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Aviation History
1945
1945 - 0968.PDF
FLIGHT MAY 17TH, 1945 THE U.S. EIGHTH AiR FORCE an important part of the air contribution. Preparatory to the crossing of the Rhine in March, rail traffic out of the industrial Ruhr valley was-reduced 75 per cent, by an Allied air campaign to isolate this area. On March 19th, 1945, 20 Ruhr rail yards were photographed by reconnais- sance planes and the pictures showed virtually nothing in motion. "In fact, in all of western Germany rail movement was limited by March to strictly military traffic that moved only at night. At some points military trains were stranded from three to ten days, awaiting locomotives to move them. Journeys that should have been a matter of hours took days and even weeks in some instances. Consequently the arrival of weapons, supplies and reinforcements were frequently too little and too late. Dislocation in essential war industries was also inevitably severe. '' Extermination campaigns were carried out against Ger- man aircraft production, oil production and ball bearings. The Germans use ball bearings more than we do and in many cases were obliged to change to plain bearings, with a resultant delay in production. Against other industries we tried to do as much as the remainder of our strength, weather and time would permit. We did not hit all their tank ordnance depots, for example. But we did hit those which were of immediate importance to German defence in a particularly hard-pressed sector. We hit certain V-i and V-2 installations, their submarine yards, steel plants, chemical plants, tank plants, motor vehicle plants and many others. Strategic bombing was our primary mission. One of your colleagues has aptly defined the difference between strategic and tactical bombing this way: ' Tactical bombing is knocking over the milk pail every day, while strategic bombing is an effort to kill the cow.' '' But our strategic force proved handy to have around for other purposes occasionally. In the 12 months of 1944, almost one-third of our total effort, as measured in bomb tonnages, was in tactical operations. And in the months from December, 1943, through August, 1944, more than one of every ten tons of bombs we dropped was aimed at flying bomb installations. '' If there were any who did not realise the effect of strategic bombardment on Germany's fate, Goering apparently was not among them. He is reported to have told the Luftwaffe on November 1st, 1944: ' Unless you bring down at least 500 Flying Fortresses on the next big raid, you will go to the trenches-.' The next day we destroyed 180 German fighters, taking a loss of 40 bombers and 13 fighters. " I believe that in the picture behind the fall of Gem which now begins to be revealed from inside Germany, the role of strategic bombardment will be very impressive. But as to what caused the downfall of Nazi Germany, I say it was team work—the greatest and most complex team effort in history." A.T.C. VICTOIIY PARADE OVER 2,000 A.T.C. Cadets, one.from every unit throughoutthe country, "saluted the R.A.F." last Sunday after- noon in a mass victory thanksgiving service followed by amarch-past in Hyde Park. The salute waS taken byAir Marshal Sir Koderic Hill, newly appointed member of the Air Councilfor Training, on behalf of Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Charles Portal, Chief of the Air Staff. High officers of theU.S.A., Dominions and other Allied Air Forces, together with distinguished naval, military and civic representatives, werepresent. The Rev. J. A. Jagoe, Chaplain-in-Chief, R.A.F., conducted the service, assisted by Canon Woolnough, of Man-chester Cathedral. This Hyde Park parade and service was the highlight ol athree-day national rally, including an international A.T.C. foot- ball match at Tottenham, on Saturday, and the national A.T.C.boxing championships on Monday. For the first time since the Corps was formed in 1941, air cadets from all over England, N. Ireland, Scotland and Waleswere brought together in the heart of the Empire to pay homage to their elder brothers of the R.A.F., in which over 100,000ex-cadets are now serving. Simultaneous parades were held in other cities and towns where the A.T.C. is represented. All the cadets visiting the Capital—some of them had neverdone so before—were accommodated in a "camp" in the A.R.P. deep shelter at Camden Town, and special facilitiesfor hot meals, clean bedding and entertainments were provided. A satellite '' camp '' was also established in Hyde Park formain meals and for mustering. Visiting A.T.C. officers and W/O.s were accommodated in the deep shelter with theircadets. Air Marshal Sir Leslie Gossage, meeting the cadets on theirarrival, said: "London welcomes you and London expects a high standard of you, which I know you will fulfil. This vic-tory week-end will be a date to be remembered for all time." BUDD RB-i CONESTOGA : Notable for its shot-welded, stainless steel construction,the Conestoga, built by the Edward G. Budd Co., Philadelphia, was developed for the U.S. Navy as a corrosion-proof transport. But after a contract had beenplaced, certain difficulties arose and production was discontinued. It is powered by two 1,050 h.p. Pratt & Whitney Twin-Wasp engines and has a top speed of165 m.p.h. Maximum range is 1,700 miles. The cargo space measures 8ft. square by 25ft. long and the hydraulically-operated loading ramp at the rear forms a watertight door when closed.
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