EXIT THE DIVE-BOMBER?

Evening Star, Issue 24916, 14 July 1943, Page 3

EXIT THE DIVE-BOMBER?

PROVING A VULNERABLE MACHINE (Bee. 11.10 a.m.) LONDON. Juiy 13. dear indications that the United States army and >, navy have decided either to drastically curtail or discontinue the production of pure dive-bomb-ers support the 'British . Air Ministry policy. The American services' decision is given in a report of the Senate Committee. The Air Ministry, despite much criticism, refused to have dive-bombers made in Britain, and showed reluctance to order this type of plane. It has, however, done much to develop highspeed fighter bombers like the Typhoon as dive-bombers for use against special targets. 'The Times ' aviation writer says the United States services were enthusiastic about dive-bombers before entering the war. It may be assumed that the change in their attitude is due to practical experience with them against strong defences. The Germans themselves have been gradually losing faith in the dive-bomber. In Tunisia very few were used, the enemy employing •instead ground attack units of fighter bombers. The production of the Junkers 87's, the only true German Stuka, is known to have been drastically reduced. The dive-bomber has been shown to bo an extremely vulnerable machine.