AIR SUPREMACY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20120, 14 December 1939, Page 7

AIR SUPREMACY

ALLIED FORCES SUPERIOR TO NAZIS PILOTS AND PLANES REVIEW BY MINISTER EMPIRE TAKING PART (Klee. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 2.20 p.m. RUGBY, Dec. 12. During his statement to-day on the war in the air, the Air Minister, Sir Kingsley Wood, stated that the British fighter squadrons had taken such heavy toll that superiority over the German aircraft, both of bombers and fighters, might justifiably be claimed. Speaking in praise of the coastal patrols, he said that 57 attacks had been made on submarines, in 19 cases of which there was a certainty of substantial damage having been caused, but the duties of the patrols were more far reaching than either attacking submarines or defending against air attack. Many ships owed their safety to the units of this command. Turning to the bomber command, the Minister spoke of the recent raid o’i Heligoland which he described as a particularly difficult and dangerous operation. Not only did the aircraft successfully reach the objectives end score direct hits with heavy bombs, but all returned safely, having been attacked by 20 Messerschmitts, two which pressed the attack being brought down. Over German Towns In reconnaissance flights the Royal Air Force visited Hamburg, Bremen, Berlin, Munich and Nurnberg, in many cases more than once. The prestige of the Royal Air Force was very high and it was no surprise that nearly a third of the men registering for service expressed preference for the air force The Minister referred to the Empire personnel which would soon be taking its place in the frontline of the air defence and announced the ic-establishment of Polish squadrons which, under • their own officers, 1 would be attached to the Royal Air Force. “A full squadron of the latest fourergined flying boats will soon be operating as a unit of the Royal Australian Air Force and a squadron of the latest bombers is being formed with New Zealand personnel,” said Sir Kingsley Wood. South Africa has largely expanded her air training organisations and the first-line strength has carried out valuable coastal reconnaissance. Southern Rhodesia is bringing her existing unit to full strength and is manning two additional squadrons.” German Flights In reply to a question the Minister said he had given careful consideration to the question of the German flights over the Shetlands and Orkneys and lie hoped that the next time we had a visit "very favourable results would ensue.” Turning to production, the Minister said that though the numerical output was more than twice that of a year ago me increase in the efficiency of the war weapons was represented, “not by two-fold but by v manifold accretion of strength” and new and more powerful types would shortly operate against the enemy. The Minister concluded: “We can be confident that our air defence system is sound, and in a strong position to establish ascendancy in the air.”