§ Mr. Dribergasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air if he is aware that the parents of a sergeant-pilot, reported missing while piloting a bomber to Ploesti oilfields in August, 1944, have now been informed by his Department that, owing to the political situation in the Balkans, it cannot yet be said when searcher parties 301W will be able to operate in that area; what steps have been taken, through normal diplomatic channels, military missions or otherwise, to expedite this task and so to allay the anxiety of relatives; and how soon he anticipates that searcher parties will be at work.
§ Mr. de FreitasYes, Sir. My predecessor first gave this information some time ago in a letter about the same case to another hon. Member. We have already asked our missions in all the countries concerned to do their best to obtain any information about missing aircrews, unfortunately with little result so far. All our experience shows that these investigations can only be carried out effectively through going into every detail by means of the Air Ministry Missing Research and Enquiry Service. In this way we hope that eventually we shall be able to cover every single place where there is a chance of a clue to the fate of a missing airman, but I cannot yet say when the search parties will be able to get to work in the Balkans. Those which are already in the Mediterranean theatre are at present fully occupied in Italy, and they will be starting work in Austria next.