Fifty years ago
NO ONE CAN feel quite happy at the news that Sir Arthur Harris, "Bomber Harris," has left this country, apparently for ever, to settle in South Africa, without any public recognition of the immense work he organised so brilliantly through- out the war. There is plenty of room for differences of opinion about the intensive bombing of Germany, but that was decid- ed at a higher level. Sir Arthur was there to carry out the policy adopted, and there can be no question about the ability and efficiency with which he did his job. The fact that he was in charge of Bomber Command from 1942 to the end of the war is proof enough of that. Yet none of the honours so rightly awarded to Lord Portal, Lord Tedder, Lord Dowding and others came his way. I should like to know why.
The Spectator 22 February 1946
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