Bravery of airmen made difference
LETTER: As an octogenarian ex-serviceman I am disappointed that the present generation shows so much ignorance of the reasons for World War Two, the way it was fought and the final outcome.
As an octogenarian ex-serviceman I am disappointed that the present generation shows so much ignorance of the reasons for World War Two, the way it was fought and the final outcome.
At the beginning of the war the Army suffered humiliating defeats despite many individual courageous acts. They faced an enemy with superior equipment and, dare I say it, superior leadership. The miracle of Dunkirk prevented the incarceration of thousands of our men.
A similar defeat was inflicted upon us by the shameful surrender of thousands of our able men to the Japanese in the Far East.
Our Navy also faced an enemy armed with modern ships and U-boats.
Our Navy was still equipped with vessels from World War One.
The RAF was no better off, with little modern equipment apart from Hurricanes and Spitfires, which were in very short supply.
None of these shortcomings were the fault of the regular fighting men, rather the inability of successive governments to see what was going on in Germany prior to 1939.
It is an historical fact that, after the defeats of our armies and the partial defeat of the Navy, only the RAF managed to thwart the plans of the German High Command by defeating the Luftwaffe. The Battle of Britain indeed saved our day.
Without the efforts of RAF Bomber Command and, much later, the American 8th Air Force, the enemy would have been able to make many more tanks, U-boats, aircraft and rockets.
It is well to remember that by far the greatest number of aircrew were non commissioned officers and, sadly, no fewer than 56,000 lost their lives while on flying duties.
They died so that you can enjoy freedom and the way of life that you have chosen.
D G Rouse, Shrewsbury
