§ 60. Sir Stanley Reedasked the Secretary of State for Air whether he has official information of the number of German dive-bombers destroyed during the recent operations in Egypt?
§ The Joint Under-Secretary of State for Air (Captain Harold Balfour)An analysis of communiqués issued from Middle East Headquarters shows that since 23rd May the number of Stukas destroyed in combat in the operations in the Western Desert is 59.
§ Sir S. ReedWill my right hon. and gallant Friend take steps to give wide publicity to that statement, for the guidance of those intelligent or unintelligent amateurs who have been trying to direct our Imperial strategy?
§ Captain BalfourI hope that the hon. Member's Question will have the wide publicity which it deserves.
§ Sir H. WilliamsCan the right hon. and gallant Gentleman say how many of these 944 dive-bombers were destroyed on the occasion when the British Forces were defeated?
§ Captain BalfourSir, the British Forces are never defeated. They sometimes get setbacks.
§ Sir H. WilliamsWell, on the occasion of setbacks can the right hon. and gallant Gentleman say how many were destroyed?
§ Captain BalfourNot without notice.