AIR VICTORY

Taranaki Daily News, 19 September 1940, Page 7

AIR VICTORY

By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.

British Official Wireless.

BRITISH SUCCESS GROWING CONFIDENCE RESULTS OF EXPERIENCE

Rec. 5.5 p.m. Rugby, Sept. 17. Reviewing experiences 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 the answer has been found to the Luftwaffe's daylight raids. Meanwhile, its night raids have proved to be incapable of doing any real military damage, and it is now considered clear that the German air force is sufi[ering from lack of men skilled in night flying. Events have established that when forces of daylight raiders were sent over in such strength as might effect important damage anything up to 50 per cent. of them were destroyed. The enemy has failed to defeat the Royal Air Force in these daylight raids, despite the frequent marked changes in pattern of attack.

Dilfering Tactics. High-flying bombers, with layers of fighters stepped up around them, were 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 in tactics was the employment of large waves of bombers folowing one another in quick succession. It was obviously hoped that the later waves would take the defences unawares. This has proved disastrous, as week-end engagements, including Sunday's colossal defeat, have shown. There is some speculation on what new experiments 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. As for night bombing, it has so far failed in its much advertised aims of disorganising communications, civilian and military, and terrorising the civil population. Fighter Losses Small. Meanwhile, 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 reinforcements. A feature of the Royal Air Force's constant raids over enemy and enemyoccupied territory has been the low rate of loss. 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 a period such as the week between September 8 and 14 inclusive. Summary of Raids. During that time 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 the Brussels power station, one on gasworks at Berlin, 15 raids on German aerodromes, three on aerodromes in Bclgium and two on aerodromes in Hoiland. Raids on German and Germanoccupied docks were made as follows: Hamburg. two: Bakhaen. two: Aitona. three: Wilhelmshaven. three: Kiel, Hansafen. Wismar. one each: Ostend, six: Calais, six; Boulogne, five; Flushing. four; Dunkirk, two; Antwerp, two; Delfzijl. one. Twenty-five attacks were made on barge concentrations. two raids on canal and river systems, 11 attacks on shipping. three attacks on gun emplacements at Cap Griz-Nez and three on anti-aircraft batteries and searchlights.