“Luftwaffe Has Been Knocked Out,” Says Coningham

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 194, 17 August 1943, Page 5

“Luftwaffe Has Been Knocked Out,” Says Coningham

LOSSES IN MEDITERRANEAN ASTRONOMICAL (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Aug. 15. “The German Air Porce has been knocked out,” declared Air Marsha. Sir Arthur Coningham at his ad vanced headquarters in Sicily to-day “The Germans are a beaten force as although some of their machines are quite good, they have completely los their fighting spirit. Their losses in tile Mediterranean theatre of wa. have been astronomical and, even Tthey had the will, they are no longe. able to compete with us. A few pickets are left such as that on the Channel coast.”

Air Marshal Coningham added that for some time he had thought the Germafc Air Force was dying. To-day in Sicily hungry Spitfires ranged the length and breadth of the island without even the sight of an enemy plane.

In reviewing the Sicilian campaign Air Marshal Coningham paid a tribute to the work of the Fortresses before the landings. The Germans had 250 to 300 fighters based on the Gerbini airfields, but as a result ot the Fortress attacks only about 30 were left on the island when the Allies landed. Air Marshal Coningham said that he had expected the enemy would divert all his available air resources to Sicily. The fact that he did not was because he had no other forces available. The enemy had been forced right back and was now unable to use the airfields on the toe of Italy.

Regarding the evacuation from Sicily, the Air Marshal said: “We are unable to prevent it completely owing to the narrowness of the Straits, which are covered by the terrific barrage of 500 guns. Despite this obstacle, the Air Force is taking a steady toll of the enemy craft.” Air Marshal Coningham said that the Italian Air Force has “packed up.”