SECRET AIR WEAPONS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 December 1942, Page 3

SECRET AIR WEAPONS

AVAILABLE AGAINST AXIS ACCORDING TO GENERAL ARNOLD. WILL DEAL PARALYSING BLOWS. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) NEW YORK, December 13. Addressing graduates of four flying training schools, the Chief of the United States Army Air Forces, General Arnold, said: “We have a secret weapon or two up our aerial sleeeves that will deal paralysing blows against our enemies. Entirely new battle wagons are on the way, and the flying Fortresses and Liberators are the last of the small bombers.’ We will soon put on a special demonstration for Hitler’ and Hirohito. I do not think they are going to like it. “The present 50 calibre machine-guns terrific weapons of aerial destruction, are one of the outstanding successes of the war, but will seem like peashooters compared with the fire-power we are putting in the new ships. New developments in cameras and photographic technique have resulted in increasingly effective photographic reconnaissance. Our pursuit planes can take good pictures at 300 miles an hour and 30,000 feet, showing up individual railway lines. “The present plane production is more than 4000 a month, whch exceeds the combined Italian and German output. The e.xpanson programme will double this 4,000. I tell you that the German and Japanese air forces are gong on the down grade. They have passed their peak; we are just approaching ours in aeroplane production, combat and crew training. We must not rest on our laurels and think smugly that all is well. We know it will not be long before the Germans come out with an answer to the Flying Fortresses. We must be ready when it comes. Flying Fortresses have shot down the best-known German fighters, including Focke Wulf 190. American Achevements. “So far Army Flyers have sunk 51 ships and arc believed to have sunk 21 more. They have hit and damaged 159, ranging from battleships, destroyers, tankers, freighters, and troop-carriers. From February 1 to December 15, they have destroyed 928 enemy planes and probably destroyed 276, wth the loss of 130 plus 104 missing. “Heavy bombers have made 1063 sorties over Europe. They have lost 32 and have shot down 293, probably destroyed 150 and damaged 192. Today we have bombers and fighters working in eght combat zones. Every day sees the numbers increasing and striking power is being built up. “Within a few months the Italians and Germans will be feeling the impact of hundreds of planes dropping bombs not on one or two nights a week, but every day and night. “Recently bombers attacked Japanese anti-aircraft positions at Soputa, roarng in at an altitude of 75 feet, and dropping parachute bombs with deadly effect. Parachute bombs are terrifyng things. They take more time to hit the ground, but all the fragments are thrown into the air when they burst. Our planes are able to drop them with pin-point accuracy and get away in good time before the explosion. We are the first air force to develop the use of them.”