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Aviation History
1944
1944 - 0321.PDF
FEBRUARY 17TH, 1944 FLIGHT All Aircraft on Tactical Work in Italy : "Military Objectives in France : Luftwaffe Fighters Coy and Bold » C>T week the enemy began to in crease his air effort against the bridgehead round Anzio. It looks as if our policy there (for some reason yet to be disclosed) has been to invite attack against our position, -in stead of using it as most people ^pF.tpected that we should do for an offensive against the Germans. The small area round Anzio has been packed with so many troops that there does not seem room for any more, and the Germans have been able to move up big guns within range and shell the place. The probability is that they will have caused more casualties than it is pleasant to contemplate. From the first the Germans have also taken air action, but not on an impressive scale. Up to February 6th their average performance was to send over daily about 30 fighter-bombers with an escort of 75 fighters. These sallies were not all directed against the bridgehead, but most of them were. The size of the escorts is evidence of the respect in which the enemy holds our Spitfires and other fighters. By night about 30 bombers used to come over and mostly attacked the shipping off the coast. Well-lit-up hospital ships offered the easiest targets. Since February 6th the enemy has increased the scale of his air offensive. The position is that while the hold a definite air superiority over Germans, it does not amount to com plete command of the air. The inferior side can still send machines over the battle area, and they can do a certain amount of damage. An inferior Air Force can often manage to do that much. It is significant that the enemy's bombers mainly confine their activities to the hours of darkness. Some surprise has been expressed that, despite the great air strength of the Allies, the Germans have been able .Jto-mw^divisions about and reinforce parts of Their jjaeS. They have had much expeJj^fSce in working in the face riority, and are now very [The movements are nearly night, and railways play UMBRELLA MEN : Spitfires with pointed wing tips and Merlin 61 engines off to put height cover over the Anzio beachhead. Q^A 2M-2.^
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