HEAVIER BLOWS BY THE R.A.F.

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 229, 24 June 1941, Page 6

HEAVIER BLOWS BY THE R.A.F.

As if in anticipation of the German assault on Russia, the Royal Air Force began towards the end of last week a series of extensive daylight attacks on enemy-held aerodromes in France. These operations—termed “sweeps” in the Air Ministry communiques—have been carried out by light bomber and fighter-bomber formations, accompanied by large numbers of protective fighter craft. They, have accounted for more than 50 Luftwaffe machines in two days, at a cost of five or six fighters and one bomber. This conspicuous success, achieved over enemy territory and under daylight conditions, is of great significance. Up to last week the principal R.A.F. reply to the bombing of the British Isles consisted of the counter-bombing of mi.itary objectives in Germany, occupied France, Norway and the Low CQuntries by our heavy formations. The British Hurricane and Spitfire fighters, which proved themselves as defensive weapons in last year’s air battle for Britain, are—or were—short-range craft; -and, apart froth Channel patrols and occasional daring sallies against coastal positions on the far side, the offensive rqle of the fighter pilot has been strictly limited. It remained for the heavy and medium bombers to combine their cool, systematic operations against enemy industrial targets with the urgent task of damaging invasion bases and the handy air establishments near the coast, which the Luftwaffe are using for its cross-Channel raids. But in the last few days the R.A.F. fighter-bomber, powerfully escorted, appears to Jaave taken over at least a substantia! share of the short-range attacking. This means that new fighter aircraft, capable of taking the older Hurricane and Spitfire technique further afield and over the enemy’s own airfields, are in service in appreciable numbers. No doubt American as well as British machines are in use, for no fewer than 15 distinct types of American-built fighters—some of them embodying improvements found desirable as a result of last year s battles—have been available to Britain* for at least three months past. Not only that, but the British-built fighter force has been improved and augmented by the addition of craft with even greater speed and fire-power than the original Hurricane or Spitfire, and with considerably longer range. One of the lessons of the air war appears to be that attack on the enemy’s base is the best method of defence. Such were the attacks pressed home at the weekend by formations capable not only of bombing. but also of fighting_it out with enemy defenders on the spot. 11 the offensive “sweeps” continue with anything like the success that has marked their beginning, the heavy formations will be able to concentrate on the more distant and vital enemy targets The promise ot this is found in Mr. Churchill’s speech (published this morning) ir which he stated that :

"We shall bomb Germany by.' day as well ns by night in everincreasing measure, casting upon them month by month a heavier discharge of bombs, and make the German people take each mouth a sharper dose of the miseries they have showered upon mankind.” These are not merely encouraging words Taken in conjunction will> the news of our fighter and fighter-bombei offensive operations they enable us to glimpse a not-so-distant future when the R.A.F. will have the weapons it requires, in sufficient numbers, to take and hold the initiative.