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Aviation History
1945
1945 - 0894.PDF
494 TOLL OF AXIS AIRCRAFT R.A.F. HPHE Air Ministry has issued the fol- •*• lowing statement on the number of enemy aircraft destroyed by the R.A.F., and R.A.F. losses from the beginning of the war up to April 28th this year: — HOME-BASED COMMANDSAxis aircraft destroyed by R,.A.F.: — By Bomber Command . . . . 759By Fighter Command in defen- sive and offensive operations 6,977By Coastal Command 175 Total 7.911R.A.F. Losses: — Bomber Command 7,997Fighter Command (in offensive and defensive operations) .. 2,998Coastal Command 454 Total 11,449 WA R IN THE AIR East. There the air, as well as bothother Services, is fully employed. Future historians will surely say thatthe outstanding military fact about the campaign in Burma was the un-precedented use of air transport, some- times to move whole divisions about,but even more as a means of supplying armies which were rapidly advancingfar from any land base, and in country where communications by rail androad were of the most meagre. As the date for the breaking of the monsoondrew near, the campaign assumed the form of a race for Rangoon.. Wouldthe 14th Army beat the monsoon? Then, at last. Admiral Mountbattenfound himself in the position for which he had hoped when he first took overthe supreme command. He was able to use his experience of combinedoperations to land a force to the south of Rangoon. It was preceded by drop-ping parachute troops, and then MAY IOTH, 1945 OFF THE RAILS : The new-type rockets used by the American Naval and ArmyAir Forces are very similar to those used by the R.A.F. They are launched from rails instead of from tubes, as previously. ground forces landed from H.M. shipson both sides of the river estuary. Some of Gen. Slim's troops made aterrific dash forward and linked up with the parachutists, and Rangoonwas occupied. The monsoon was beaten, and with the occupation of thisgreat port the main part of the con- quest of Burma was completed. Theoperation was a copy-book example of the proper use of parachutists in com-bination with other forces. "Well Done" '"PHE surrender to Field Marshal -*- Alexander in Italy was speedily FRENCH AIR MISSION VISITS BRITAIN French Naval Forces in Britain. Capt.Jullerot, who wears the Mons Star amongWITH the object of re-establishing theFrench aircraft industry and manufacturing British types of aircraftand aircraft engines and equipment in France, an air mission headed by GeneralHenri Ziegler arrived in Britain last week at the invitation of the Government.Gen. Ziegler and his eight colleagues (French air officers and aeronautical ex-perts) are to spend about three weeks visiting aircraft and engine factories asthe guests of the British Government, and will then go to America 011 a similarmission at the invitation of the U.S. Government. The French air mission flew to thiscountry and were welcomed on arrival at a London airport by Air Marshal SirRalph Sorley and Sir Eric Bowater, of M.A.P. Later they attended a receptiongiven by Sir Stafford Cripps in London, where they met Mr. Lennox Boyd andother Government officials and senior R.A.F". officers. Among the guests, also,was Capt. Jullerot, Chief of Stall to Admiral Robert, who commands the his many decorations, trained some of theoriginal pilots of the R.F.C. "France -is behindhand in moderntechnical air development, and we are working on a long-term policy," Gen.Ziegler told Flight. "The mission is mainly interested in military types andparticularly- in engines, but, like every- one else, we are also interested in thedevelopment of commercial aircraft and equipment, especially the larger types.During the next three weeks we hope to learn much and to lav the foundationsfor future close co-operation between our two industries." The other eight members of 1he missionare Col. C. Rozenoff, Comdt. C. Teyssier and Comdt. A. Esperet (aircraft design,production, and fuel) ; Comdt. R. Marchal, M. R. Beauvais and M. J. deLacharriere (engine design and produc- tion) ; and Capts. de Fregate E. Giboinand C. Penhi (radio and signal design and production ). followed by the surrender of all theGermans in Holland and Denmark to Field Marshal Montgomery. This wasanother very big event. It has evoked messages to the work of the TacticalAir Force from two high authorities. Air Marshal Sir Arthur Coningham hassaid to 2nd T.A.F.:— '' We have had the main air frontduring recent weeks and operations have reached a quite exceptional levelof brilliance. 83 Group has dealt with the main opportunities, and all R.A.F.shares in the glory of this great finish to 12 months of the biggest air effort.Peace on our front, May 5th, is a direct and fitting tribute to your work, sharedwith our R.A.F. Commands and those great airmen, the U.S.A.A.F. Athousand times well done." Air Vice-Marshal E. C. Hudleston,A.O.C., 84 Group, R.A.F., 2nd. T.A.F., has received the followingmessage from General Crerar, Com- mander-in-Chief, First CanadianArmy: " On behalf of all ranks I desire to express our admiration and appre-ciation of the magnificent support to the First Canadian Army by 84Group of the Royal Air Force through- out the operations in north-westEurope, now concluding in outstand- ing victory. This Army-Air combina-tion has had to face, and solve, some tough operational problems, but withthe fine team work of our respective headquarters and the skill, gallantryand determination which all ranks of 84 Group, R.A.F., have consistentlydemonstrated in action, we have always accomplished what we set outto do."
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