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Aviation History
1944
1944 - 1054.PDF
—w 548 WAR IN THE AIR sign, but it was appropriate that the Monastery should fall into the hands of Poles, who are mostly Roman Catholics. This success, and also the advance of the 8th Army and the general collapse of the so-called Gustav line, made up a combined operation in which the air went full out but could not expect to play a dominant part in the operations. The Army is very grateful to the whole M.A.A.F., but the aeronautical commentator can draw but few lessons from the opera tion. A Burma Airfield f~\F more interest from the air point ^ of view is the capture of the air field of Myitkyina (pronounced "Mitchinar") by the American and Chinese forces of Gen. Merrill. Actually the capture was a ground operation, but shortly after it had been effected American engineers flew in in gliders and set to work. It is sometimes said that this war is mainly a struggle for airfields. That, perhaps, is an exaggeration ; but air fields must be at the disposal of any attacking force, and this was a case where the possession of an airfield is likely to prove of prime importance. Burma, of course, must be recon quered for its own sake, just as Malaya must be brought back into British hands. In addition to that object, it is ardently desired to establish a good route for getting supplies into China. The gallant troops of Generalissimo Chiang Kai Shek have suffered griev ously from the superior equipment of Japanese invaders since the Burma KosTBL was, lost. Lately a certain NOT ON HOT BRICKS : A cargo of Hellcats for the Fleet Air Arm on the snow-covered deck of a baby "flat-top " ploughing its way through the ice floes off Newfoundland. amount of useful equipment has been flown into China over the "Hump" by American pilots. It was a hazard ous business, and the loads which could be carried were all too light to meet Chinese requirements. From Myitkyina a better air route into China can be established. Moreover, and this is still more important, the cap ture of the town will provide a base from which it is hoped that the old Burma Road may be again thrown open to convoys of lorries. That development ^cannot be achieved this summer. Already the chota bursdt, or little monsoon, as it is called in India, has commenced, and the burra bursdt, or big rains, must be I FOUR FLAMERS : Siebei 204 transports burning on the ground after a low- strafing attack by the 8th U.S.A.A.F. expected to set in soon. During the monsoon campaigning is impossible in Burma, and it is very important that British and Indian troops should be able to pass the time in healthy quar ters. These can be found in the town of Myitkyina. Preparation N other respects the week was largely a repetition of several pre vious weeks, with bombers from Great Britain, from the Mediterranean (in eluding the Middle East), and from Russia striking without respite at the enemy's centres of communications Just occasionally the Americans have >•/ varied the proceedings by attacks on ^ oil installations and refineries, but the main plan of campaign has been to paralyse the enemy's power of move ment rather than to try to reduce his reserves and production. It may be taken for granted that the Germans have reserves, and they cannot all be bombed out of existence in a short time. But if he cannot get them up to the battle fronts, they might just as well not exist. To prevent them reaching those fronts must be the main object of air power on the eve of an invasion of the Continent. Carriers Again ^"\NE can only guess at the intensity ^ of the work which preparing for the invasion puts upon the Navy; but none the less it felt free to send part of the Home Fleet off on another raid to the coasts of Norway. It was another carrier attack, the other warships forming the escort. It was noticeable that Rear-Admiral La Touche Bisset, who was in command, flew his flag in a cruiser, H.M.S. Royalist, and not in a battleship Since the sinking of the Scharnhorst and the bombing of the Tirpitz, it
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