WAR IN AIR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 January 1943, Page 4

WAR IN AIR

UNITED NATIONS LEAD FAVOURABLE BALANCE. COMPARISON OF AIRCRAFT. A technical analysis of the war in the air shows that at no time has there been such a favourable balance for the United Nations, reports a Melbourne “Herald” London correspondent. In every important category they possess better all-round aircraft lin service or just coming into service. Giving United Nations’ aircraft in i each category 100 per cent, the Loni don “Sunday Times” aviation expert, ■ Peter Masefield, rates Axis aircraft as: The short-range, high-flying dogfighter Messerschmitt 109, 88 per cent compared with the Spitfire. The shortrange, anti-bomber, fighter Focke Wulf 109, at 89 per cent compared with the Typhoon. The long-range, night-fight-er Junkers 88, at 77 per cent compared with the Beaufighter. DAY BOMBERS. I High-speed day-bomber Messerschmitt 210, at 92 per cent compared with the Mosquito; heavily-armed day-bomber, Dornier 217, at 83 per cent compared with the Flying Fortress; heavy night-bomber, Heinkel 177, at 87 per cent compared with the Lancaster. Reconnaissance Scout Messerschmitt 109 F, at 77 per cent compared with the Mustang; troop transport, Junkers 52, at 63 per cent compared with the Commando; land-based torpedo-bomb-er, Dornier 217, at 84 per cent compared with the Marauder; carrierbased torpedo-bomber, Mitsubishi G 97, at 87 per cent compared with the Avenger; naval fighter, Mitsubishi S-00, at 86 per cent compared with the Corsair; naval dive-bomber, Aichi K-99, at 80 per cent compared with the Helldiver. RESULTS TELL. Masefield says that these percentages are supported by results in action, and are not merely theoretical. This does not mean that Allied types cannot be improved. For instance, the Lancaster, with heavier armament, could be raised at least 20 per cent, in which case the Heinkel 177 would be down to 74 per cent on the same basis. The latest Fortress has three times the Lancaster’s defensive hitting power, which shows how Britain has neglected heavy-calibre, high-velocity guns. Of all the weapons now in use, the • most deadly is the German 20-milli- i metre Mauser cannon (about -jin.), ; whose free-firing muzzle energy is ■ nearly twice as much as the British- : Hispano cannon. ■