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Aviation History
1943
1943 - 2301.PDF
SEPTEMBER 23RD, 1943 WAR IN THE AIR ENEMY AIR LOSSES TO SEPT. Sept. 12 ., 14 .. 15 „ 16„ 17 ., 18 OverG.B. 0 0 1 4 0 0 0 5 Con- tinent. 0 0 9 0 1 12 Totals : West, 7,469 ; MiddleNorth West Africa Middle East 02 0 1 7 12 18th N.W.Africa 13 13 6 5 1 2 . 3 43 :ast, over 5,701 ; 3,293. F LI C\HT and it is probably still true that the greater part of the bomber strength of the Luftwaffe is in Russia. But a disproportionate number of German fighters is tied down in the West, and cannot be moved from there without \ great risk. That must surely give the Russians an advantage in the air, for air superiority must always be based on fighters working on the battle fronts. The capture of Lae by the Aus- tralians and Americans is another very important event in the Pacific war, and we eagerly look forward to still further advances in that theatre. In Italy the junction of the Eighth and Fifth Armies removed all threat of a disaster, but even before that the Fifth Array had resumed the offensive. The air side of the struggle is discussed in our leading columns. Hamburg's Fate all intents and purposes a city of 1,800,000 inhabitants lies in absolute ruins for the loss of 87 air- craft. It is probably the most com- plete blotting-out of a city that ever happened." Such was the conclusion of an R.A.F. commentator when the results of four night raids by the HUMPTY DUMPTY : An 8,000 lb. bomb waiting to be loaded into the bomb-bay of the Lancaster in the background. R.A.F. and two day raids by Ameri- can heavy bombers had been photo- graphed and carefully scrutinised. Hamburg, the second largest city -in Germany, had a fully built-up area of some 15 square miles, in addition to suburbs. About 77 per cent, of the central area has been utterly de- stroyed, in addition to damage in the suburbs. In all, some nine square miles have been laid waste. The har- bour quarter also suffered very heavy damage. . Most of the buildings de- stroyed consisted of factories, ware- houses, dock areas and manufacturing plant of some kind. In addition to the larger factories, there were many small works where sub-contracting was carried out, perhaps making a total of 8,000 to 9,000 works in all. There used to be 411,000 industrial workers. BRITISH & U.S. AIR LOSSES to SEPT. IBth Over G.B. A'crft. Sept. 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Continent B'brs. 0 0 0 14 19 0 0 17 F'trs. 0 2 0 5 7 0 1 T? MiddleEast A'crft. 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 3 N.W.Africa A'crft. 2 3 0 4 2 3 9 23 Totals : West, 7,669 ; Middle East, about 2,269 ;North West Africa, 1,233. In the dock area the Blohm and Voss shipbuilding yard was the chief target. In that works 15 workshops were partly destroyed, and there was more heavy damage in other ship- yards. Battle of Britain Day Remembrance of a Qreat Deliverance NEXT Sunday has been approvedby H.M. the King as a dayfor celebrating the Battle of Britain, fought in the summer and autumn of 1940. Historians will surely acclaim that great and pro- longed struggle as one of the decisive battles of the world. Yet now, when the tide of war is running so strongly in favour of the United Nations, many of us are apt to forget those crucial days when only Fighter Command stood between the freedom of man- kind and world domination by Hitler. It is well now to recall some facts about that contest, and to note other facts which have recently been re- vealed. The struggle fellinto three main phases, (1) the battle for the Channel and the South Coast from July 10th to August 18th; (2) the battle for London from August 24th to September 27th; and (3) the battle of attrition from September 28th to October 31st. The pass was held by squadrons of Hurricanes and Spitfires, both types driven by Rolls-Royce Merlins. The average proportion of the two types day by day was about 63 per cent. Hurricanes and 37 per cent. Spitfires. For every two enemy aircraft destroyed by Spitfires, three were shot down by Hurricanes. In proportion to the numbers engaged, Spitfires shot down about 6 per cent, more than the Hurricanes did. The brunt of the fighting fell upon No. 11 Group, which was helped at times by Nos. 10 and 12 Groups. When the strain grew intense Sir Hugh (now Lord) Dowding divided his squadrons into three categories: (A) the squadrons of No. 11 Group and those on its immediate flanks, (B) a few squadrons kept at operational strength as immediate reliefs if neces- sary, and (C) squadrons which trained new pilots and supplied them to squadrons of A category. These C squadrons were not fit to match them selves against German fighters, but they could tackle unescorted bombers. Fighter Command continued to adapt its tactics to meet each .new device of the enemy, and the losses in- flicted on the Luftwaffe finally brought the foe to a standstill. Bomber and Coastal Commands attacked the barges in enemy ports. The invasion of Britain never materialised.
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