STRONGER THAN ON D-DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25736, 6 January 1945, Page 5

STRONGER THAN ON D-DAY

IMPROVED LEADERSHIP (Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 5. “As the result of its policy of conservation and continued production, the Luftwaffe at present is stronger than on D-Day and shows signs of improved leadership," said a senior air officer at an Allied conference at which Lieutenant-general Carl Spaatz, commander of the United States strategic air forces in Europe, and other American air force commanders, were present, reports the Associated Press correspondent at Allied headquarters. The senior officer added: “The Luftwaffe's general effectiveness against the Allies is not, however, greater.” General Spaatz, reviewing last year's air operations, said: “ During the most of 1944 the United States Air Force's strategic attacks, combined with Bomber Command’s, forced the Germans to tie down 1,700,000 men—equivalent to 140 ground divisions—in defence of important targets. Hundreds of thousands more Germans have been and still are engaged in repairing bomb damage, building dispersed small workshops, and developing factories underground. Our airmen to-day face a strong defensive Luftwaffe, and we operate against flak guns manned by 750.000 to 1,000.000 men. Heavy antiaircraft gdns have been concentrated in unparalleled numbers around critical oil targets. One area of oil plants alone is defended by more heavy guns than the whole of Greater Berlin.” General Spaatz also revealed at the conference that United States air forces in the European and Mediterranean theatres during 1944 dropped 985.000 tons of bombs. Enemy planes destroyed in (he air and on the ground totalled 15,318, not including thousands more destroyed or damaged in attacks against air plants. American combat losses from all causes were 7174 planes.