FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1943
1943 - 1785.PDF
JULY 15™, 1943 The Strain on the Luftwaffe : Aircraft in the Kursk Battle : The American Pacific Offensive SIGNS of the overstrain to whichthe Luftwaffe is now subjected areshown by conflicting reports of its movements and reinforcements. Field Marshal von Richthoven, has lately moved from the Russian front to some post connected with the Mediter- ranean, though how he fits in with Field Marshal Kesselring has not been made clear. It is presumed that though he left Luftftotte No. 4 in southern Russia he did bring with him a small air contingent, perhaps be- tween 100 and 200 aircraft, and these may have accounted for the increased fighter defence which Allied bombers have met over the Italian islands of late. On the other hand, the Russians have reported that in the German attack on the Kursk salient between Orel and Bielgorod the Germans have thrown in moje aircraft, including a high proportion of fighters. It is the lighter section of the Lujtwhffe which is most severely stretched. Certainly no fighters are likely to have been withdrawn from northern France and western Germany, where they are ex- pected to meet the British and Ameri- enn bombing attacks, and perhaps to cover the reserve bomber force which is held there to counter an Allied inva- sion. It follows that the only way in which the Germans could increase their fighter strength on the front of their assault would be by moving squadrons up from other sectors of the Russian front, where things have been com-paratively quiet. It is something to know that the Germans now are notstrong enough to attack again all along GUERILLAS' GRUB : Dropping sup-plies for Brigadier Wir operating behindBurma. Landjf aircraft ^ [ wounde LETHAL ELEGANCE: ADeHaviHandMosquito fighter shows off its shapeli- ness above the cloud layer. the Russian front. The Russian pilots,now in the majority over their oppon- ents, have been lighting with greatdash and courage. Their recent work ir bombing communications behindthe German lines may well have had its effect in preventing the enemy'sattack, when it came, from being made in overwhelming strength. We mustremember, however, that the Germans are clever and indefatigable in makingrepairs, and that railways are more quickly repaired than factories can be.If any real good is to be done, a line must be dislocated at some point likea cutting, and the breach must be kept unrepaired, even at some sacrifice ofbombers and their crews. The Atlantic Battle has done no-thing to raise the low spirits of the Germans, and the appearance of theconvoy carriers has been an unpleas- ant pill for them to swallow. In arecent broadcast Admiral Liitzow, the naval commentator, gave a very fulldescription of the difficulties which now confront the U-boat commanders,including these escort carriers. It was all in a very minor key, and includedthe admission : " In short, the enemy at present has the upper hand." Another pleasing, and rather mysti-fy^ig, item of news comes from the eutian islands, where a UnitedStates surface force the other day bom- d Kiska Island. The shore bat-teriesNtid not return the fire. One wondersNwhy. Perhaps recent raidsby American bombers have had an
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
