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Aviation History
1945
1945 - 1256.PDF
682 FLIGHT JUNE 28TH, 1945 WAR IN THE AIR PACIFIC OCEAN to her armies in Borneo, China, and elsewhere. Both needs will now be very difficult to satisfy. At the same time the bombing of industrial centres in the Japanese islands will grow ever more intense. It may soon become a round-the-clock affair, as American air strength is built up and as more airfields fall into American hands. The time is ap- proaching when the Americans could do with reduced tankage and endur- ance, but could profitably carry a heavier load of bombs. Japanese factories, we understand, are mainly substantial buildings, and the bigger the bombs dropped on them the better. On the other hand, the homes ol the workmen are mostly wooden, and for them fire-bombs are the most effective missiles. It has been found in Europe that to destroy the homes of the workers holds up production to' a degree only second to the destruction of the factories them- selves. In modern war oil never loses its importance, and so we re- joice that the Australians have recaptured the great Seria oil- field in Borneo. The Japanese have fired many others, and we must regret the destruction of the fuel, while feeling glad that the enemy cannot use it against the Allies. The Japanese Air Force it> not done with yet. Its machines have made a prolonged attack on the American fleet in the har- bour of Okinawa. The losses of enemy aircraft were heavy, l;:it the ships did not escape un- scathed. This was to be expected from such desperate fighters as the Japanese, for they know that the loss of Okinawa threatens their whole homeland with destruction from the air. Recently five vessels of British Pacific Fleet (one of them aircraft carrier) were hit and damaged i suicide bomber pilots within two months. All ships were quickly in action again. Operational Sorties Bomb Tonnage and Aircraft Losses for European and Mediterranean War Theatres, 1939-45 CECURITY considerations precluded v3 the announcement in communiques and monthly summaries of certain opera- tional losses of Royal Air Force Com- mands during the course of hostilities. With certain exceptions it was permis- sible to publish only those aircraft losses of which the enemy could be presumed to be aware—i.e., aircraft lost over enemy or enemy-occupied territory or in sight oi enemy vessels. Losses of aircraft now given in these tables below include not only those not previously announced tor the above reasons, but the additional losses of aircraft so badly damaged in combat that upon landing at their base or in Allied territory they were unfit for further service. Figures for Bomber Command are incorporated in the account on pages 699-701. 2nd TACTICAL A!R FORCE ARMY CO-OPERATION COMMAND Softies 4,474 Tonnage 63 Aircraft Lost 70 C0A8TAL COMMAND. (All Bases) 19431944 1M.J Sorties 23,695214,592 89,426 327,713 Tonnage 3,62738,72!) 19,482 61,838 Aircraft Los1 177 1,3115 03;i 2,115 1939 and 19401941 1942 1943 1944 1 f)4.'i Sorties* 41,001 30,544 31,676 43,231 06,36:! 22,035 235,749 Tonnage 917 (241) 766 (240) 529 (100)494 (21)1,411 661 • 4,778 (802)5,380 Aircraft Lost 288 23:1 302 279 305 m 132 1,479 FiQHTER COMMAND including A.D.G.B.) 193!) 1SM0 1911 19421943 19441945 Sorties 3,217 121,07»150.828 147,087136,167 122,13619,712 700,226 Tonnage 1 129 207 980 i 232 920 ;;48I Aircraft UK » 1,186 fi51 (188 5611 3!>7 04 3,558 Figures in brackets under tonnap show «ei»ht ofmines laid. * Does not include sorties by Bomber Commandaircraft which are shown under Bomber Command on pages 699—701. MEDITERRANEAN AND MIDDLE EAST Including Dominion and Allied Squadrons June 1940 to May 1945 1940Bomber . Fighter .Coastal Tac/R andArmy Co-op, Mi Sortie! 1941Bomber ... Fighter ...Coastal Tac-R and Army co-op. Misc. 1942 Bomber ...Fighter ... Coastal ...Tac/R and Army co-op.Misc. 194:>Bomber ... Fighter ...Coastal Tac/R and Army Co-op. Misc. 1044 Bomber ...Fighter ... CoastalTac/R and Army Co-op.Misc. 1945 Bomber ...Fighter ... CoastalTac/R and Army Co-op.Misc. 14,830 3.1,211 4,845 3,554 568 19,89679,478 11,116 2,60S1,642 •18,968 07,67121,644 2.681 13,631 33,62167,008 7,608 16,59718,852 15,95957,245 59(D) 4.986 (A) •\ 1 f ! 1J 1 I j V 0;i<; J-1.715 \ Tonnage (B; - (C) 12,562 220 22,153 • t!98 ::2,148 587 58,673 1,133 •27 ,'Xi-J. 158 Air-. craft Lost <;7i 1,1 iM'.t i.s.v. 54" L',032 49 (A) Germany, including Austria, Czechosiavakiaand Poland. (B) Other Occupied Countries. (Q Targets at sea. (D) Included with tighter. Mi*"-Sorties include: Special Duties—General Recce. Photo Recce.—Air/Sea Rescue. NOTE : Certain of the figures given in the abovetables must still be regarded as provisional and opm to possible revision.
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