FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1943
1943 - 0690.PDF
274 FLIGHT MARCH I8TH, T9-13 WA R N TH E AIR It is hoped that useful materialdamage was done, but hitting Munich always hits the Nazi party in a tenderspot. The headquarters of that in- famous party is there, and a strongsentimental feeling attaches to the place. The flight there is one of 700miles. In Russia E would very much like to know more about the part played by aircraft in the great battles which have been taking place in Russia. During the winter one could understand that weather would restrict flying, just as it hampered mechanised vehicles on the ground. Now the thaw must make some airfields unusable in the south. Still, every now and again there is mention of considerable air activity on some part of the front by one side or the other, and then a long silence. Of late the Russians have been talking most about the work of their artillery, both in attack and in defence. Evi- dently they are very proud of the new batteries which they have raised and equipped during the period when they were preparing for their offensive, and, certainly, when guns can get at a tar- get they can deal with it much more effectually than bombers can do. But there must always be work to be done to the rear of the enemy which is out of the range of field artillery, such as hampering communications, and, when the enemy is retreating, playing the role of cavalry in the pursuit. It must be the case that aircraft have been busy both in the great Russian- advance in the sector of Orel and Vyasma and also in the German counterstroke in the Donetz basin. In North Africa, however, there is THORNY DISPERSAL:A tropicalised Spitfire framed by the cactusiiedge of a North African airfield. plenty of news of aii activity on both sides, though there can be no doubt of the superiority held by the British and Americans. The French, too, have re- suscitated the Escadrille Lafayette, or at least its name, and they are expecting supplies of machines from the United States which will permit their air- men to join in force in the gallant work which is going on. The Germans have weakened their forces in the West by sending twelve divisions to Russia, and no doubt they feel that this is an opportunity which the Allies would like to seize for invading Europe. The Axis feels no doubt that its "underbelly" is in most danger, and so it is making great exertions to delay the conquest of Tunisia. Rommel accordingly lashed out, as General Montgomery put it, from the Mareth Line. The British General said frankly that he had not expected Rommel tc behave in this manner. That does not mean that he was taken by surprise, but that he felt the much-advertised German had made a mistake. So he called on the Eighth Army to drive the enemy back with " a bloody nose," and the Eighth Army accordingly did MOSSES GO NORTH : An attack by de Havilland Mosquitoes on the Knabenmolybdenum mines, 40 miles east of Stavanger, in Norway. The raid was led by Wing Cdr. Peter Shand, D.F.C. so. To the correspondent of the Soviet news agency General Montgomery ex- plained that his preparation might appear slow to many people, but that because of that his blow would be powerful and decisive. North Africa TN Rommel's second sally some 40 •*• miles to the south-west of the Mareth Line the bombers, fighter- bombers and fighters of the R.A.F. played a great part in driving the enemy back. Hints have been com- ing out that the Eighth Army is threatening to turn the right flank of the line, and Rommel is nervous about it. One of the British objects is to force him to fight, and in these sallies he lost heavily in tanks. In the north of Tunisia Allied squadrons have been ranging far and \71de and striking at hostile targets of all sorts. Of course, the Luftwaffe plays the same game so far as it is able to do so, but all the evidence shows that the British and American airmen are well in the ascendant. The bases in Sicily are regularly raided by the squadrons from Malta, and Naples harbour comes iii for periodical visits. '' See Naples and die," says the old adage ; well, that is what has happened to many Germans and Italians connected with the work of sending off supplies and reinforce- ments to Tunisia. Many more have died while on the way across when their ships or transport aircraft have been sighted by British submarines or fighters. The same can be said about the beautiful harbour of Palermo. Mussolini did not expect these things when he stabbed France in the back
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
