RISING POWER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 April 1943, Page 4

RISING POWER

OF THE ALLIED AIR OFFENSIVE BECOMING APPARENT LUFTWAFFE’S WORST DAY. SINCE BATTLE OF BRITAIN. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.15 p.m.) LONDON, April G. Italy and Germany are now getting a foretaste of the tremendous aerial bombardment of which Allied leaders have warned them. The Allies, especially the British, are at last seeing a fulfilment of promises of the wholesale blasting of Axis countries which were made in the days when the Luftwaffe, except for British fighters, dominated the skies, and even the Italians came west expecting to enjoy bombing London. Now, while British-based British and American bombers and fighters, in a round the clock offensive, are plastering an ever-growing list of German industrial and transport targets, Üboat construction depots and bases, American Flying Fortresses have struck their first blows against Italy from airfields in North Africa, further developing the R.A.F. offensive from Malta and other air bases. The British and American air forces are thus converging against European strongholds for the forthcoming terrific blitz which every nerve has been strained to inaugurate and maintain and in which they are challenging the Luftwaffe to a decisive combat, intended to “soften” the enemy as a prelude to an eventual counter-stroke by land. The British and Americans are not only attacking Italian ports and vital sea communication lines essential for supplying Tunisia, but are striking heavily against the Luftwaffe, which despatches from Allied headquarters in North Africa emphasise had yesterday its worst day since the Battle of Britain. Luftwaffe planes on the ground were blasted when nearly 300 were caught on aerodromes in Tunisia and Sicily and scores were left smoking and shattered after incessant, daylong attacks.

“SITTING BIRDS.” Luftwaffe transport planes —sitting birds for modern fighters—were shot down into the Mediterranean, leaving a trail of blazing oil. Luftwaffe machines were also blasted over Tunisia. it is conservatively estimated that the Axis lost at least 100 planes—possibly many more—in 24 hours, compared with 186 on the famous Sunday over Britain in September, 1940. An amazing number of Axis planes were discovered parked on three Sicilian aerodromes—loo at Bocado di Falco, 80 large planes at Mino, and 100 fighters, transport planes and bombers at Borizzo—suggesting that General Kesselring, the Axis air chief in the Mediterranean, had carried out a major concentration, designed to offset Allied air superiority in the coming battle for Tunisia. Concentrations of a hundred aircraft at one airfield within range of Allied bombers are very contrary to German custom. They were made, however, at aerodromes which are not usually used as large bases, and Kesselring probably banked on their escaping Allied reconnaissance. A British United Press correspondent at Allied Headquarters states that the Luftwaffe is already extended -in the Mediterranean and cannot stand such losses. The Germans are trying to lie low and build up their strength, but henceforth they must come up fighting. If they stay on the ground they will be smashed. It is remarkable that so few fighters apparently are available for incredibly vital points.

HAVOC IN SICILY. Flying Fortresses dropped stick after stick of bombs .straddling fifty to seventy aircraft on the Bocado di Falco. The pilots are confident that they put out of action a large number of planes. Buildings also were hit and were seen burning when the Fortresses were 60 miles away, returning to their base. Enemy fighters, without : avail, tried to intercept the Fortresses. Two German fighters and one Italian fighter were shot down. Mitchells, escorted by Lightnings, re-enacted the scene at Borizzo, bombs falling on rows of grounded aircraft and aerodrome buildings. Six German and two Italian fighters were shot down when they came up. More Fortresses attacked Mino, where the pilots reported that at least 30 Axis planes, were destroyed. Commenting on the possibility of greater damage, the British United Press correspondent says nothing is harder to estimate than damage done to aircraft on the ground, as a shell fragment tearing a vital spot might be as effective as if the plane were burning or had a wing blown off. Scores of Axis aircraft were found thus put out of action in Libya during the Eighth Army’s advance. The shooting down of eighteen Junkers transports was the most spectacular combat of the Tunisia air war. Lightnings were patrolling when they spotted a strongly-escorted formation, 45 miles from the coast. Twenty-five minutes later there were 18 flaming patches on the water. Explosions suggested that the transport planes were flying petrol tankers, taking fuel to Tunisia for the Luftwaffe. ~ NEED OF AIR MASTERY. The Lightnings which shot down six stukas and seven fighters escorting the transport planes, had a full day. They escorted the Mitchells which caught an Axis sea convoy in the Sicilian Straits, the bombers, diving through intense flak, sank a destroyer and set fire to three supply ships and two barges. The Allied air forces, flying the re cord number of a thousand sorties in daytime, also intensively attacked Tunisian airfields at Alsauconniere, El Djem, Sidi Ahmed and El Ouina, shooting down 18 fighters. The Allied losses were only twelve aircraft. These encouraging results were achieved in addition to raids on Sfax and Palermo, which were much damaged. Commenting on General Eisenhower’s communique, which for the first time mentions strategic and tactical air forces, the “Daily Express” military writer says the long-term strategy is a softeningi-up process, preparatory to an Allied attack against the mainland. That is why the Sicilian airfields were paid deadly attention. For an invasion of Southern Europe, air superiority is insufficient. It is essential to secure air mastery, which is why we are trying to break, up Italian airfields deep in the rear of Tunisia.