GERMAN AIR STRENGTH

Evening Star, Issue 22452, 24 September 1936, Page 6

GERMAN AIR STRENGTH

IMS PUKES BY END OF YEAR Germany’s now famous “ 253rd air squadron ” has led to various exercises in simple arithmetic to compute the probable total present strength of her air force (says the London ‘ Observer’). What is certain is that building is proceeding at a rapid rate and that in the past three months the strength has been doubled. The main difficulty is understood to be that of recruiting pilots, for the haste in construction lias led to many casualties to planes and men. One misapprehension can be readily removed. Tlie actual numbering of squadrons is neither here nor there. Every German squadron lias three numbers, each signifying something different, and even the number (300 is common among them. The German word for “ squadron” is Staff'd, which contains nine machines, a Grnppe is three squadrons, and a Geschwader is two to three groups. The estimate of 27 planes to a squadron arises from the confusion of Staff'el with Gruppe. The organisation of the forces divides the country into six districts. East Prussia is number one. The coastal district, with headquarters at Kid, is number six. The main territory is divided into four districts. Berlin is the headquarters of Number Two Luftkreise, Munster (Westphalia) of 'Number Four, Munich of Number Five, and Breslau of Number Three. A well-informed source has calculated on a conservative basis that by the end of tlie year Germany will have 3,000 planes in the first line and 3,000 in the second, with a plant capable of producing 200 a month. The average speed is estimated by the same source as 280 kilometres for bombing and 300 for fighting planes.