NO RELAXATION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 123, 23 April 1940, Page 7

NO RELAXATION

FLIGHTS OVER REICH. BIG MILEAGE COVERED. / VARIETY OE HAZARDS. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) " (Bntisn official vVireless.) Received April 23, 9.4 U a.m. RUGBY, April 22. While particular attention has been paid in the last few days to the exploits of the R.A.E. m reconnoitring the German bases in Norway, it is important to remember that there has been no cessation of R.A.E. activity over Germany itself. Since the outbreak of the war aircraft of the Bomber Command have flown 800,001) miles over what is known as Greater Germany. Opposition to 'the raiders generally has been marked, particularly by day, but the British lo’sses have been small and the value of the work has been demonstrated by ’’holographs and the verbal intelligence brought back. The crews have also become thoroughly familiar with Hying conditions over Germany and now know the tactical approach to their objectives in all conditions, both by day and night. At night, except when the raiders come down to inspect a town or some anti-aircraft defended area, the principal enemy is not the Germans but the weather, which often has been so cold that ice has formed within the aircratt. Thick banks of cloud may obscure what light there is and make the night, in penetrably black all the way to and from Germany, ft may also bo necessary to fly blind in heavy cloud layers for hours at a stretch, imposing no small nervous strain. CONFIDENCE OE CHEWS. During the daylight reconnaissance flights’, when enemy opposition has been fierce, photographs have to be taken and inlormatiou added to the copious notes made on the spot. The countryside must be watched lor troop movements or other unusual activity on tile roads, railways or rivers, and the sicy scanned for the approach of enemy aircraft. A further result of these flights is the fact that over S(JO flights by day or night without serious mishap have taught the crews to trust their aircratt. They have, also given the crews complete sell’-coniidence and taught them to regard their work as it piece of familiar routine for winch they nave no doubt of their capacity.