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Aviation History
1942
1942 - 0660.PDF
288 FLIGHT MARCH 26TH, 1942 BEHIND THE LINES Service and 'Industrial News from the Inside of Axis and Enemy-occupied Countries Luftwaffe Promotions DY Hitler's special decree the Luft- •*-' waffe is to enjoy henceforth a number of new "Generalissimos." Taking effect from March 1st, General von Richthofen was promoted to *' Col. General " ; Lt. Gen. Waber to "General der Flieger," and Maj. Gen, Hoffman von Waldau to " Lt. General." Messerschmitt 115s in Russia "01VE Me 115s were shot down by a -^ Russian fighter squadron in a recent action. In the opinion of the Russians, the Me 115, although faster and better armed than the Me 109, has more vulnerable spots. Despite the increased speed, the Me 115 is said to be less efficient in quickness of manoeuvre. This, in the view of' Russian pilots, explains the German tactics of dealing their blows while diving and avoiding protracted combats. Ala Littoria ALTHOUGH Axis T ropaganda in sists that air communications in Europe are developing under the "New Order,*" the 1941 report of the activities of Ala Littoria presents quite a different picture. In place of 40 lines operated in 1939-40 only ten had been active in 1941. This is not only due to general reduction in travel but also to the liquidation of Italy's African Empire. On the airlines operated, the number of miles flown in 1941 was 68 per cent, lower than that during 1939-40. The number of passengers carried during the period under review is 66 per cent, lower than that in the previous year. This reduction applies also to other branches of the com pany's activities; as compared with 1939-40 general freight was reduced by 51 per cent., newspaper transport by 60 per cent., and luggage by 63 per cent. , The Ala, which in pre-war days was known for its magnanimity in indis criminately granting reduced fares, has changed its policy ; all reductions have been abolished to prop up the meagre revenue of the company, which dropped by 46 per cent. Air France HPHE Vichy Government has can- -*- celled the agreement between the French Government, the Air France and the shipping line Trans-Atlan- tique, providing for the formation of the overseas airline Air France-Trans- AUantique. Another agreement be tween the Government and the ship ping line Chargeurs Reunis, of March, ^935- f°r tne creation of African Coastal airlines, as well as the 1941 agreement forming the basis for the operation of Air France, have been terminated. The Air France is, however, not being liquidated. The company's head offices are scattered between Vichy, Marseilles and Carcassonne. M. Jean Brun (formerly Director of Lignes Far-man), who was the first to operate in pool with the Luft Hansa. is in charge of the Paris office A new agreement between Air France and the Government is to form the basis of the company's future operations. A.R.P. Exercises in Denmark LpXTENSIVE A.R.P. exercises are •" being organised in Denmark during this month. Their objective is to test the quality of equipment and efficiency of the civil defence per sonnel. The first exercise took place on March 1st in Koge, in the presence of Gen. Leschly. On the 15th of this month a large-scale civil defence exer cise is reported to have taken place in Copenhagen at which some 20,000 members of the police, civil defence and fire brigade participated. Japan's Torpedo Flyers TN a widely circulated article, •*• Admiral Tossio Matsunaga, Inspec tor and Commandant of a Japanese aircraft carrier, gives a few interesting details about the personnel of Japan's Naval Air Arm. Japanese pilots, he said, have only recently succeeded in mastering the technique of landing their aircraft on aircraft carriers. In 1923, when the first Japanese aircraft carrier was commissioned, only one Japanese pilot had accomplished the art. Ever since, this particular manoeuvre has presented great difficul ties to Japanese pilots, and no fewer than 8,000 take-offs and landings are regarded as necessary to train effi ciently a Japanese torpedo flyer. A strangely sentimental note, incon sistent with the " Samarai behavioutiL of the Japs in Shanghai, is struck byV the following description : " Before the attack on Pearl Harbour the crews of both the aircraft carriers and the air craft visited the Shinto Temples and swore either to conquer or not to re turn. Every officer and man made his will and sent it, together with a lock of his hair, to his family." Only leaders of detachments of air craft were informed in detail about the action they, were to take and about the weak spots in the defences of Pearl Harbour. Others had only to follow their leader. Torpedoes and bombs dropped on Pearl Harbour, it is claimed, v/ere of special make and of a higher explosive power than those otherwise used. Only specially selected crews took part in the attack on Hawaii and on Malaya. The attack on the Prince of Wales was delivered at low altitude, and the Japanese admiral describes the fire power of the ship as "terrific." The Prince of Wales' guns and machine guns fought valiantly despite several torpedo hits, but since there was no aircraft protection the Japanese tor pedo flyers could register a better average score than on any previous manoeuvre. Finally, the admiral believes that Japan's Naval Air Arm will play a most important role in the Pacific war. IDENTIFICATION ON THE BACK : Japanese pilots carry their names and squadron denominations on the back » of their flotation jackets. Ai THE GEISHAS' GIFT : A sound- ^ locator presented to the Japanese Army by the young ladies of Tokyo.
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