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Aviation History
1941
1941 - 0661.PDF
MARCH 2OTH, 1941. \ 219 War in the IA7r Moonlight Nights : The j Beaufighter Scores : New ff.A.F. Bombers Over Berlin WITH the passing of wintryweather the night bombingseason has now once more got into full swing. In one raid a bomb hit the North Lodge of Buckingham Palace and killed a policeman, while three more fell in the front court. There have been heavy raids on Portsmouth, the North-West and the Midlands, besides plenty of indis- criminate heaving of bombs down at random. The R.A.F., for its part, has made heavy raids on Berlin, Cologne, Kiel, and other places. To the student of air warfare a mere bombing match is not very interesting. Interest is aroused when one can dis- cern some ordered plan behind the operations, for then one can at least speculate on whether they are likely to have any appreciable effect on the result of the war. German bombing of the kind which is intended to help the enemy's efforts to blockade us by cutting down our imports may cause some anxiety, but it is not devoid of interest. The same may be said of calculated shots at our munition fac- tories. But the broadcasting of bombs on residential areas, though it causes many heartbreaking tragedies, has no military interest, for it will not break the British will to win. As for the British air attacks on Germany's war effort, it is certain that they are ham- pering production and distribution, hat whether to an extent which will put a brake on the fighting powers of the German forces is not yet known. The en*my would cer- ALL IS LOST!: The German inscription to this photograph reads'. " The tremendousdevelopment of German anti-aircraft forces makes the flight of British bombers to German territory and the destruction of important industrial plants practicallyimpossible, as neutral experts have ascertained time and time again. The photo- graph shows the start of German destroyer planes for the defence against Britishnight bombers, whose coming has been reported." To us the picture appears to be just an Me no with flaps fully down and engines ticking over coming in to land.Our fighters take off when the Luftwaffe arrives. tainly be stronger if the R.A.F. were not hammering those targets, but whether the diminution of his strength is enough as yet to have any consider- able effect on the final result of the war cannot be stated with certainty. There is, however, some tactical interest in recent night operations. It relates to weapons and their use. The number of German night bombers which have been brought down is rising. Of late we have heard of figures of eight and nine a night. It has been admitted that we are using new devices. Naturally they have not been disclosed, but it is obvious that some- thing has been helping our defences. The bright moonlight is one factor, which helps the defence, though li probably helps the attack even more. Night fighters have more chance of glimpsing the bombers when the moon is bright. German night-fighters have also been prominent of late, but have not achieved any striking successes. Night defence is a matter in which we are clearly in advance of the enemy—though that is not to say that he will not get more success in the long run than he has had up to date. Among the R.A.F. night fighters which have scored successes there have been mentions of the Bristol twin-engined Beaufighter and the Defiant. As recorded on page 222 of this issue, Sir Archibald Sinclair has stated that the Douglas Boston was suitable for night-fighting, but it has not been mentioned as among the vic- torious defenders in recent night opera- • tions. The Beaufighter, however, signalised its addition to British night defences by shooting down two Ju 88s last week. One of them was stalked for some jfcime by the British pilot after he had ^Sighted it in the clear moon- light, ^nd when he at last closed with rfjCIJ : A Squadron Leader (left) re-jKountli^g the story of how he brought /& captured Caproni 133 with its Italianf pilot and crew back to an R.A.F. / station in the Sudan. A stop wasmade at an aerodrome en route to pick up a wounded airman and mails. UAU
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