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Aviation History
1944
1944 - 1102.PDF
572 FLIGHT JUNE IST- *944 Eisenhower is Supreme Allied Commander for the' liberation of Europe, and under him Air Chief Marshal Sir Trafford Leigh-Mallory commands the Allied Expeditionary Air Force. Under Leigh-Mallory are the Second Tactical Air Ft>rce commanded by Air Marshal Sir Arthur Coningham, the U.S. Army Ninth Air Force, which was brought up from the Mediterranean to this "Sufi try, ^5ftrl*«4i£ Defence of Great Britain under Air MarshaltSS Rottoick Hill. Of these the two first- mentiqaad/Comprise both bombers and" fighters. AT HIS FINGER TIPS : The bomb-aimer of a Lancaster-bomb release in hand—and the load of destruction which he can select at will. The big fellow is a 4,000 lb. bomb. CONTENTS The Outlook - War in the Air - Here and There - Power Plant—Past and Future - Topics of the Day - Aircraft in Flying Attitudes - - Rocket Projectiles - Britain's Overseas Air Services - Correspondence - - - - Service Aviation • i 571 573 576 578 584 * 586 588 589 594 595 Spaatz also has under him the U.S. Army Fifteenth Air Force which is based in the Mediterranean, but with • that we are not at the moment concerned. Both these strategic forces have been taking part in the disruption of German communications. Bomber Command, work ing by night, does not need fighter escorts, while the Eighth Air Force possesses its own escort fighters. /V* All the raids have had to fit into one coherent plan, and the day raids by medium bombers of the Second Tactical Air Force and the Ninth Air Force have been protected by fighter escorts, though not always by fighters of their own Command. . Sir Trafford Leigh- Mallory has not kept A.D.G.B. kicking its heels on its airfields, but has regularly sent its fighters across the Channel to escort the bombers of the other two Com mands. Arranging these escorts must have called for excellent staff work of a very intricate nature. Beyond that, there is no one authority responsible for fitting into one coherent whole the work of the heavy and the medium bombers. That jig-saw puzzle has been solved somehow, though the manner of the solution has not been revealed to the man in the street. The one thins obvious to all is that the air staff work has reached a zenith, and the staff officers deserve all praise. They also serve who only sit at office tables. Aircraft in Mountain Warfare KESSELRING is a Luftwaffe officer, although he was placed in command of the German armies in x Italy. In Libya he had commanded the " Luftwaffe contingent .which worked (though not too closely) with Rommel. When he was given the com mand in Italy he must have been told that he would have but a minimum of air support, and must manage without it. He accepted the position, doubtless thank ing his stars that the fighting would be in the Apennines. Kesselring knew, as every General and Air Marshal must know, that when troops are entrenched in moun tains they should be able to hold their lines even though the assailants bring unchallenged air power against them. For months on end Kesselring was justified. It should be noted that those were winter months, when the movements of troops were circumscribed. The coming of spring brought a change. ^The Allied infantry and artillery broke the German lines, and that reacted on the air position. The rail ways'behind the German positions had been so battered from the air that but little use could be made of them ; but the Germans had performed wonders in working along the roads at night. Once the troops of General Alexander began to press forward these night movements did not suffice, and transport had to move by day, both to the north of Rome and nearer the front.. That gave the Allied air craft their chance, and they fell upon the transport with deadly effect. Once again General Alexander has sho- _ how to use ground and air power in proper relation.
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