AIR SUPREMACY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 17, 20 January 1940, Page 17

AIR SUPREMACY.

THE URGENT NEED

EVER FASTER MACHINES. ONLY WAT TO WIN WAB. Commenting on ivli.it was to be expected when the war for air supremacy was ultimately launched, the British publication, "The Aeroplane," in a rccent fcsue, points out -that rapid and complete command of the air would win the war. and that nothing should be left undone to gain it and maintain it. "Tims far, lighters have been much more important to this country than bombers. What the bombers could do was shown at some cost in the approaches to the Kiel Canal. W hat the lighters can do is being shown often enough when enemy raiders come on bombing or reconnaissance expeditions across the Xorth Sea. ''But high Hying by enemy machines in dirty weather may carry them far across France or far across Kngland. Upon the ability of the fighters to climb up to their height and intercept them will depend the outcome of the more serious raids which must soon be expected. Speed Essential. "Bolter bombers from Germany are likely to appear. There were tales of their genesis even before the war. There are naturally tales of them now. And there are the best ground* for believing that the I'eieh must continue to rely 011 speed as the best means of defence for the bomber. It is committed to that creed by the lack of satisfactory gun turrets,"as well as by tlie trend of German design/' The success of British fighters against Dornie'r 17's and Heinkcl 111 K's can only strengthen that trend. It is obvious to the meanest intelligence that thousands of Spitfires would be useless against a dozen bombers they could not overtake. The air battles in France had shown that "although most of our equipment is superior to anything yet seen in action, there must be no delay ill reequipment if that superiority is to be maintained. Such replacement is not economic, it is a little unsettling for the crews, it is not compatible with mass production. But it is a fundamental need. Faster Fighters. "Very soon faster fighters will not be merely an advantage but a necessity if raids are to be intercepted. Given an advantage in height, when the enemy is sighted, a fighter can afford to be no faster than its adversary. But more often the. raider and the reconnaissance aeioplauo will have that height advantage themselves, and the lighter must climb up to intercept. "The bombers, too,- must l>e constantly changed for the better. New bombers must not be merely 'bigger, they must be faster. Speed is showing itself to Ik? the first qualification for success; for the keeping down of losses and the keeping up of morale. Armament may be sacrificed for speed. Never speed for armament.

'•There arc coming along new and better prototyj>es of almost every tvj»c of aeroplane now in service. These new types must he issued to the squadrons of the Iloyal Air Force at the earliest possible moment. There must be no delay in finishing old contracts.