FUTURE AIR WARS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24735, 11 October 1941, Page 10

FUTURE AIR WARS

USE OF THE STRATOSPHERE MANY DIFFICULTIES (Rec. 8 p.m.) RUGBY, Oct. 9. For the first time Britain is approaching parity with Germany. . This was stated by Group Captain Helmore in broadcasting a war commentary. He explained that, viewing the air war as' 1 a whole, there had been no “lull” and alihough British skies for the moment were less infested by enemy bombers, it did not mean that in other skies the air war was not a rising crescendo' which sooner or later might return here. Hitler was operating from interior, lines, and he was pushing the advantage that the position gave. Although; his air force., was strung out on-an-8000-mile perimeter, stretching from Norway to Greece and back again to Russia, he was respecting the rule of war which enjoins concentration of force and attacking one enemy at a time. Germany had lost thousands of machines in Russia, but it would be foolhardy to suggest that he was unable rapidly to replace these losses.

Group Captain Helmore spoke of the R.A.F. wing which has been sent to Russia at short notice, and said he had received a glowing report from the commander about the Russian pilots. Speaking of the air war of the immediate future, Group Captain Helmore referred to the advantage which would accrue to the air force which could use -the stratosphere—those upper layers of the air beyond which an increase in height brings no further corresponding fall in temperature—for both attack or defence.' He described these stratosphere heights as “ an eerie world, this low pressure region in which the temperature is minus 70 degrees, where the blue sky becomes black, petrol vapourises and blocks the pumps, fluid oil becomes solid, and the nitrogen in the pilot’s blood begins to bubble. The physical effect on the crew is the greatest obstacle to high stratosphere flying. The oxygen supply begins to be unavailing. Without pressure applied to the body through a pressure cabin or other means unbearable muscular pains affect the crew. Above 35,000 feet their skins begin to itch, they break out in sweat and either become languid and incapable of action of any kind or pass out altogether.” At the end of the broadcast Group Captain Helmore mentioned a talk which, in fact, had never been given. This was by an American in the R.A.F.. and Group Captain Helmore read the opening words of the script: “ I have been questioned why. 1, as a citizen of the United States, should be wearing a British uniform and be fighting Britain’s battles. The answer is s : mple—I had never thought of this as Britain’s fight alone. It is the fight of ail civilised Christians in the world against a gang of criminals which would make the Capone mob. even in its palmiest days, look like a gang of schoolboys. From the first I never for a moment doubted what would be the position of my country in this struggle.”