The Southland Times. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1940. The Importance of Daylight Raids

Southland Times, Issue 24233, 17 September 1940, Page 4

The Southland Times. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1940. The Importance of Daylight Raids

rESTERDAY brought good news to the British Empire. After a period of night raids and changing tactics, the .German bombers attempted mass daylight - attacks on Sunday, and lost 185 planes before their broken formations limped back to France. The importance of this notable victory for the R.A.F. lies in its implications as well as in its immediate results. By facing once again the deadly Spitfires and Hurricanes, the Nazis made a tacit admission that the night raids had proved a strategic failuj-e. They have done much damage.l and no doubt they will do much more in the days to come. But they have failed to shake civilian morale, to cause any serious disorganization in the life of the capital, and to destroy military objectives. Something •more is required if the Germans are to have any chance of invading Britain, The essential need is to crush, or effectively weaken, the resistance of the fighter squadrons. To do this they must succeed either in beating the Spitfires and Hurricanes in open battle, or in smashing the aerodromes, especially in the vital region south-east of London, by frequent and heavy bombing attacks.

The supremacy of the British fighters is to be foun2 once again in figures which reveal an advantage of seven to one. And the fact that these results could be obtained after weeks and months of German raids is sufficient proof that the ground organization is virtually intact. One of the lessons of the war is that defended aerodromes are hard to destroy. It will be remembered that, although the Norwegian flying fields were pounded by R.A.F. bombers many nights in succession, the Germans were able to use them until the northern campaign was completed. German bombers have been even less successful in their attempts to dislodge the British fighter command. One more point is worth noting. Although the Nazis are obviously preparing invasion bases on the coasts of France, Belgium and Holland, they have informed the world that Britain “can be brought to hex- knees by the destruction of her economic life, by air raids, and by the blockade.” If the Nazi leaders really believed this story, they would surely be satisfied to continue the scattered night raids by small groups of bombers. Even if Germany’s air resources are as large as her leaders like to pretend, she cannot aiford to sacrifice planes and pilots in such large numbers, and fox - such meagre results. The return to daylight raiding is clear proof that Germany badly needs a quick victory. And Sunday’s defeat is one more indication that she will not get it. »