HC Deb 14 November 1945 vol 415 c2092
6. Mr. George Wallace

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air how many of the 30,000 airmen, members of air-crews, missing presumed killed, have been accounted for to date.

Mr. Strachey

Of the 38,000 air-crew personnel missing, or presumed killed, we have so far accounted for 3,125. In all these latter cases death has been established. The Missing Research and Enquiry Service is at work in France, Belgium, Holland, Norway, Denmark and in the British zone in Germany. Forty search officers are now working and 80 more are being appointed. In the Far East the work is only now getting going.

Mr. Wallace

Can the Minister say whether anything has been done in the Russian zone?

Mr. Strachey

As the House has been informed, we are in touch with the Russian authorities on that and are attempting to arrange it.

Mr. Lipson

How many of these 30,000 men are in the Far East zone?

Mr. Strachey

I am afraid I cannot tell the hon. Gentleman that.