AIR TACTICS

Evening Star, Issue 23685, 19 September 1940, Page 9

AIR TACTICS

ILLUMINATING COMPARISON NAZI NERVE CENTRES ATTACKED R.A.F.’S RELENTLESS CAMPAIGN (British Official Wireless.) Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright RUGBY, September IS. (Received September 19, at 10.15 a.m.) A comparison between the purpose of the R.A.F. and the Nazi night bombing raids was made in a speech by Sir Archibald Sinclair (Secretary for Air), who said the German bombers flow at about 20,000 ft, carelessly unloading bombs on the dark mass of London beneath, while the bombers of the R.A.F. concentrated on specific military targets and, to ensure hitting them, came down to a low level—as low as 50ft over one very important target. “ Some people,” said Sir Archibald, •• say we ought to repay Germans in kind for their attacks upon our civilians. The truth is that it would be a betrayal of the suffering people of London to divert any of our resources from military objectives.” If the air war resolved itself merely Into a slogging match, with the advantages which she possessed, both in numerical strength and, above all, in the distance’Lore the aircraft had to fly, Germany would bo bound eventually to win. “ What we are doing is to use onr available resources to smash up the German transport ssytem, and

thus slow down the manufacture and distribution of munitions of war of all kinds, and to smash up the factories in which the Germans make their air* craft or instruments, without which the aircraft could not be flown here, or the power houses which supply electricity to the factories, or the oil which supplies motive power. But do not let us fall into the vulgar error of supposing that bombs fall any less heavily on Germany because they are well and shrewdly aimed. We have received information of a very heavy fall in the industrial output of the Rhineland, and the principal reason given for that is the workers’ lack of sleep.” After pointing out some of the difficulties of defence against indiscriminate night bombing, Sir Archibald Sinclair said it was yet by no means an insoluble problem. “ German airmen will find that their reception here is increasingly warm, as Indeed they have already found over London, and I am able to look forward to the time when the pleasure of night bombing over Britain and of blowing to pieces a number of humble London homes will cease to be attractive to Goering and his aerial minions.” The Air Minister concluded by giving details of German and British air losses since August 8, when the blitzkrieg started. The R.A.F. had lost 621 machines of all types . of fighters, bombers, and general reconnaissance planes. The Nazis , during the same period lost 1,867, while their losses in air crews amounted to over 4,000, and the R.A.F. to less than 600. In air fighting in the Middle East during the same period the H.A.F. lost 15 aircraft, but destroyed 56 Italian planes. Further, these figures of enemy losses referred only to confirmed German and Italian losses, for the number of aircraft damaged was very large. NAZI AIR LOSSES ANOTHER FORTY-SIX DOWN GOOD SCORING BY R.A.F. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 18. (Received September 19, at 10 a.m.) It is officially stated that 46 enemy aircraft have been destroyed in engagements during the day. Nine R.A.F. fighters were lost, but the pilots of five are safe. DAMAGED HOMES ROYAL GIFT OF FURNITURE LONDON, September 18. (Received September 19, at 8 a.m.) The Queen is sending a number of suites of furniture from Windsor Castle to help to refurnish damaged East End homes-

WAR IN THE AIR FAILURE »F GERMAN BLITZKRIEG ALL FRESH TACTICS MET AMD OVERCOME ENEMY LACKS SKILLED NIGHT-FLYING PILOTS (British Official Wireless.) Press Association — By Telegraph—Copyright RUGBY, September 17. Reviewing the experience of the past few weeks, air experts express growing confidence in the ability of the R.A.F. to defeat any fresh tactics which the German air force may attempt just as effectively as on answer has been found to the Luftwaffe daylight raids.. Meanwhile its night raids have proved to be incapable of doing any real military damage, and it is now considered clear that the German air force suffered from lack of men skilled in night flying. Events have established that when forces of daylight raiders are sent over in such force as might effect important damage, anything up to 50 per cent, of them are destroyed. .The enemy has failed to defeat the R.A.F. in these daylight raids, in spite of frequent marked changes in the pattern of attack. High flying bombers with layers of fighters stepped up around them, were quite unsuccessful. Mixed formations of bombers and fighters, spreading fanwise on reaching the English coast, were turned back with heavy losses, and the few which actually got through were insufficient in numbers in any one area to undertake any concentrated bombing. The next change of tactics was the employment of large waves of bombers following one another in quick succession. It was obviously hoped that later waves would take the defences unawares. This has proved disastrous, as the week-end engagement, including Sunday’s colossal defeat, has shown. There is some speculation as to what new experiment in daylight raids will be attempted, but confidence is high that whatever form it may take the R.A.F. will be ready to meet it. FAILURE B OF NIGHT BOMBING. As for niglit bombing, ib has so far failed in the much advertised aims of disorganising communications, civilian and military, and terrorising the civil population. Meanwhile British fighter losses have been relatively small, while half of the pilots shot down have survived and are still 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 and reinforcements. BRITISH BOMBER STRENGTH. The feature of the R.A.F. constant raids over enemy and enemy-occupied territory has been the low rate of loss The ■ British bomber strength has scarcely been affected in consequence. The effectiveness of these regular incursions into enemy territory is not open to doubt. The extent of the raids is most readily appreciated when they are reviewed over the period of a week between September 8 and September 14, inclusive. Raids on Germany and occupied territory included 42 attacks on the rail systems in Germany, Belgium, and occupied France, two raids on oil tanks, two attacks on aircraft works, three raids on ammunition stores, three raids on factories and a blast furnace, two raids on the Brussels power station, and one on gasworks in Berlin, 15 raids on German aerodromes, three on aerodromes in Belgium, and two on aerodromes in Holland, 44 raids on German and German-occupied • docks, including the following in Germany:— Hamburg two, Bakhaen two, Altona three, Wilhelmshaven three, Kiel, Hansafen, and Wismar; and in occupied countries —Ostend six, Calais six, Boulogne five, Flushing four, Dunkirk two, Antwerp two, Delfzijl 25; attacks on barge concentrations, two raids on canal and river systems, 11 attacks on shipping, three attacks on gun emplacements at Cap Gris Nez, and three on anti-aircraft batteries and searchlights. GERMANY'S PRESENT PLAN DESTRUCTION OF BRITAIN'S SOUTH-EAST COAST STOCKHOLM, September 18. (Received September 19, at noon.) The ‘ Allehadas’s ’ Berlin correspondent says the German plan for the invasion of Britain has been temporarily postponed in view of the efficiency of the anti-aircraft defences and the R.A.F. fighters, but the systematic destruction of Britain’s south-east coast is continuing, especially the bombing of oorts and airfields.