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Aviation History
1943
1943 - 1784.PDF
FLIGHT JULY 15TH, 1943 Sicily InvadedT O many observers, including some who may have been wise after the event, it always seemed clear that Sicily must be the first objective of General Eisenhower's advance from the Africa springboard. To others it did not seem so certain, and perhaps the Axis leaders were among those who were in doubt. Every effort was made by the United Nations to create uncer- tainty in their minds by spreading the preliminary bom- bardments and reconnaissances as widely as possible. The Axis has been nervous about the Balkans, and the recent Commando raid on Crete was calculated to in- crease that apprehension. Sardinia was bombed quite as heavily as Sicily was. With a commanding air arm it is possible to spread one's operations over such a wide area that the enemy can never be sure where the real blow will fall. The landings on the beaches of Sicily have been yet another example of combined operations between the three Services, as well as between the British and Ameri- cans, who are simply one force in the Mediterranean. It is the most perfect example of such combination yet carried out, and Navy, Army and Air Force each played its part to perfection. If one had failed the whole opera- tion would have suffered. The air arm was used with the utmost skill in giving fighter cover to the transit across the water and during the landings, in depositing airborne troops by glider and parachute ahead of the landing parties, and in a final crescendo of bombing just before the ships arrived as well as during the actual land- ings. The obliteration of the Axis headquarters and the adjacent telegraph office was a masterpiece. This must have left each local commander on the island in the most desperate state of uncertainty about what was happening. The Army must strike the decisive blow, but it owes its chance to the Navy and Air Force. CONTENTS The Outlook -War in the Air Here and ThereTopics of the Day Samaritan Spitfires -Airspeed Horsa American War Cargo TypesBehind the Lines Aircraft CharacteristicsRolls-Royce Engine School - CorrespondenceService Aviation 55 61 62 64 68 69 70 727 i76 W.A.A.F. EnterpriseO N all sides the value of the work done by the -\ Women's Auxiliary Air Force for the R.A.F. is : generally and warmly recognised. It is most ;. gratifying to know that, in return, the R.A.F. is doing something definite and valuable for the advantage of the airwomen. The scheme known as Progressive Training aims at making each member of the W.A.A.F. a better air- \ woman, but also looks forward to the time when the/* war will be over and aims at making her a better and 1 more useful woman. The W.A.A.F is not a school, but it has collected a .. huge number of young women from every walk of life '*"<• and has placed them in one great organisation. Surely, it was felt, from such an association benefits common to all ought to be derived. The scheme of Progressive Training endeavours to draw out and develop all quali- ties, and to make each member benefit by her com- panionship with the rest. How the scheme worhs is described on another page of this issue. Commanded by Brig. Charles Orde Wingate, the Chindits (Jungje>"f5enetration Forc^kcarried out a successful expedition over 200 miles behind the Japanese lines in Burma. They were^rway for three months atad during this time were supplied from the air by parachute. The supply containers were cajpieci by Douglas C47£ esc4rjed By Curtiss Mohawks and Hurricanes.
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