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Aviation History
1944
1944 - 0844.PDF
43» FLIGHT APRIL 27TH, 1944 pursue their deliberate policy of working to knock the Luftwaffe, and especially its fighter component, out of the sky and to squash it in its nests; while the R.A.F. concentrates more on communications with the more immediate (that is to say, tactical) object of helping the Russian armies. The attacks on railway yards in France probably delay the despatch of munitions to the Eastern Front. The Mediterranean Allied Air Force is nearer to the scene of action, and has delivered a whole series of blows on railway centres and Danube ports through which munitions and reinforcements might speedily have reached the troops of Kleist. It is the first time that Anglo-American bombers could co-operate directly with the advancing Russian armies, and it may be hoped with some confidence that these blows will save.the lives of Russian soldier's and bring their armies quicker and less costly victories. % German Fighter Production T HE joint statement issued by the Air Ministry and the American Strategic Air Forces in Europe is one of the most instructive official publications issued during this war. It shows the plan on which the :wo Commands agreed and how they worked together to carry it out. Early in 1942 the Germans had grown apprehensive about the dangers of the R.A.F. campaign of night bombing and the growing threat of American day bomb ing. To meet it they decided to quadruple their monthly production of fighters. Both Germans and Allies are agreed that the fighter, not unaided A.A. fire, is the most effective protection against bomber raids. By the end of last July the Germans had doubled their output of fighters, thus achieving half of their plan. It was due to be completed by April, 1944. So cleverly had the Germans dispersed their aircraft industry that its disposition, in the words of the report, " practically precluded the possibility of destroying it with night bombing." So the western Allies, British and American, agreed "that the destruction of the CONTENTS The Outlook - War in the Air * - Here and There The Tandem Monoplane Future of Civil Aviation Transport Command Aircraft in Flying Attitudes Behind the Lines - Airpower Support Topics of the Day . - Ceylonese'Fleet Air Arm - Correspondence Service Aviation - - - - - - - - . - - - _ _ - - - - 443, - - - - 437 439 442 444 447 448 a and b 449 45o 454 455 45° 459 h German aircraft industry be assigned to the Eighth Air Force (i.e., the Americans) as first priority as soon as its strength and experience with precision bombing war ranted beginning what everyone knew would be a costly and bitter campaign." In due course the 15th U.S. Air Force in the Mediterranean came under the same command as the Eighth Air Force. As a result, for three successive months the German fighter force has lost more machines than its plants could manufacture, and in March of this year their production was below the rate of August, 1942. The night bombing of the R.A.F. fitted in with this plan. It attacked the heavy industry of the Germans, and this hindered the rebuilding of destroyed aircraft factories. In addition, its attacks absorbed the atten tions of the bulk of the enemy twin-engined fighters, and drew into the ranks of that body a substantial portion of the twin-engined machines originally intended for bombing. The plight of the Luftwaffe's fighters is now obvious. They have to leave many raids unopposed, and do not always attack the American day-raiders. The latter's escorts of long-range fighters take a toll which thi,r* factories are increasingly unable to make good. FELINE FORMATION : Wildcats from the escort carrier H.JMhS. Searcher fly over their ship carriers were converted merchantmen, but the more recent ships ha'vi been specially H.M'.<Seflj i of "the earlier escorl erica and Britain.
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