1960-08-17 — Page 61

SCRAMBLE!

EVERY great battle is

followed by an in- quest. Every commander is subjected, after victory no less than after defeat, to calumny and to critic- isin.-

So it was with the Battle of Britain,

But in this case the direction of the balle was made the sub- ject of ometal inquiry even while the most desperate and critical phose of the "Aghling was in progress.

There were three central Sgures in this drama-Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding:

Commander in Chief Fighter Command: Air Vice-Marshal Keith Park. Air Officer Com- manding 11 Group; and Air Vice-Marshal Trafford Leigh- Mallory, Air Officer Commarid- ing 12 Group.

Easy range

A glance at the map is suff- elent, to show how important it was

that 11 ara 12 Groups should work closely together. Leigh-Mallory's two southern sectors. with their principal air- Helds at Duxford, between Cam- bridge and Royston, and Collis- ho, near Norwich, were within

THE CHINA MAIL,

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 1960..

The story of the greatest

battle of the War.

BY HUGH

DUNDAS,

D.S.Q., D.F.CAM

THE REWARD

FOR VICTORY:

A BOWLER HAT

Air Vice Marshal

LEIGH MALLORY Commanding 12 Group

\COLTISKÁLI

DESDEN

DUXFORD

KEER

- SECTOR

GROUP

A SECTOR

BOUNDARY

BOUNDARY

N. WEALD

HORNCHURCH

THOLT

ENGIN

HILL

ABPILDS

KENLEY

TANGMERE

easy fighting ranze of London take the brunt of the German and the Home Counties.

In the circumstances it was regrettable that there should have existed between Park and

assault,

Air Vice Mestial

KEITH PARK

Commanding 11 Group

several occasione those fighters, led by Douglas Bader. were either sitting on the ground or held off to the north of London when they could have been brought to bear in battle.

Sharp words

The 12 Group Wing did on several pccasions descend into the íray with spectacular results. And on at least one of those occasions September 15, the day when the battle reached its dimax the Wing only got into action because Doublas Bader amored orders and led his squadrons south Into the fight on his Own initiative.

This led to sharp words between the two Group head- Park. on the the other hand, quarters, but the 12 Group seldom operated his squadrons squadrons had scored heavily in formations of more than two and Park was too big a man to at a time--and seldom even did overlook their success. that.

Both right

From then on, our big forme- llon was called in more often and with good effect,

Dowding, rightly determined both to keep the whole country against attack and Leigh-Mallory a relationship protected which, far from being close and also to rotate his squadrons in order to give them periods of cordial, bordered on dislike.

rest, never allowed Park more

Final victory did not blunt the 40 per cent of the I say that when all the bicker. Keith Park, tall, slim, good- than about looking New Zealander, had total fighting strength of Fighter ing and recriminations are done, keenness of the inquiry into Park's tactics. And Leigh- both men may be seen to have Mallory, perhaps, had more time Won the MC and bar, the DFC Command.

been right. Leigh Mallory was and the Croix de Guerre in the first world war.

right in theory. Park was right and opportunity to lobby his opinions during those jutumn in practice.

days.

With that force sometimes 21 squadrons. sometimes 22 Transferring to the RFC after Park had to do his job. But Park simply did not have the Gallipoli, where he served as he had the right, when he wished time or the resources to assemble

Leigh-Mallory'e views received gunner and was twice wound- to do so to ask the commanders and manoeuvre big formations, support from a potent ally. He ed he shot down 12 German of the neighbouring

Consider the time factor. groups to

was backed by Air Marshal Str planes.

put up squadrons to help him.

squadron of 12 Spitfires based William Sholto Douglas, then at Kenley might have been on Deputy Chief of the Air Staft. patrol over the coad at a height it was an alliance of powerful of 2,000ft some 16 Or 17

brains and strong personalities. minutes after getting the order And it proved irresistible. The charge against him was to scramble. that he failed to take proper

He had kept his hand 25 a pilot and was perfectly at

home In the cockpit of a Hurri-

cane or Spitfire.

Best way

the

In appearance he was debonair advantage of the availability of То get two squadrons to relieved and his place at Fighter and quick-moving the fighter the 12 Group squadrons. And gether. Aying 3.5 3 single pilot's ideal of a man's man.

there were many who went so cohesive formation into far to say that his failure to same position might have taken Leigh-Mallory, the 12 Group do so was activated by a sel- seven or eight minutes longer Commander, was a bird of a different feather. Where Park fish desire to keep all the glory And in those vital minutes the gave the impression of lightness of battle for 13 Group.

B

Cummings

"Ha! Ha! M2 Lumumba! That little match you dropped is going to roast the West !"

London Express Service.

NEW

MY FRIEND THE

CHANCELLOR.

EVERYBODY

in November. Dowding was

Comanand was taken by Sholto Douglas. Inevitably Park swiftly followed his old chief into the wilderness. Early in December he was posted to command German formation could have Training Group and Leigh- progressed half-way from the Mallory moved to 11 Group. They suggested also that Park, coast to London. who had worked Very closely

The departure of the two great Park had also to exercise the and with Dowding as his Senjor Alr

successful leaders Was careful judanent with marked by no particular expres- Staff Olleer during the build-up mast of Fighter Command, was not regard to the amount of his total sign of gratitude or acknowledg- chequer. discouraged by his Chief from force which he committed at any ment of national indebtedness. There was more than a touch excluding others from the lime- one time.

They just faded away, and“ a of pomposity in his appuanee light,

Day after day. week after few months later Dowding was manner. Yet he was an

week, the mercurial, quick presented with a bowler hat. wilted Park judged rightly. He Park, resilient and tough as

and speed, Leigh-Mallory could have been described as ponder- ous and pedantic.

Obvious reasons

and officer of exceptional ability -- A secondary controversy

.

will

wish Mr Selwyn Lloyd well at the Ex-

To begin with for the purely sellsh reason that every man's Anances will depend upon his

manipulation of the Dobry By LORD LAMBTON, M.P. forthright, shrewd, tough and which developed at the same made some mistake, of course, ever, sprang back to the lime-eight years of unthanked hard shown that he has both great about him a simplicity, E

unyielding.

sense

But, apart from this, after The past few years have great affection for him. There is time centred upon Park's koti- but he never made a fatal mis- light. As Air Officer Command- cal direction.

take-and rarely has one man ng Mata during the siege and Inbour, it would be only justice defects and strengths of charac- of had so many opportunities to do aerial assault of

for him to have a great success ter, that heroic island he was able to show that in a position which will enable him to go about his work uni- it is true, just the his powers of leadership were harried by perpetual crises and I think

unabated.. same, that very much greater

movement. use could have been made of Leigh-Mallory's 12 Group Wing

The controversy which grew up between Park and Leigh- Leigh-Mallory believed that Mallory at the height of the the best way, to deal with the Battle of Britain and subse- enormous formations sent over quently developed

a by the Germans into

was to mass rancorous squabble between big British formations, several different factions Fighter squadrons strong, against them.

had Command

simple He himself assembled in the explanation.

Duxford sector a Wing consist-

in

#

50.

I think it is true indeed I

SATURDAY:

ing of three Hurricane squad- know it is true, for I was a pilot What it was like For obvious geographical rons and two Spire In the Wing during the second

reesons Park's 11 Group had to squadrons.

half of September-that on

—(London Express Struzica).'

His strength

Q

criliciam of being a "yes" man which was thrown at him directly he went to the Foreign Office.

Now that he is fully establish- courage and of personal ed as a Tory Party leader one determination, which I have hopes that he will, adept an

basler manner. rarely seen equalled.

But the great question, and When you add to this a devo- It is well worth analysing these and considering how they tion to work and duty, and an the clue to the whole problem, will affect him in his new posi- absolute grasp of essentials and is whether Mr Lloyd will now tion.

figures, you have before you an be prepared to take and make figarre sixt the his own decisions Independent I have known Mr Selwyn impressive Lloyd very well for the last six explanation of Mr Lloyd's great of the Prime Minister's view?

are Many interested eyes Nor is there any reason why years, for two of which I was personal succERS.

fixed on him at the moment; Mr Selwyn Lloyd-58 now- Els Parliamentary Private Secre-

there are rumours that we are should not make an outstanding ary, and it is impossible to

now seeing a repetition of a success in his new office.

know him and not to have a

play that was acted a few years ago in Westminster, when Lord But there are two sides to Affee contrived that Mr every man's nature, and the Gaitskell and not Mr Morrison other side of Mr Lloyd's coin should succeed him, and this is not quite so bright.

Lime Mr Butler is in Lord In spite of the great qualities Morrison's part, which I have mentioned, he Alt this lies in the future. also possesses a modesty, none Only time will show whether tha less fresome for being the forces to sandairly ranged unaffected, which sometimes against Mr Butler in 1958 are prevents him from insisting on a strong as they were. his own point of view and back-

Spying today is a far cry from the simple heroes and villains of fiction. Today's spy is no longer a fast man with a gun. He is-

A TECHNICIAN WITH A LITTLE

GARY Powers, the U-2 pilot who will be tried in open court today his 31st birthday—is in one sense the least important figure in the whole business. He is merely the man who lost out in what Kipling called “The Great Game.” But in another sense he stands for something new in the world of espionage the all-electronic spy machine.

BLACK BOX

By A

Former Intelligence Officer

The days have gone when sinister, club-footed, Teutons played havoc all over the Scottish High- lands and were outwitted in the last chapter by portance to the modern spy- some rather sporting British ex-Army officer.

⚫master.

From such data he can judge Or when young Carruthers, States are said to operate a not only the military but the

been involved in world-wide network of 200,000 economic power of who had

a country. desperate doings along the agents Ir no less than 27 and ils plans for peace or war. China Chast, was called to à espionage and security services, quiet room of Whitehall where

be met some keen-eyed, while-

haired old gentleman.

"We've

been keeping an

Study of newspapers

But whereas this information

is easily obtained about Western countries by sly of news- papers and magadines, it is hard Bo get from the Boviet Union.

Here again, though, hints willing to serve your cigarette cases and all the rest

Dramatle kidnappings, lethal the found in the Russian papers bury, I was you; it was of it are also still as premtent these who read between the

tye on you Carruthers. Are

700

Changed

lines,

can

His manner

Ing his own judgment which is nearly always right.

The struggle

It is always possible that

limit, they are engaged in the safest form of spying of all

I would give an example of uma Lying there put at this in the events which caused their scanners can sweep whole me to leave him after Fuez. ofeas of Britain and North Having committed ourselves to realisation of the fact that it America, picking up invaluable the action, it seemed to me only was not Mr Butler who

of Information out of the air. proper and right that those responsible for the retreat

responsible for

should Suez, will give Conservative Members of Parliament sOIDE

*19

Attlee

Nor does the Soviet Union relinquish office,

I was always convinced that desire to make unenda, need to send U-2s over Britain,

We can certainly look forward for their civil jeshners on Mr Lloyd felt the same, but scheduled flights into London despite this he remained at the to a titanic struggle it Mr Man are ad believed to carry photo-Foreign Ofice at the request of millan is following the

An graphic equipment, And what Mr Macmillan. Had he then procedent.

"that one can do at the resigned, I believe he would Bavarian paper. The river- But perhaps the greatest equipement"

have takes a firmer line with moment is to wish Mr Selwyn usement was entirely innovit change has been in the technical

America and our foreign affairs Lloyd the best of luck. Though sisted only that a feld.

I have had many bilier battles This began in the last Britain, America and Russia would not be in quite the with him in the past, I am de- German officer wished to sell war when Britain's first crude have all developed cameras doldrums they are today, his cavalry bools, But it fit radar was able to pick up capable of mapping areas His own position would have lighted to do this. ted in with other information German fighters long before miles wide, yet in such detail been immeasurably strengthen and the secret was out. they had reached the coast." that a dustbin could be denied.

Today, so greatly has the art fed from 100,000 up. High grown that the Americans Byng RA.F. V-bombers have boast of being able to sten in cameras which can map almost on the conversations carried on the whole of the Mediterranean

In one mission. Another change in the "Intelli- by Rusinh tank commanders on Ecce pattern is the use of mindevres.

user agents to create in- dustrial unrest. Strially speak-

Radar

ing this cannot be classed as Undersea spies

be dangerous." "I'm am", as ever. What has changed is

the character and methods of In both Britain and America, spying but it is an important spying.

a close study of such papers is part of cold war intelligence the sale duty of a number of work. Today, espionage, like war, earnest young man who do not is total.

in any manner resemble the Ranging from pointless strikes In vital Industries, to well- No longer is it enough to spies of romantic fiction. Oddly enough, this is more or

meaning "peace'" front", organi- what used to happen. know how many ships or planes 1099 Certainly

Vital xallitary information sations manipulated by Com the German Boy- the chemy is building, how fast masters thought so, and were und how potent they are. The can also be oljained, in this munists, to the fooding of greatly, infused by the works failure of a wheat crop in

Before he last, war Africa and Latin America, by *** Siberia, the Iniiding of a hydro-

Intelliope officer, Soviet teachers" and "techni- of John Buchan and others. electric station on some Chinese Heduces the isavily guarded clans," these activities play a But times have changed The River or eten à decision to advo movements, Optra Gelman valuable part in the Russian old-fashioned spy is still with the Russian masses

Pancar o trga nail offensive and put great strain on

cut In a Western Intelligence resources. ua Indon

CommunŠNÉ „AUME KROŠE, Are all of vifal tr3-

tha

more con-

The question

. Within a comparailvely short period he could have, returned. New developments, which are to the Foreign Office without the being undertaken by all coun-old allegations of insincerity tries

underscalignt hanging like a stone round his

And there is always the com forting thought that if he suc creds at the Exchequer we shall

all' materially beneft

TALKING

POINTS

per Laying on the set bed neck. And at this moment he or flosling at a pre-determined would be the undisputed succes layer, these electronic "Farr or to Mr Macmil

Another aspect of his charac-GO Grown, too, has the scope will report shipping intelligence

There is no truer truth ter which has been severely of electronic eping. The

criticised is the brusqueness of obtainable by mRN RB-47 shotdoton near the in their masters thousands

manner and the insensitivity of Soviet Union las engaged in miles away.

comes in masie. the legitimate activity of S

has personal approach, which has frequently given unnecessary. offence.

studying fletro-magnetem in it all comes far cry from the Polar Saree But such a the simple beroes and villains study is also vital if the West of clos

are to have warning of s Russida grack.

As for the Zinglep cruising outsid

Yet this may well result from the fact that he achieved great

Nothing

BROWNING.

The important spy today la office before he was fully pre-forming as oth

Do longer tast man with a pared for Indeed his brusque- | habits.

fon. He is a lenhalelan with new may be the pection of

Bitle "Dlack boxT

skiynes, and a counter to that