FIGHTER PLANES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24913, 12 May 1942, Page 3

FIGHTER PLANES

NAZIS DRAWING ON RESERVES OLD TYPE OF MESSERSCHMITT (Rec. 11.45 p.m.) LONDON, May 10. The Germans are drawing on their air reserves to* meet the daylight sweeps over France, Some pilots in recent operations encountered the ”E” -type of Messerschmitts, which were used in the Battle of Britain, and compare with our earlier Spitfires and Hurricanes, says the Air Ministry News Service. • • Discussing the value of fighter sweeps, the News Service declares that the Spitfire torday is the finest allround single-seater fighter at present operating, and is •> greatly superior in armament to the latest German fighter, the Focke Wulf 190. It would be expected that in the daily escort deep mto France our losses would be considerably, more than the enemy’s, but the reverse has been , the case. The German losses in the Battle of Britain were much heavier. Hundreds of new pilots have joined the R.A.F since , the Battle df Britain, and the current offensive operations provide them -with operational experience under conditions of acutal warfare and teach them offensive tactics. The Luftwaffe has 50 per cent, of its fighter force in. West'Europe. Our day bombing is highly effective under the overwhelming fighter cover.