To Obliterate Whole German War Potential

Northern Advocate, 23 August 1943, Page 3

To Obliterate Whole German War Potential

RUGBY, Aug. 21. Anglo-American bombing strategy now aims at seriously interfering with the production of German fighters and anti-aircraft defence equipment to pave the way to obliteration of the whole of the German war industry by day and night attack. Explaining how this would be carried out, the Air Ministry News Service says during July, by far the heaviest series of attacks conducted by Bomber Command in any month yet, the R.A.F. suffered the lowest percentage of loss recorded. Bombers dropped about 10,000 tons more than in July, 1942, for the loss of only 11 more aircraft, while (he loss of personnel per 100 tons dropped was exactly half of July, 1942 Special operations may frequently be more costly in themselves, since to ensure destruction of precise objective of high priority they must be carried out in good visibility by moonlight or unclouded daylight. Examples of such attacks were ibis week’s raids by the R.A.F. against Peenemunde in moonlight, and against aircraft factories of Bavaria in daylight. The loss of 41 bombers in the Peenemunde operation and some 30 in the Eavarian attack, although regrettable, may well show a good profit in reduced losses in future day and night attacks. As the German defences become weaker, so our already low average of bomber losses will become still lower.