THE RAID THAT NEVER WAS
SIR,—In the column 'Portrait of the Week' (January 11), grave doubts are placed on the veracity of the RAF's claim to have pierced America's defences in a recent exercise. In fact, British V-bombers have on several occasions piereed the American defence system and attained their objectives in tactical exercises, despite the American radar warning screen.
What appals one is that the Air Ministry in London confirmed details (January 6) of the successful pene- tration of American defences and then, seemingly, had to withdraw its original statement and contradict itself (January 7). Either Air Ministry statements are irresponsible (which seems unlikely) or the British Government allowed itself to be brow- beaten by the bulldozing tactics of the US Govern- ment (which seems most likely). The American myth that the RAF's V-bomber force was obsolescent— and hence not worth the cost of Skybolt—was exploded and American political chicanery exposed. What was also exposed was the British Government's readiness to disown Bomber Command's brilliant demonstration of aviation skill against the 'Maginot line' of American defence.
MICHAEL. SIBLEY
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