COMPLETE DEFEAT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 63, Issue 41, 27 November 1942, Page 3

COMPLETE DEFEAT

AXIS AIR FORCE IN DESERT. ' v ’ ■ ' , ■ ALMOST ENTIRELY WIPED OUT. SPEED OF ALLIED ADVANCE. (N.Z. Press Association —Copyright). (Roc.. 10.35 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 25. “Never has there been such a complete defeat of an enemy air force in the field as that inflicted on the Luftwaffe and Regina Aeronautica in North Africa- in the recent campaign,” said Air Vice-Marshal Sir Arthur Coningham (formerly of New Zealand) according to a message from Cairo. “It was almost a wiping out of the entire air force. It was infinitely greater than anything the Germans have been able, to do in any theatre -of the war. All the damaged tanks, guns and motor that lie .in the trail of wreckage from El Alamein to the border and on across Libya is evidence of the work of the Air Force. There has been the usual unanimity between the Air Force and tho Army. On the other hand the enemy air force neglected his ground forces shamefully. "Whether that was through lack of organisation or lack of ability I do not Know, but if the Royal Air Force had done, that sort of thing it would have wanted to change the colour of its uniform. , “The speed of the Allied advance was another great factor which contributed to the smashing of the Axis air force. In seven days the R.A.F. has been shooting up Aglieila, 750 miles from El Alamein. “The of the Allied advance exceeded anything we had thought possible. It was made possible only by everybody doing 48 hours’ work in 24. Another great factor was the astounding efficiency of the ground crews. We managed to keep 95 per cent, of our aircraft serviceable —an amazing record. It was keenness and efficiency in men on the ground that made such a record possible. Malta is becoming more and more offensive.” Attacks from Malta and aerodromes in North Africa could be so great as to threaten Tripoli as a port. It was assumed that a flow of enemy planes is coming into North Africa all the time, but that it would be limited by the number oh landing grounds at the enemy’s disposal and supplies of fuel.

There were indications that the enemy \ had been getting planes from the Russian front, so the campaign in North Africa, must have relieved the pressure on the Russians. The Axis pilots in the recent campaign had fought' very badly. 'Disorganisation between the Luftwaffe and the Army in the recent offensive had been evident. Nobody de- ; nied that the Germans’had ability to organise, but. once solid pressure' was brought to bear they somehow became disorganised; There was a possibility that the Germans would give priority to North Africa, but to do so- they would have to decrease their effort elsewhere. It seemed probable that Marshal Rommel would make a stand at El Agheila with its strong fortifications and concrete emplacements. One feature of tho recent activity in tho air was the fact that there had not been one dive-bomber attack on Allied ground troops during the whole campaign. The. Stukas were limited to level bombing. Hundreds of enemy planes had fallen into y tlie hands of the R.A.F. during the swift Allied advance across Cyrenaica.—British Official Wireless.