SWIFT REACTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25565, 19 June 1944, Page 5

SWIFT REACTION

BRITISH EXPERTS MEET PLANS TO COMBAT RAIDS (Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, June 17. High-ranking officers and gunnery extailed plans for the destruction of the German pilotless bombers, says the Evening Standard. It can now be disclosed that Anti-aircraft Command laid down a tactical plan of action some months ago after reports had been received that the Germans were preparing to launch a large-scale pilotless bomber, attack against Britain. The following facts have so far emerged: The pilotless bomber’s flight can be predicted and charted from the moment it crosses the coast; it flies low and cannot take evasive action. Under these circumstances, large-scale flak box barrages are wasteful and useless. The pilotless bomber calls for precision shooting. The Standard adds that the latest reports indicate that the maximum range of the pilotless plane is 150 miles. It carries just over one ton. of high explosive. The plane cannot be used for precision bombing. The speed and range are pre-determined before the plane takes off, and it is liable to be slowed down or swerved off its course by wind. The plane is jetpropelled, but not radio-directed. It preserves its balance and steadiness in flight by the use of a gyroscopic device. , , It is believed that large numbers ot pilotless bombers are being produced, according to reports reaching London, although the number is limited by me number of precision instruments required for each, plane. British and American planes have been bombing runways in the Pas de Calais from which the planes are catapulted. The Germans are countering this by erecting dummy runways along the French coast. Too Litltle and Too Late

Aviation experts, writing in the Sunday newspapers, . claim ' that the pilotless planes are, already doomed as a military weapon. The Sunday Express correspondent says: “Too little and too late is the verdict of British experts. Hitler’s new secret weapons might have interfered seriously with the invasion preparations if they had been used in thousands some months ago. Now they are unlikely to prove of military importance. The enemy presumably has a stock of pilotless planes, but wastage suggests that they cannot be used,’even in this week’s small strength, for very long. The Germans are depending on the blast power of the charge to protect the robot from our fighters. They claim that any fighter exploding the pilotless plane would itsslf be destroyed. by the blast." The Daily Express aeronautical correspondent asks: “ Why wasn’t there any surprise? Take your mind back to the heavy Bomber Command raid nearly a year ago against a small German target in the forest of Peenemunde, on the Baltic coast, near Stettin, when 700 tons of heavy bombs wiped out a place in a single night. The objective was a large, important research station where the were believed to be experimenting with pilotless planes. Photographic experts ltaer detected similar buildings in Northern France. British and American bombers in the last six months pounded the mystery spots. The results may well have saved Britain from an attack of-far greater intensity.” The correspondent states that the pilotless planes each cost £SOOO to £7OOO. Further Attacks The German News Agency says that German military quarters are well satisfied with the new weapon, which exceeded all expectations, and would doubtless be improved. The range of the weapon “includes all England up to the Bristol Channel.” The Paris radio states that the pilotless planes range in size from large bombs to light bombers. German industry is now concentrating on the mass production of these weapons, which can be cheaply manufactured. More pilotless plane's were sent over Southern England last night and early to-day. Heavy gunfire again greeted them. The raiders, flying very low, came in singly at intervals of a few minutes. Several passed through "the very intense barrage. A few nurses and, patients were killed and ethers were injured when one of the planes crashed on a hospital. Rescuers are still searching for nurses and patients, including children, who are buried in the wreckage. At least five were killed and a number were injured when another pilotless plane crashed on some houses in South England. The houses were . wrecked and an adjoining shopping centre was. considerably damaged'. A number of other pilotless planes crashed in Southern England during the night.. A. piloted enemy plane was seen over' one raided area at the same time as a pilotless plane, indicating that it may have been sent over for observation purposes.

The flashes which are believed to be made at the launching of the pilotless planes, were seen last night cn the French coast in the Boulogne-Calais area. Robot raiders were seen shortly after approaching the coast of Southern England. The R.A.F. last night attacked and wrecked a central supply station at Doullens, where the Germans stored and launched many of their pilotless planes. The Times’ aviation correspondent says that the concrete launching platforms in the Pas de Calais have been attacked systematically day and night, and many had been' knocked out up to the time when Allied' bombers were diverted to other objectives in preparation for D-Day. Since then the Germans may well have constructed more, and possibly have also been using mebile platforms. A German High Command communique states that Southern England and the London area has been under constant attack from the new heavy high explosive missiles since 11.40 p.m. on Thursday, with only a few short interruptions. Very heavy damage must be expected. ' *