was keeping a sharp watch, turning my head and moving my guns, suddenly I sow him on the port quarter* The fire-glow on the clouds outlined him perfectly. For a moment he flew on an equal course with us, then he banked and came in. I shouted ’prepare - go’ to my pilot. He knows what that means. He 'seemed to skid the Lancaster round. That was the last we saw of the The glare in the German. rosy-white, so strong that it was hard to sky was a distinguish between fire-glare and searchlights. The flak was heavy and we got a few superficial holes. As it was only my second trip, I do not feel fit to estimate how successful our attack was, but; I did see one tremendous orange explosion*" At least two Lancasters destroyed night fighters. shot down One was by the rear-gunner when the mid-upper gunner had been seriously wounded* The crew of another Lancaster were astonished when they landed to find that there were five flak holes in the tail plane one in the bomb-doors, one in the port and one in the starboard wing• Until then they did not know that they had been hit at all* 8 2 9/7/43 - No. 33 Air Ministry Bulle tin No, 10832 Air Ministry News Service LIBERATOR BEATS OFF ATTACK BY SEVEN JU. Nearly 40 attacks were made by seven Ju88s on a Coastal Command Liberator over the Bay of Biscay yesterday evening. The Liberator secured hits on at least two of the enemy aircraft both of which were last seen with smoke pouring from their engines. During the action, the port beam gunner of the Liberator was killed and the starboard bean gunner wounded in the leg. The Ju88s flying in formation, split up on sighting the Liberator, and commenced attacks from all quarters diving from 500 feet above the Coastal Command aircraft. When two of the Jus closed to within 300 yards the port beam gunner was fatally injured, and the starboard beam gunner wounded in his left leg, but he continued to fire his guns throughout the encounter. The pilot of the Liberator took violent evasive action, but the enemy aircraft continued to attack. By this time the Liberator’s starboard outer engine had been hit,, the hydraulic gear was longer working, no and numerous hits had been scored on the wing, fuselage and tail plane. In spite of these the aircraft returned, safely to its base on three engines. S 8 9/7/43 - No. 34 Air Ministry News Service Air Ministry Bulletin No, 10833 MITCHELLS OUT WITH SPITFIRES pilots of Fighter Command have a slogan "Beware of the Hun in the sun," A Polish squadron had .this so much in mind during a sortie this morning that only one of four F.W,190s which attacked from out of the sun near Monteine escaped 'unscathed - and none of the Spitfires was lost. .A Polish sergeant destroyed one of the F,Ws. and severely damaged another, 1 F/Lt, damaged a third. The squadron was one of a number piloted by airmen of many nationalities, which escorted Mitchell bombers without loss to attack targets at St, Omer, Describing the combat, the sergeant said:- ’.'The leader spotted the F,Ws,and called a warning and we turned to engage them, I fired at one and saw smoke as I hit him. There was another beneath me, so I dived and kept firing at him until there was an explosion. Then I levelled out and came back*" Typhoon bombers attacked shipping off the Cherbourg peninsula, and Mustangs damaged a number of locomotives*