THE AIR WAR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25021, 15 September 1942, Page 5

THE AIR WAR

CLASH LOOMING VITAL TEST OF STRENGTH GERMANY ON DEFENSIVE NEW YORK, (Rec. 11.30 p.m.) Sept. 14. “An air battle of unprecedented dimensions is apparently looming in Western Europe, with the course of the war possibly turning on the issue,” says the Washington correspondent of the New York Times. “ Germany is now on the defensive against the R.A.F.’s unparalleled night raids and Flying Fortresses’ precision daylight forays. Some of the best squadrons of German fighters have been shifted to the Western Front, but have failed to combat these raids. Germany’s next step must be a new blitz against Britain in an attempt to destroy the raiders and their nests.

“ Increasing reports of new surprises by the Luftwaffe, such as a stratosphere bomber operating at 40,000 ft, cause little concern, aviation circles pointing out that Flying Fortress and Liberator bombers can fly at virtually the same altitude by cutting down the bomb load, stepping up the engines and dropping some of the armament. The principles of aerodynamics in heavy bomber construction and turbosupercharged engines are not exclusive German secrets. In addition, the newest types of American bombers have already rendered obsolete those at present operating in Europe. Experts assert, furthermore, that it is immaterial in the coming months whether bombers can operate at 40,000 ft, since autumn and winter weather will reduce the ceiling to 20,000 ft in order to get visibility for precision bombing. “The British and American Air Forces have developed a defence against night bombers to a greater degree than the Germans by using a secret method which was good enough to halt the last blitz, and has since been improved. Therefore, the Luftwaffe presumably must direct its principal effort to daytime operations, when it will be forced to descend to low altitudes to sight its objectives. These bombers will encounter three new planes, on which combat reports are not yet available —the Spitfire Nine (the latest British high-altitude fighter), the American P3B, a twin-engined heavy fighter, and the P 47, a tiny fightgj’ with a supercharged engine capable of the highest climbing. British and American pilots who had tested these planes' are confident they can shoot down the newest German bombers.” FLYING FORTRESSES “ADEQUATE FOR THE JOB ” WASHINGTON, (Rec. 0.30 a.m. Sept. 15. Major-general Olds, an Air Force commander, asserted that the fourmotored bomber is writing history across the skies of the world; it is the foremost offensive weapon in modern warfare. General Olds released a letter from Major-general Spaatz, commander of the army air forces in England: “ The Flying Fortresses are far superior to anything in this theatre, and are fully adequate for the job. The British admit this, and add that with similar equipment and training they would also carry out daylight bombing. They unanimously praise our bombing accuracy.” _____