WAR IN THE AIR

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 6, 18 October 1943, Page 4

WAR IN THE AIR

NEW AMERICAN AIR CRUISERS. < * CARRY 30 MACHINE-GUNS GERMANS’ ARTIFICIAL, FOG. f'N.Z Press Association—Copyright.) (Rec. 10.10 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 17. Heavily-armed multi-engined air cruisers have been escorting United States bombers in their daylight raids on Germany. A Stockholm report quotes German military observers’, as saying that these planes carry no bombs, but are each armed with -30 machine-guns and several cannon. These armoured cruisers fly; ahead of, and alongside Flying Fortresses to “plough their way through German fighter planes.” The Swedish newspapers also report that the Germans ;are using a new type of heavily-armoured fighter plane, which carries ammunition of terrific explosive power. German air observers state that these new fighters took heavy toll of the Flying Fortresses,: which attacked Schweinfurt on Thursday.

' A German military spokesman claimed that the Germans are using a new “fog device” which spread a milk-like substance in the air, blinding pilots and causing their bombers to collide.

According to the Berlin correspondent of the Madrid newspaper “Informaclones,” the artificial fog converts daylight attacks into night attacks. He says that Flying Fortresses in the raid on Schweinfurt emerged from these clouds without formation and were at the, mercy of the German fighters. Many Flying Fortresses collided with each other.

* Following these claims of the use of new, weapons the Berlin radio yesterday warned its listeners not to expect the “magic gadget” to defeat Allied bombers.