GERMANY IN THE AIR

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 67, 16 September 1936, Page 20

GERMANY IN THE AIR

STRENGTH ESTIMATED

A PARIS ARTICLE

Estimates of the present strength of Germany's air force were recently discussed in an editorial article in "Das Neve Tage-Buch," a weekly journal published in Germany, which reflects the views of German emigres in I France, reports the "Daily Mail.'' The I article says:— Two hundred arid fifty-three was the j number of the battle squadron which Herr Hitler named the "General Wever Battle Squadron" in honour of the late Chief of Staff of the German Air Force, who was killed recently in an air

accident. The information comes from the Fuhrer's order, which was published simultaneously in the German newspapers on June 7, as follows:—

"The first chief of our newly recreated air arm, Lieutenant-General Wever, is dead. ... In thankful remembrance of his services, and in the desire of perpetuating his fine example in the Air Force, I hereby order that Battle Squadron No. 253 shall from henceforth be known as the General Wever Battle Squadron."

For the first time since the constitution of the .Air Force by General Goering the number .of a German air squadron is given in this order. Hitherto, in official publications by the Reich Government, as well as in the German newspapers, only the names of particular flying squadrons have been given.

That other units were in existence, and that there were.units.distinguished by numbers, has hitherto been kept secret in Germany.

Perhaps we have to thank an oversight for the fact1 that this custom has -been altered in the case of the renaming of Squadron 253. The high number gives one to think.

All squadrons of the Goering Air Force consist of .twenty-seven aeroplanes. For instance, the "Horst Weasel" Squadron had twenty-seven, this being the squadron which the Storm Troopers gave the. Fuhrer as a birthday present in April last year.

One hundred and eight aeroplanes —four squadrons of twenty-seven machines apiece—represented the German Air Force at the Nuremberg rally in September, 1935. It can then be inferred that twenty-seven is the normal complement of a German air squadron. And since it is also reasonable to suppose that the units must' have started from number one, we are entitled io take "Squadron 253," alias "Wever Squadron," as a simple basis for calculation.

Two hundred and. fifty-three squadrons consisting of twenty-seven machines each, gives us 6831 first-line aeroplanes. That would mean that the German Air Force', following the general rule of allowing three or four reserve machines to every first-line machine, amounts to more than 20,000 aeroplanes. . There are indications, which the huge German consumption of aluminium—amounting, in our last official statement, to 93,000 tons for 1935— would seem to bear out, that make these fantastic figures appear a gross understatement. ' '

In any case, we must remember that it would be an extraordinary coincidence if precisely this "Squadron 253," which has now been changed to honour General Wever, should prove to be the highest number in the German Air Force;. It is open to suppose that there are many squadrons bearing higher numbers.

On the other hand, it is quite possible that all 253 squadrons of the German Air Force have not already made up their lull complement of man power, as other air forces have.

Possibly a part of these squadrons exists as yet only on paper.

But in either case this "Squadron 253" gives an indication of the magnitude of the planned and prepared organisation.

However gigantic the plan, however greatly threatening the measure of present preparedness may be. we may compare the- squadron number 253 against the figures in the British White Paper of the great re-armament programme of the Baldwin Government. Therein is announced : the plan to create four new squadrons for the home adr fleet of and twelve