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Aviation History
1944
1944 - 1319.PDF
JUNE 29TH, 1944 W/\R N THE' AIR within range of the guns, it is almost heterodox to use aircraft to hit them. Despite the battle in Normandy, the strategic bombers from Great Britain have continued to belabour German centres, and the U.S. 8th Air Force was accompanied by Mustang fighters during its heaviest daylight attack to date on Berlin., After per forming their mission, both bombers and fighters flew on to bases in Russia which had been prepared for them, making a flight of over 1,500 miles. There are obvious drawbacks about preparing a shuttle service of this sort, as it implies duplicating all the facili ties of the home base in a distant (^"-eeuntry. 'But when these difficulties have been overcome, there are also advantages in this method. It avoids the strain of the return journey, and confuses the German defences. The Russians were doubtless de lighted to welcome the Americans on their soil, and must have been much impressed by the mighty day- bombers. Still, it is certain that the Russians are more excited over the landing in Normandy—the Second Front, for which they have been clamouring for so long—than over any amount of strategic bombing. Red airmen have exclaimed with enthu siasm that they hope in time to be with their Allies in the centre of Berlin, and they were probably think ing of occupation rather than of raiding. Three in One T*HE American advance up the •*• peninsula to Cherbourg provided the best example which this war has seen of close co-operation between the three Services. The defences of the town were pounded in turn by aircraft bombs, by the ships of the Fleet, and by ground artillery. Yet still, as in the past, it was the infantry which had. to exploit the preparations of " bombardment, and strife CONTINENTAL FRONT DOOR : An aerial photograph of Cherbourg showing the layout of the docks and breakwaters. blow. Escape for the garrison was im possible, and aircraft dropped leaflets to tell the Germans so. Ships which tried to sneak out were intercepted by naval forces and either sunk or driven into the harbour of Alderney. Hitler, knowing that the divisions in Cherbourg were lost to him in any case, ordered them to fight to the last man. What did it matter to him whether they were killed or made prisoner, as they could be of no further use to him? But when men run out of ammunition, they can fight no longer, and surrender is the only possible ending to the matter. Unfortunately, we cannot say with Deborah and Barak that the stars in their courses fought against Hitt Rough weather on the beachesjJHayed the landing of stores anj^nunitions, wealheT wfca*d£ns deplorable in Italy. There were.d0&s when all fhv Allied FAR EAST AIRFIELD Dakota transports operating from an air strip newly cut from the jungle :n Assam. aircraft were grounded except the fighters and fighter-bombers. When the weather was clear there were a number of bombing raids on the south of France, and also on enemy positions in Yugoslavia. So the German leaders must be kept guessing whether General Alexander will strike to the west or to the east or in both directions when he has gained control of the north of Italy. The capture of Elba by French troops, supported by British and American aircraft, combined with the fact that Corsica is firmly in Allied hands, suggests a coming landing in the south of France; and this would not rule out a simultaneous advance into the Balkans. One may picture Rommel imploring Runstedt for more reinforcements to meet the Allies yj. Normandy, and the latter wondering whether he dare withdraw any re serves from any of the other fronts. General Advance AS had doubtless been arranged a •**- the Teheran conference, the Rus sians seized the moment of the invasion in the West to attack in Finland and also round Vitebsk. In Finland they rapidly seized some useful airfields and used them for overhead attacks on the Finns. Doubtless the Stormov;ks and other types are also busy on the Vitebsk front. Between the Marianas and the Philippines the U.S. Navy, has had a fight with a powerful Japanese fleet. The latter would not come to grips, and the engagement resolved itself into a duel between the aircraft of the carriers. The enemy lost heavily in ships and aircraft, and then fled. The British flee* of the S.E. Asia Command carried out an air attack on Port Blair in the Andamans with suc cess. at
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