R.A.F. SUPREMACY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 223, 19 September 1940, Page 5

R.A.F. SUPREMACY.

CONFIDENCE GROWS.

> REVIEWS BY EXPERTS.

(Official British Wireless.) RUGBY, September 17. Reviewing the experience of the past few weeks air experte express growing confidence in the ability of the Royal Air Force to defeat any fresh tactics which the German Air Force may attempt just as effectively as an answer has been found to the daylight raids. Meanwhile the night raids have proved tc be incapable of doing any real military damage, and it is now considered cleai that the German Air Force has sufferec from the lack of men skilled in nighi flying. Events have established that whei daylight raiders are sent over in sucl force as might effect important damage anything up to 50 per cent of them an destroyed. The enemy has failed ti defeat the Royal Air Force in these day light raids, in epite of the frequen marked changes in the pattern of attack Turned Back With Heavy Losses. High-flying bombers, with Jayers o fighters stepped up around them, wer quite unsuccessful. Mixed formations c bombers and fighters, spreading fanwis on reaching the English coast, wer turned back with heavy losses, and th few which actually got through were h sufficient in numbers in any one area t undertake any concentrated bombing. The next change of tactics was tl employment of large waves of bombei following one another in quick succei sion. It was obviously hoped that tr later waves would take the defences ui awares. This has proved disastrous, i the week-end engagements, includh Sunday's colossal defeat, have shown. There is some speculation as to whi new experiment in daylight raids mt be attempted, but confidence is hi} thac vhatever form it may take tl Roy?. Air Force will be ready to me ■ it. •' : ' •-• ■'■•;

As for night bombing, it hae so far failed in' its much-advertised aims of disorganising communications, civilian

and military, and terrorising the civil population.

Our Fighter Losses Light,

British fighter losses have been relatively email, while half the pilots ehqt down have survived and are etill fighting. The authorities, it may be added, are well satisfied with the rate of aircraft production and with the progress of the Empire training scheme with its vast promise of a steady flow of personnel reinforcements.

A feature of the constant British raid: over Germany and enemy-occupied terri tory hae been the low rate of loss British bomber strength has searceh been affected in consequence. The effec iveness of these regular incursions int< ■nemy territory is not open to doubt. The extent of the raids is moet readih tppreciated when they are reviewed ovei he period of the week between Septem »er 8 and 14 inclusive. Kaids on Ger nany and occupied territory included 4! ittacke on rail systems in Germany Belgium and occupied France; two raid: >n oil tanks; two attacks on aircraf vorks; three raids on ammunitioi itores; three raids on factories and i >laet-furnace; two raids on the Brus iels power-station; and one on the gas vorks at Berlin; 15 raids on Germai t/erodromes; three on aerodromes in Bel |ium and two on aerodromes in Holland 14 raids on German and German-oecupiec docks, including, in Germany, two oi Hamburg, two on Bakhaen, three on Al tona, three on Wilhelmshaven, one oi Kiel, Haneafen and Wismar; and ii occupied countries, Ostend six, Calai. six, Boulogne five, Flushing four, Dun kirk two, Antwerp two, Delfziil 25: it tacks on targe concentrations, two; raids on canal and river systems, 11; ittacke on shipping, three; attacks on run emplacements at Cap Gris-Nez, vhree; and on anti-aircraft batteries and searchlights, three.