CONFIDENCE OF AIR EXPERTS

Southland Times, Issue 24235, 19 September 1940, Page 8

CONFIDENCE OF AIR EXPERTS

ANSWER TO GERMAN DAYLIGHT RAIDS (British Official Wireless) (Received September 18, 6.30 p.m.) RUGBY, September 17. Reviewing the experience of the past few weeks, air experts express growing confidence in the ability of the Royal Air Force to defeat any fresh tactics which the German Air Force may attempt just as effectively as an answer has been found to the Luftwaffe’s day J light raids. Meanwhile, its night raids 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 Royal Air Force in these daylight raids despite frequent marked changes in the pattern of attack. . ; ■ • ■ v

High-flying bombers with layers of fighters stepped up af-ound 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 the 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 about what new experiment in daylight raids will be attempted, but confidence is high that whatever form it may take the Royal Air Force will be ready to meet it.

FAILURE OF NIGHT BOMBING As for night bombing, it has so far failed in its much advertised aims of disorganizing communications, civilian and military, and terrorizing the civil population. Meanwhile, the British fighter losses have been relatively small, while half 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.

A feature of the Royal Air Force’s constant raids over enemy and enemyoccupied 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 the week between September 8 and 14 inclusive.

Raids on Germany and occupied territory included 42 attacks on 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 Brussels power station, one on a gasworks in Berlin, 15 raids on German aerodromes, three on aerodromes in Belgium, two on aerodromes in Holland, 44 raids on German and German occupied docks, including,’ 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.