For air as for sea warfare, it was essential to have secure bases, and a glance at the map would. show why, with existing ranges of British, fighters, the British were unable to have fighter protection in Greece and Crete.
Long-range fighters, said the officer, were improvised, but the handicap of a long-range fighter operating at the jond of his range against short-range high-performance interceptors was very heavy.
The British were now in a much easier position. It was easier for them to'switch aircraft in any direc+ tion, When the Iragi trouble arose they switched a large force of aircraft to rag, while ILA. armoured cars were at Rutbah two days after leaving the Western Desert.
The officer revealed that aircraft were steadily arriving in the Middle East.
Questioned about American planes, Ihe said they were very ood, but that like all babies they had teething
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.