AIR STRATEGY

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24268, 8 May 1942, Page 5

AIR STRATEGY

BOMBING WILL GO ON HELPING TO WIN WAR GERMAN RAIDS EXCEEDED (Reed. 7.45 p.m.) LONDON, May G The weight and effect of the present Royal Air Force offensive on Germany and German-controlled countries is causing speculation here as to the possibility of winning the war by air action. The effects of the offensive, which only recently attained its present scale with the improvement of weather conditions, can be judged from an authoritative disclosure that already the Royal Air Force has undertaken bigger raids than any Germany has staged. While in neither of the two biggest raids on London last May did the ton-

nag© of bombs dropped exceed 350, the Royal Air Force dropped 400 tons during the recent attack on the Renault works, near Paris. A welter of German propaganda is trying to convince the people, but with no effect whatever, that the Royal Air Force bombing policy is strategically valueless. However, Britain has no intention of turning aside from the present general policy, which is to go on at a maximum scale attacking centres of war effort, particularly with a view to helping Russia. As to the possibility of winning the war by air action, considered opinion appears to be as follows: —No armed force by itself can win the war, but there are conditions under which a country might crack without the necessity of beating its forces in the field. Undoubtedly, if the German fighter force was put out of action the country could not survive. The Royal Air Force could bomb one town after another at leisure. This was the German air strategy in Poland and Holland. Britain meanwhile is endeavouring to build up to a scale of attack which will contribute materially to the achievement of victory. The Royal Air Force bomb release during April constitutes a British record and between April 23 and May 5 the bombing of Germany was five times greater than German attacks. The Royal Air Force lost 57 airoraft, while the Germans lost 41. STUTTGART AGAIN RAIDS ON SOUTH GERMANY LONDON, May 7 The industrial centre of Stuttgart and other targets in southern Germany were again attacked by British bombers last night. Attacks were also made on aerodromes in enemy-occupied territory. Seven bombers are missing. In addition to the attack on Caen, there were further fighter and bomber sweeps over occupied France in the afternoon and evening. Hurricane bombers attacked targets in Calais and Boston bombers attacked targets in Boulogne. AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT SQUADRON-LEADER KILLED (Reed. 1.16 a.m.) CANBERRA, May 7 It is officially announced that Squad-ron-Leader Charles Raymond Gurney, aged 35, was killed in an aircraft accident in New Guinea. He was in charge of a transport squadron at the time of the accident and he is the fourth senior former pilot of Qantas Airways lost since the outbreak of war.