740.0011 European War 1939/3391½: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Bullitt) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 31—7:44 a.m.]
955. For the President and the Secretary. The British and French troops in the Dunkirk area once more today displayed a heroism [Page 238] worthy of the best traditions of both nations. The superiority in quality of the French and British aviators has made it possible for them to establish, whenever numbers are equal or nearly equal, a definite superiority in the air. The German pursuit planes have apparently received orders to turn and run whenever French and British pursuit planes appear. At least they do this and do not offer battle. German success in the air depends entirely on superior masses of planes.
This war is not lost and every plane that can be sent today will be worth a hundred next year.