PLANE OUTPUT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20305, 22 July 1940, Page 7

PLANE OUTPUT

BRITAIN ON TOP GERMAN PEAK PASSED TRAINED CREWS LACKING DAMAGE TO FACTORIES R.A.F. WELL IN CREDIT (Klee. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. July 22, 9 a.m.) LONDON, July 20. The Sunday Times’ aeronautical expert says that the German air force is still far bigger than Britain’s. Her first-line strength is estimated at 18.000 planes, but there is reason to believe that she does not possess sufficient trained crews. The total includes probably 3000 troop-carriers, and the remainder bombers and fighters in equal ratio. Her output is probably 1800 of all tj'pes a month. This is an increase of 500 planes a month since the outbreak of the war, but does not represent the peak. British production now exceeds Germany’s, and British bombers are inflicting terrific damage on Germany’s factories, for which reason it is reasonable to hope that Britain will materially reduce Germany’s output in the next few months. “The number of trained crews is the bottleneck of German strength,” adds the expert. “She produces GO planes a day, but crews cannot be trained at that rate. For this reason many are diluted with Italians. “Germany has lost 1000 men and 300 planes in attacks on Britain since the outbreak of the war. Our losses in raids against Germany are far smaller than Germany’s, total-bal-ance well in our favour.”