NEW AIR BLITZ

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 66, 15 September 1942, Page 5

NEW AIR BLITZ

GERMANY'S NEXT STEP

PROSPECT IN WESTERN

EUROPE

(Jiy Ti'k'Kr;i|>li —l'rcss Association— Copyriflil.) NEW YORK, September 14. "An air battle ■of unprecedented dimensions is apparently looming in western Europe, with the course of the war possibly turning on the issue," says the Washington correspondent of the "New York Times." "Germany is now on the defensive against the Royal Air Force's unparalleled night raids and the Flying Fortresses' precision daylight forays. Some of the best squadrons of German fighters have been shifted to the Western Front, but have failed to combat these raids. "Germany's next step must be a new blitz against Britain, in an attempt to destroy the raiders and their nests. "Increasing reports of new surprises by the Luftwaffe, such as a stratosphere bomber operating at 40,000 feet, cause little concern. Aviation circles point out that the Flying Fortresses and Liberator bombers can fly at virtually the same altitude by cutting down the bomb load, stepping up the engines, and dropping some of the armament. "The pi-inciples of aerodynamics in heavy bomber construction and turbo super-charged engines are not exclusive German secrets. In addition, the newest types of American bombers have already rendered obsolete those which are at present operating in Europe, and experts assert, furthermore, that it is immaterial in the coming months whether bombers can operate at 40,000 feet, since the autumn and winter weather will reduce the ceiling to 20,000 feet in order to get the visibility for precision bombing. ALLIED COUNTER-MEASURES. "The British and American air forces have developed the defence against night bombers to a greater degree than the Germans, using a secret method which was good enough to halt the last blitz and has since been improved. Therefore, the Luftwaffe presumably must direct its principal effort in daytime operations, when it will be forced to descend to low altitudes to sight objectives. "These bombers will encounter three new planes on which combat reports are not yet available: The Spit- j fire 9, the latest British high-altitude ! fighter, the American P. 38, a twinengined heavy fighter, and the P. 47, a tiny fighter with a supercharged engine capable of very high climbing. "British and American pilots who have tested these planes are confident that they can shoot down the newest German bombers." Major-General Olds, commander of the Second Air Force, asserted that the four-motored bomber is "writing history across the skies of the world, and is the foremost offensive weapon in modern warfare." He released a letter from Major-General Spaatz, Commander of the United States Air Forces in England, stating that "the Flying Fortresses are far superior to anything in this theatre, and are fully adequate for the job. The British admit this, and add that with similar ! equipment and training they would also day-bomb. They unanimously praise our bombing accuracy."

NAZI EXPERIMENT

FLIGHTS OVER BRITAIN IN SUB-STRATOSPHERE

LONDON, September 14

The aeronautical writer of the "Daily Express" says that the Luftwaffe is sending special sub-stratosphere planes, singly, over Britain in daylight at a height of 40,000 feet on experimental flights, but that some bombs are dropped. Bomb-aiming is impossible from such a height, and the main purpose so far seems to be reconnaissance and photographic. The Germans are believed to be using a modified Junkers 86, equipped with an experimental pressure cabin and turbo supercharged Diesel motors.

This development follows the recent successes of Flying Fortresses over Europe, but the American planes attacked in daylight at no more than 25,CC0 feel.

HUGE AMERICAN ARMY

POSSIBLE

NEW YORK, September 13

Brigadier-General Hershey, administrator of the Selective Service Act, indicated that the United States army will be forced to induct married men with children in 1943. He said the army might eventually total 13,000.000 men. There were not sufficient single or childless men available.