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Aviation History
1945
1945 - 0840.PDF
f LIGHT MAY 3RD, 1945 Speed, range, height of operation and accuracy of aim- ing by instrument have all increased or progressed under th'e stimulus of war. It is probable, long before the ships now being laid down are finally paid off, that there will not be a spot on the face of any of the oceans which cannot be reached by the long arm of air power with its terrible striking force. The big bomb for special purposes has always been in the minds of our air staff. It was only the sudden col- lapse of Germany in the last war which prevented the employment of 3,300 lb. bombs which were to have been dropped from specially adapted four-engined V/1500 Handley Page bombers. This was the embryo of to-day's special Lancaster carrying a 22,000 lb. bomb. The Lancaster with a 22,000-pounder on board is the embryo of what ? Taking the SwordN EVER in all history has the truth of the biblical quotation, "All they that take the sword shall perish with the sword," been so apparent as it is in the plight of the German nation to-day. When we remember how much good the Germans could have given to the world—they are brilliant in so many ways— it is a great tragedy to see such cleverness used to such ill purpose. Even the intention to live by the sword as Herrenvolk has led them to establish the. concentration camp which has brought in its train the condemnation of being " the lowest point in human degradation." Truly this is a perfect example of eternal wisdom bringing to nought the wrongful efforts of human cleverness. All their industry has lived by making "swords" of one sort or another with the object of bringing other nations into subjection. Our war correspondent describes on another page how a large section of this CONTENTS The Outlook - War in the Air - - - - - Here and There Private Owner Designs - - New Fifth Sea Lord - Flying Boat Moorings Getting Over the " Hump "- Cargo Aircraft - - Only Angels May Fly - Civil Aviation News - - "- Correspondence .... Service Aviation - 463 465 468 470 473 474 476 478 481 482 484 486 industry, which lived by .the sword, has been totally and utterly destroyed by the clean sword of the Royal Air Force. The Ruhr, the largest manufacturing centre on the Continent of Europe which,- with its 2,000 anti-aircraf* guns and its innumerable night fighters, the Germans boasted was immune from air attack, is now "a desert of rust and rubble." Years must elapse before a return to anything like normal production can happen ; many of the towns of the Ruhr are so badly damaged that it would probably be easier to build new towns on adjoin- ing sites rather than repair the old. In passing, there is one important point which should' be remembered. Eventually there will come a time when these German factories are rebuilt, and they will perforce be equipped with new and up-to-date machinery. In competition we shall still be using our old factories and old equipment. This must be borne in mind because it will apply to the aircraft industry equally with other trades. #> FOR NORTH-WESTERN PASSAGE: Lend-Lease Bell P-63 Kingcobras passing over the Niagara Falls whilst flying to Fairbanks, Alaska. At Fairbanks, Russian pilots take over and fly the aircraft to the Eastern Front via Siberia.
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