BATTLE PLANES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24420, 4 October 1940, Page 8

BATTLE PLANES

GERMAN MACHINES SPECIMENS IN BRITAIN GREAT VALUE TO EXPERTS (British Official Wireless) (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) RUGBY, Oct. 2. (Received Oct. 3, at 7 p.m.) In a large shed somewhere in England is a collection of German battle planes, specimens of all types now in use by the Luftwaffe, They escaped the usual destruction awaiting enemy machines which come into the sights of our eight-gun fighters. Some made forced landings, while others crashed with no more damage than could easily be repaired. Exhaustive Tests

These “ museum pieces ” have been minutely examined by British experts, who have thus been afforded a comprehensive knowledge of Nazi; air strength. This knowledge is put to excellent use in the drawing office and the operations room, where the collection is housed. Exhaustive tests in the air confirmed once again that German Messerschmitts are not nearly as manceuvreable as Hurricanes and Spitfires. nor are they so fast, but British pilots have a healthy respect for the M.E.110 twin-engined fighterbomber, which they acknowledge to be a very good aeroplane. The Only Nazi “ Winner ” A squadron leader said he considered it was the only “ winner ” in the whole range of German aircraft, yet many pilots would rather face an M.E. 110 than an M.E. 109 singleseater fighter, which is becoming more and more heavily armoured. German designers are piling armour and armaments on to planes in a desperate effort to avoid further great losses. A Goering blunder was to go into mass production two years too soon, and to switch over to new types now was a very difficult task for the German industry. British planes are one lump ahead and are likely to stay there The radio equipment of German planes, is of fine workmanship, but is inferior technically to the R.A.F, equipment, and the same applies to bomb sights. The materials are still good because all Germany has been starved for the benefit of the Luftwaffe. Interesting Surprises As further additions to the museum are brought in they provide the experts with interesting surprises. One M.E. 110 brought down had no armament at all—it had cameras instead. A J.U. 88 dive bomber dated August 7, 1940 was found to have six free machineguns, which is three more guns than are normally used. The rear gunner was apparently expected to work four guns by himself. Another interesting discovery was that the M.E. 109’s have recently been carrying four 1101 b bombs under the fuselage. Transmitter in Tin Bag A wireless transmitter packed in a kind of tin golf bag was yet a further find. This is used in a rubber dinghy used by German pilots forced down at sea. The outfits consist of a transmitter about the size of an attache case, which by means of an electric motor sends out automatically an S.O.S. but cannot receive messages. There is an aerial shaped like an open umbrella frame and a box kite from which an alternative aerial can be hung.