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Aviation History
1943
1943 - 1983.PDF
AIRCRAFT ENGINEER FIRST AERONAUTICAL WEEKLY IN THE' WORLD •• FOUNDED 1909 Editor C. M. POULSEN Managing Editor G. GEOFFREY SMITH. M.B.E. Chief Photographer JOHN YOXALL Editorial, Advertising and Publishing Offices: DORSET HOUSE, STAMFORD STREET, LONDON, S.E.1 Telegrams : Truditur, Sedist, London. COVENTRY : 8-10, CORPORATION ST. BIRMINGHAM, 2 : G Ul LDHALL BUILDINGS, NAVIGATIONS T. Telegrams: Autocar, Coventry. Telegrams; Autopress, Birmingham. Telephone: Coventry 52 10. Telephone: Midland 297 1 (5 lines). Telephone: Waterloo 3332 (35 lines). MANCHESTER, 3 : GLASGOW, C.2 : 260. DEANSGATE. 26B, RENFIELDST. Telegrams : Iliffe, Manchester. Telegrams: Iliffe, Glasgow. Telephone : Blackfriars 4412.' Telephone : Central 4857. No. 1807. Vol. XLIV. Registered at the G.P.O. as a Newspaper. August 12th, 1943. The Outlook Thursdays, One Shilling. The Rumanian Oilfields THE bombing of Ploesti by a strong Americanforce of Liberators marks a new stage in thewar. Two or three times the Russians have sfcnt bombers, over the Rumanian oilfields, but they have %e\. kept up a sustained attack on the area. Strategic bombing is not yet part of the Russian war plans. They believe, and evidently with good reason, that there is more profitable work for their heavy bombers nearer home at the present stage of the war. The Middle East Command has had it in its power for a long time past to send comparatively small forces over these oilfields, and once some American machines made the attempt. The wells themselves are small and difficult targets, which bomb-aimers could scarcely reckon on hitting, and the pipes which carry the oil away in different directions are underground, and could only be punc- tured by chance shots. The refineries are the only targets worth consideration, and they call for the em- ployment of a large force if anything like crippling damage is to be done. Repeated attacks also seem to be called for. The prize of successful bombing of Ploesti is well worth a great effort. In fact, scarcely any conceivable target offers such immediate and remunerative dividends. Oil is admittedly the Achilles heel of the Axis and, whereas the destruction of weapon factories may, for the present, only mean calls on the reserves which Hitler built lip before' the war, the cutting off of one-third of the Axis oil supplies must put difficulties in the way of the exten- sive campaigns which the Germans are now waging. Last summer's disastrous effort to reach the oilfields of the Caucasus was proof of the crying need of Germany for more supplies of oil. -The American Ninth Air Eorce in the Middle East has now accumulated some strength, and we hope that this first attack on Ploesti is only the forerunner of many others. Government BashfulnessS O far as post-war civil aviation is concerned, the British Government reminds us of the old lady who had seen better times but had been reduced to try- ing to sell flowers in Piccadilly Circus. In a very half- hearted attempt to advertise her wares she merely said in a low voice, "Violets! " and then, in an aside, "1 do hope nobody hears me." The Government seems to feel that if it even admitted that it had been toying (in its spare time!) with some sort of plan for doing something in the way of civil aviation after the war, not only our Allies but the Empire would be as shocked as the friends of the old lady. The contrary is, of course, the case. They are looking, and so far looking in vain, for a lead from this country. Mr. Hudson Fysh, on page 170 of this issue, asserts that without post-war parity in air transport the Empire cannot survive, and that the Empire is a necessary partner in the task of maintaining, with our good friends the Americans, peace and concord in the post-war world. Last week we referred to Viscount Bennett's recent remark that the air can unite the Empire, and we added that we would go farther and say that the Empire can only bs united by air. Mr. Hudson Fysh, an Australian with views typical not only of his own country but oi the other parts of the Empire, is equally emphatic. The "Old Lady" in Whitehall need not be afraid of her friends hearing her. They are waiting to hear her, and they will applaud her for her courage when at last they hear her announcing, loudly enough for all the world to understand, that she does have violets to sell— and is proud of it!
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