STRATEGIC BOMBING OF JAP MAINLAND

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 146, 22 June 1945, Page 5

STRATEGIC BOMBING OF JAP MAINLAND

DOOLITTLE'S PLAN

Two Separate Heavy Forces To Be Used N.Z. Press Association—Copyright Rec. 12.30. WASHINGTON, June 21. The strategic bombing of Japan will be carried out by two separate heavy bombardment forces — the Eighth, which he commands, and the Twentieth, under General Arnold, said General Doolittle, Chief of the Eighth Air Force, which is at present being redeployed to the Pacific.

Asked whether the Eighth Air Force would use only Super Fortresses, as were used by the Twentieth, General Doolittle said that the decision so far was to use Super Fortresses and such other planes as were needed.

General Doolittle said he believed Japan would be easier to destroy industrially than Germany, because, firstly there was a greater concentration of industry; secondly, the targets were more inflammable; ana, thirdly, Japanese war economy and industry had not had time to put the factories underground, as the Germans were doing in the closing stages of the war in Europe. General Doolittle, who led the first bombing raid over Tokyo in 1942, said he did not expect to fly over Tokyo again until the job was done. "I should not like to fall into Japanese hands," he said. He explained that there was a standing order against any officer who naa knowledge of the future strategic plans allowing himself, to get into a position where he might fall into the hands of the enemy. General Doolittle expects to go to tne Pacific shortly.