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Aviation History
1942
1942 - 2369.PDF
•'" ^^^it^mK^mmmmmmmmmmm. mmmmmm Wmm NOVEMBER 12TH, ,1942 FLIGHT 529 mainly on escort duties for German dive bombers operat ing in the South. These fighter units took such severe punishment from Russian fighter squadrons that the impor tant Italian daily Tribuha could not but express astonish ment at the "aggression of Russian pilots." Minor Satellites In October, 1941, shortly after the appearance of Regia units in the skies of Russia, a group of Spanish airmen " volunteers " was added to the Luftwaffe's foreign legion. The formation included test pilots with experience in war fare ; a major, three captains, six senior lieutenants, and eleven N.C.O.s. Their fortunes on the Russian front are best told in the words of 1st Lieutenant Alfonso Sabio, who was brought down by the Russians: '' On reaching the front we did not for a long time take part in the battles. There was a rumour among the pilots that strict orders had been received from Hitler's H.Q. to the effect that the Spanish formation was to be preserved as long as possible, since its presence at the Russian front had a certain " sym bolic " significance. However, we were sent into action as soon as large-scale operations began." According to reports from the front, the Spanish forma tion was completely routed in the air battles near Klin. Six of their aircraft were burned on the ground ; four were ifcot down, and two pilots were taken prisoner by the Russians. Thereupon the remnants were withdrawn to the rear to be re-trained, re-equipped and re-staffed. Some weeks ago a group of 40 Spanish aircraft is reported to have left Spain for this purpose. While the other vassals of the Luftwaffe retain some measure of independence, the Spaniards and the Croatians have been treated differently. The employment of these units on the Eastern front has taken a special form since, apart from their distinctive national emblem they have been entirely absorbed by the German Luftwaffe, or more specifically, by German air formations. This subtle differ ence means that they are not put on equal footing with other units of the Luftwaffe, but placed in segregated units under strong German supervision. This system is elucidated by the story of the Croatian bomber squadron knocked together by that "miniature Fuehrer" of Croatia, Pavelic. This unit, numerically stronger than the Spanish, was composed mainly of pre vious ground crews of the Yugoslav air force, and a few pilots. They were trained by Luftwaffe instructors in Eastern Germany. From them the Germans formed 20 bomber crews equipped with Dornier 17 and some fighter formations with the Me 109. The fighter units, under the command of Lt. Col. Franio Dzal, operated near the Azov Sea. The training proved to be haphazard, and collisions between Croatian aircraft occurred in the very first battle. Losses were also sustained not only from Russian but also from German A.A. fire. During the first month of opera tions in Russia twelve out of twenty aircraft and several pilots were lost, and the Croatian command of the Corps was promptly "strengthened" by three German ^advisers." Other units of the Croatian air force are it ported to be co-operating with the Germans in fighting Yugoslav patriots. The Itaiian Fiat C.R.42 in service with Hungarian fighter units The Fiat C.R.42 is powered with a Fiat A.74R.IC.38 engine of top speed of 272 m.p.h. at 12,465 ft. UNDER NAZI ORDERS : These Slovak airmen do not look too happy, with the instructions of their German over-lords. Ever since the beginning of Nazi aggression against Russia, Finland's air force has been co-operating with the Luftwaffe in the Northern sector of the front. But here again the practical advantage of this co-operation cannot be of any real value to the Luftwaffe except for its adding to the strain on the Russian air force. Only one year has elapsed since the end of the war with Russia, which Finland entered with some 200 first-line aircraft. In July, 1941, the Finnish air force was composed of six air regiments, probably equipped with the same number of aircraft as in 1940, obtained in the meantime from foreign and domestic sources. But again during the present war it has sustained severe losses, both in the air and in number of rnachines destroyed on the ground. The Price of Alliance Finland's domestic aircraft industry is very small. It has two aircraft factories which were building fighters of the Fokker D-21 type, and bombers (possibly Blenheims), as well as one plant for the manufacture of aircraft engines. The total annual capacity of these plants under normal conditions is somewhere about 200 aircraft. At present Finland feels acutely the pinch of raw material shortage, and lack of skilled labour. These conditions have certainly adversely influenced the output of aircraft. To-day Russian sources estimate that only 50 per cent, of the aircraft with which Finland entered the war are still fit for service. It is also suggested that the present number of operational aircraft is even smaller, since there are serious difficulties in- maintenance, in procuring spare parts for foreign or foreign-designed machines; and the variety of types increases the difficulties of repairs. Such are "the allies of the Luftwaffe. Their industrial resources are poor, the training second-rate, their equipment equally so. No doubt they have rendered some assistance to the Germans by forcing the Russian air force to divert some attention to them, but their actual contribution to the offensive strength of the Luftwaffe has been negligible. It is possible, as the strain on the Luftwaffe increases, that means and ways will be found by the Germans to strengthen their anaemic satellites. It is pertinent that while a year ago Luftwaffe allies were said to represent symbolic values, to-day the German public is told that " if the strength of some of the allied air units appears to be a mere splinter in the German air assault, the combined strength of these formations employed in the East is very considerable." But such state ments are designed to pacify the un easiness of the public about the losses sustained in Russia and the growing R.A.F. offensive rather than to serve as an indication of the true position. operating in Russia. 840 h.p., and has a
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