THREAT IS ONE THING —FACT ANOTHER

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 9, 5 October 1940, Page 12

THREAT IS ONE THING —FACT ANOTHER

Goering’s Air Tactics

AN ORDINARY MAN’S VIEW OF THE WAR

(By

Obsebvek. )

Before and after the start of the Battle of Britain -threats of what the German Air Force had up its sleeve formed a staple iu the fare put out by Goebbels’s propaganda machine in the war of nerves directed against England. First by Goering, and later on his behalf, it was said that the skies over Britain were to be darkened by 10,000 German planes sent across iu oue horrifying, smashing stroke. Then the programme was amended to read ”-1500 machines nightly till Churchill capitulated.” A Scandinavian newspaper warned that Hitler would signal tlie movement for invasion by the dispatch of 11,000 aircraft in support of his onslaught bysea. Tlie figures are as various as the tricks devised by German propaganda to strike terror into the unterrorizable British public. But they are consistent in one thing—they always talk in thousands. There is no doubt that the Germans have aircraft by the thousand —as we also have —first-line and reserve taken together. But they have not taken the air in thousands at any given time. From the most reliable estimates, our own and neutral. Goering has not flung more than 1000 aircraft against England ou any one day. Why, if he possesses the machines, has he not sent over 10,000 or even S<MH) for one fell blow? This question is puzzling many people. For nearly seven weeks the Luftwaffe lias hammered at Britain, trying to repeat the performance which iu never more than a month smashed the aviation of Poland and the others through to France. Annihilation of the enemy air power is an essential of German “blitz” tactics. We have it from Mr. Churchill and. if further proof were needed, by the increasing activity of all departments of the R.A.F., that Goering has failed in this first objective. He has varied his tactics and changed his formations but within the compass of no more than 1000 machines —bombers and fighters combined —at any particular time. Since Hitler cannot attempt surface invasion with what slender hope of success lie might imagine he has till Goering lias taken the stiug out of the R.A.F., why lias the Reichmarshal omitted to hurl in the 10,000 or the mere 5000 bombers promised from the Wilhelmstrasse?

This week I discussed tlie point with an authority in Wellington. The likelihood of Goering sending 5000 bombers plus escorts (or bombers and escorts together totalling 5000) over in one hit ■was strongly doubted. One thousand, yes; or possibly 2000. But 5000, no. In the first place organizational and operational problems involved in such an undertaking placed it out of reasonable practicability. About 30 average-sized bombers were congestion enough for one aerodrome it was stated, and 5000 bombers would call for no fewer than 165 'dromes with long, wellprepared runways for the take-off and return, as well as hangars, fuelling plant and armament supply. Even if 5000 bombers got off the ground they would be heading for suicide unless protected by at least three times the number of fighters. Then there was the problem of personnel. An armada of 5000 bombers would involve at least 15,000 men aloft at the same time. This is w-ithout the essential fighters, which would entail several thousand more in pilots alone.

My authority went on to say that Goering’s real trouble would only begin with the dispatch of the armada. It would be next to impossible to get the fleet to. the assigned objectives without fearful confusion through interference from the British defences. The sheer weight of numbers would present a multitude of targets both for the anti-aircraft batteries and the Spitfires and Hurricanes. Goering would stand every chance of a massacre of pilots and crews to such an extent that the Luftwaffe must return fatally crippled. Admittedly a fleet of such dimensions must take heavy toll of property and life on the ground, but the risk of its own destruction was too great to be worth the experiment. R.A.F. Too Good.— The pilot of a German plane forced down in England in August proved to be an Oxford graduate who spoke perfect English. He expressed admiration of the fighter pilot who drove him down, reports the “Daily Mail,” and added: “If the R.A.F. continue their activities in Germany as at pre-

sent the war should soon be over.” Another pilot, captured when he landed by parachute at a south coast town, said when he was being searched: “No more fighting. English too good.” A third Nazi airman said, as his injuries were being dressed: “Those Spitfires of yours are too good. This is my heaven. I am out of it.” The Capone Breed.— “As surely as Al Capone is a lunatic, just as surely is Adolf Hitler tending that way. He belongs to the same breed,” said Professor John Hilton, Professor of Industrial Relations in the University of Cambridge., at an anti-gossip meeting in Sheffield. “1 believe that with one severe reverse or one certain sign that Britain is not only going to weather the storm, but to strike back until we have won. we shall see such a crumbling of German morale as the world has never seen.”

Penny a “Jerry.”— The London Stock Exchange is taking off its hat to the R.A.F. and collecting with it to buy a Spitfire. Even “Id. a Jerry,” as one of the slogans on the boxes reads —that is, a penny for each German plane' in a day’s bag—would soon mount up. Sixty planes would mean 5/- each from possibly 1000 members, or £250 toward the required £5OOO. So it won’t take long.

The Big House.— A Nazi plane was shot down In the grounds of a magnificent. building. A crowd of men rushed to the spot and dragged the pilot from the blazing machine. The young German shook them off. "When we take over England,” he boasted, “my Fuehrer will live in your big house.” “That’s right, lad." said one of the rescuers, “that's where we live —our mental asylum!”

“Kiss her goodbye,” said the mother to her little girl. “Anna (the mauD is joining the A.T.5..” “No,” said the little girl.„ bhelt slap me like she did Daddy!” « * * Two men were talking in a pub a sailor and a civilian. “Well, .Jack.” said the civilian. I hear they are mixing the crews of Italian warships, half German and half Italian.” t “Is that so?” said Jack. men they'll have two chances now to run away er scuttle!”