GREAT AIR BATTLE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 September 1942, Page 3

GREAT AIR BATTLE

ANTICIPATED IN WESTERN EUROPE GERMANY ON DEFENSIVE. MUST ATTEMPT NEW BLITZ AGAINST BRITAIN. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) NEW YORK, September 14. “Aii 3.11- battle of unprecedented dimensions is apparently looming in western Europe, with the course of the war possibly turning on the issue/’ says the Washington correspondent of the “New York Times.” “Germany is now on the defensive against the Royal Air Force’s unparalleled night raids and the Flying Fortresses’ precision daylight forays. Some of the best squadrons of German fighters have been shifted to the Western Front, but have failed to combat these raids.

“Germany’s next step must be a new blitz against Britain in an attempt to destroy the raiders and their nests. “The increasing reports of new surprises by the Luftwaffe, such as the stratosphere bomber- operating at 40,000 feet, cause little concern, aviation circles pointing out that the Flying Fortresses and Liberator bombers can fly at virtually the same altitude by cutting down the bomb load, stepping up the engines and dropping some armament.”

HIGH FLYING

NAZI EXPERIMENT OVER BRITAIN. BOMBING FROM 40,000 FEET. LONDON, September 14. The aeronautical writer of the “Daily Express” says that the Luftwaffe is sending special sub-strato-sphere planes, singly, over Britain in daylight at a height of 40,000 feet on experimental flights, but some bombs are dropped. Bomb-aiming is impossible from such a height and the main purpose so far seems to be reconnaissance and photographic. The Germans are believed to be using a modified Junkers 86, equipped with an experimental pressure cabin and turbo supercharged Diesel motors. This development, follows the Flying Fortress’ recent successes over Europe, but American planes attacked in daylight at no more than 25,000 feet.