CLAIMS FOR U.S. BOMBER: TESTS UNDER COMBAT

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 March 1949, Page 6

CLAIMS FOR U.S. BOMBER: TESTS UNDER COMBAT

WASHINGTON, March 13. The United States Joint Chiefs of Staff have been handed United States Air Force “findings” that Russia has no adequate defence against the 836 bomber and may not have an adequate defence for at least three to five years. The findings, which were revealed today, are based on tests in combat conditions. They emphasise: — (1) That the 836 is the only military aircraft that can perform effic-

iently at an altitude of over eight miles. This, with its armaments, makes the 836 almost immune to anti-aircraft fire. (2) That it is the only bomber in the world that does not have to be altered to carry special bombs. It can carry two 40,0001 b bombs. (3) That jet fighter aircraft lose so much power at the B36’s altitude that they have onlv an advantage of 80 to 100 miles an hour over the 836. Furthermore, their small wings will not support them in manoeuvres in thin air. Tests have shown that if a jet fighter attacks a 836 at all, it is outmatched by the long-range cannon of the 836. Thus Russia has two major defence problems of building intercep-

tors that could waylay the 836 and of ringing her vast territory with a radar warning system that would get interceptors into the air in time.