AIR WARFARE

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 192, 10 May 1940, Page 9

AIR WARFARE

Lessons Drawn From Norway

MINISTER’S OUTLINE Britain’s Superior Quality; Quantity Well Behind (British Official Wireless and Press Assn.) LONDON, May 8. The Secretary of State for Air, Sir Samuel Hoare, gave in the House of Commons’ debate a short outline of the air operations in the Norwegian campaign. References which he made to the exploits of the British airmen in Norway contained details gleaned from his own personal talks with pilots themselves. Sir Samuel Hoare said that the Germans were in control of all strategic aerodromes in central and southern Norway, where it was very difficult to improvise new landing places. From the very outset the R.A.F. was suffering under the very heavy handicap of being remote from its bases, while the enemy had his on the spot and was operating on the interior lines of communication, and had many refuelling points between Germany and Scandinavia.

While faced with the task of winning a foothold for fighters in Norway, everything possible was being done to reduce the scale of air attack upon Britain’s sea bases. In the face of these difficulties there was no delay, the Air Minister said. Reconnaissances were made, and, taking the first night when the weather was possible for flying, intensive bomber attacks were started upon aerodromes in Norway, on one of the key aerodromes in Denmark, and on one of the key aerodromes in Germany. Since then, day after day and night after night, and always in the face of terrible weather conditions and all the difficulties involved in long flights backward and forward across the North Sea, these intensive attacks upon chief points in the German position were made with definite and marked results.

They were able very materially to reduce the scale of air attacks upon British bases, and inflicted upon the German air force three times (he losses the Germans inflicted upon the British. Fighters’ Grim Experience. The Minister said that during the last fortnight a squadron of fighters was sent to Scandinavia and only one frozen lake was found by the reconnaissance parties which was suitable as a landing place. The surface was kept clear of snow and necessary stores of petrol and munitions were provided. As soon as it was ready 18 pilots flew the aircraft from the deck of an aircraft-carrier, a distance of 180 miles in a snowstorm, landing on the lake at 10 p.m. The first German bombers appeared at 5.15 a.m. next day, and a battle continued until 8 p.m. The German High Command concentrated on the lake and something like 80 bombers were over the lake continuously for 15 hours. The greater part of the British machines after this gallant battle had been put out of action on the ground, but not one of them was brought down in the air. The King had been pleased to confer - a number of decorations on this very gallant squadron.

-Sir Samuel Hoare discussed the lessons of the air operations. The central question, he said, was not to underrate the power of air bombing and he asked the members did they realize the devastating effect when there was no counter-action against bombers. From ithe very first the -air danger was realized and the necessity for air bases in Norway from which fighters could operate. “If the pincer movement between Namsos and Andalsnes had succeeded,” he said, “we should have got a base. But it did not succeed, and in view of the scale of the German bombing attacks maintenance of the sea _ bases without a fighter force became impossible. No impartial judge would say it would have helped to have sent more aeroplanes or more troops. As long as we could not maintain our sea bases the effect of sending more aircraft would make the situation worse.” On the other hand, he did not accept the other conclusion tiiat, having no air bases, they should have done nothing. No responsible Government, would have stood still in the face of the Norwegian appeal and the issues at stake. Inevitably they should have taken the risk. R.A.F.’s Hitting Power. As to the question whether German air power was invincible, he said “where we have had fighters we have shown how well they can cope with German bombers. Eight months of war shows the superiority of the British fighter over the German bomber. Operations show that strong air power must be met by still stronger air power. Experience in recent weeks has shown the greater power of the British air striking force. "The fact that over hundreds of miles of the North Sea, night after night, we could maintain heavy-scale attacks or inflict great damage upon key points of the German air attack (though it was a case of the bombers very often being pitted against fighters), and that we could take a much heavier toll of their machines, shows the strength of the British air power —in quality unsurpassed; in quantity not nearly big enough. “But production is gathering momentum. The figures for last, month are by far the best we have ever had. Momentum is now gathering speed." Sir Samuel Hoare said that there was no foundation for rumours that a British squadron arrived in Norway without petrol and that its machines were destroyed before they went into action. ,