Le Courrier de l'Air

Le Courrier de l'Air

Propaganda Leaflet F29

The leaflet addresses the Battle for Australia against the Japanese with General MacArthur’s appointment as Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in Australia and the Southwest Pacific. The Australian Prime Minister, John Curtin, announces successful combined air operations on Japanese positions in Rabaul and Lae. Significant damage is said to have been inflicted on the Wake and Marcus Islands. Japan is experiencing maritime problems in the Pacific. The British Admiralty has announced a successful submarine operation in the Mediterranean with the sinking of 11 vessels.

Claims that it is the ‘New Disorder’ rather than New Order. It describes how Romania has suffered huge losses, particularly against Russia, and in Odessa, Crimea, Ukraine and Donetsk. A fractious relationship has developed with Hungary over Transylvania. Germany is said to be playing off one Balkan state against another. Rations are to be reduced. There appear to be increasingly strained relations between Finland and Germany because of urgent supply issues.

Extracts are given from an Anglo-French meeting in London, attended by General de Gaulle. Successful Free French Forces’ operations are said to have taken place in Southern Libya under General Leclerc, regaining Chad and several other posts. Details from Lord Halifax’s broadcast in the United States are shared, including sacrifices made and successes of the army, RAF and industrial production.

Hitler is expected to make another spring offensive on Russia. The article suggests that there is no longer an element of surprise, Russia is now stronger with allied support and Germany is facing resistance from its occupied states. An English officer in Russia writes about the waves of new Russian armies proceeding to the front. Although Germany had some success in Ukraine, is has met failure in Leningrad and Moscow.

Lady MacRoberts gifted a £25,000 gift of Stirling bomber, named ‘MacRobert’s Reply’, and fighter planes including ‘MacRobert’s Salute to Russia’ to commemorate her three sons.

1942

Three printed sheets

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