ALLIES' FIRST AIM

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20916, 16 October 1942, Page 4

ALLIES' FIRST AIM

CRUSH LUFTWAFFE CRIPPLE PLANE PLANTS “TREND IN OUR FAVOUR” (Bv Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (1.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, Oct. 15. “The European theatre will remain an air theatre until we have secured superiority over the German air force and paralysed German aircraft production.” Captain Eddie Rickenbacker, the American pir ace in the last war, reported to the War Department after a survey trip of,the European front. He added that the total German air Force does not exceed 4700 combat planes, of which a very small percenace are bombers. It would, nevertheless. be a mistake to conclude that Nazi air power was decreasing. He explained that while British and American bombers may have crippled German aircraft production, the Germans may be working feverishly on new-design planes in order to offset the air superiority which, at present, is definitely on the Allies' side. “The trend is entirely in our favour," he said. “Unquestionably we will win the war. The only question is how soon. We are bound to suffer losses, even great losses, before the conquest of Germany is completed.”