§ 21. Mr. Purbrickasked the Secretary of State for Air whether, in view of the adoption of the Mustang as a dive-bomber, and the supply of the American Vengeance dive-bomber to the Royal Air Force, which are being operated in Sicily and Burma, respectively, he has now abandoned his former hostility to this form of aircraft for its specialised purpose under proper conditions?
§ Sir A. SinclairThe inference of the hon. Member is not correct. It has always been the view of the Air Staff that effective use can be made of the dive-bomber when operated under favourable conditions.
§ Mr. PurbrickThat is rather different from the reply which the right hon. Gentleman gave on previous occasions, when he said that there were no dive-bombers.
§ Sir A. SinclairI must ask my hon. Friend to look at my speeches before he makes an assertion of that kind. I have frequently stated that the dive-bomber is an arm of opportunity. The opportunity may be rare, but it is a good thing to have the dive-bomber to take advantage of such opportunities.
§ Mr. PurbrickWhy, if the Air Ministry have always been in favour of dive-bombers, is it only now, after four years of war, that they are coming into operation?