STILL ON DEFENSIVE

Grey River Argus, 5 June 1942, Page 5

STILL ON DEFENSIVE

Australia’s Lack OF AIRCRAFT RESERVES. (Rec 5.5). SYDNEY, June 4. „ The “Sydney Morning Heralds war correspondent says: In spite of unquestioned success which we achieved in pinning the enemy dov,i. to the bases which he alreaayholds New Britain and in New Guinea, it would be unwise and dangerous to close our eyes to certain Actors i the situation. A stage now has been reached at which some earlier overoptimistic conclusions must be ievised. Until a flow of American aircraft to Australia becomes far greater it will be futile to think in the terms of launching, and much less of sustaining, a large scale aerial offensive against the Japanese in the north of Australia. Moreover, some of the types of the American fighter aircraft are not suitable for carrying out long-range bomber escort duty. There is now no question about the superiority of the Japanese Zero planes in operations of that, character. It is true that we have been maintaining a three-to-one advantage over the enemy in losses on the ground and in the air. It also is true that we have continued t< hammer the enemy wherever he has tried to establish himself. But it is Avell for the people to realise that something more is required before the situation can be regarded with any degree of complacency. The question of ensuring adequate reserves of aircraft is now one of first rate importance. Lord Trenchard has estimated the number of reserves necessary as being in the ration of four in reserve to one in the fighting line. Our operations against the Japanese are proving this to be correct. •' “The fact is that, in Australia, at present, we do not possess a fighter capable of meeting Japanese fighters on equal terms as far as range is con cerned. In fire power the latest Allied machines ar e superior to those of the enemy. Many of our losses have occurred because the pilots of fighter aircraft that were engaged on escort dutv have had to fight longei than they wanted to do, with the consequences that they have not sufficient fuel for the journey home. In spite of this draw" back, we have been continuing operations against the enemy bases in the hope of demoralising the Japanese, and of making their bases untenable. In these raids, American and Australian airmen have been doing a magnificent • job. Thev are working together with the utmost cordiality and efficiency.