December 15, 1992

STATEMENT:

The premise in the CBC's documentary - The Valour and the Horror - that bombing of German cities was unnecessary, raises serious questions about the Allied conduct in World War II. Recent public examination of this issue has prompted the publication by The War Amps of a new book titled "The Morality of Bomber Command in World War II".

This statement was issued today by H. Clifford Chadderton, Chief Executive Officer of The War Amps, who is the book's author.

The 60-page book traces the development of aerial bombardment from its infancy in World War I to the major Bomber Command defences which many believe paved the way for Hitler's defeat.

"The controversy over the bombing of German cities was raised immediately after the war. The CBC documentary produced by Brian McKenna of Galafilm of Montreal suggests that, because of the bombing raids, we gave up the moral high ground to the Germans. This is a serious indictment of Canadian airmen, and we have no alternative but to challenge it by every means at our disposal," Chadderton stated.