ADVANCE OF ALLIED ARMIES

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVI, Issue 22997, 14 September 1944, Page 5

ADVANCE OF ALLIED ARMIES

Part Played By Air F orces N.Z.P.A.—Special Correspondent (9 30 p.m.) BRUSSELS, Sept. 13. Attacks made by low-flying bombers and fighter-bombers against carefully pin-pointed targets made an important contribution to the rapid advance of the Allied armies through France. The Germans had intended to fight on the Seine and the Somme, but largely because of the deadly attacks on enemy headquarters, there has been great disorganisation in enemy administration. Since D Day light bombers and fighter-bombers, mostly of the Second Tactical Air Force have attacked no fewer than 450 German headquarters containing senior officers, many of whom were killed. One such attack at Lendelin, south of St. Lo, resulted in 14 high ranking Germans being fled. In addition to headquarters the targets attacked have been bridges, radar stations, petrol and ammunition dumps, power stations supplying local railways and motor transport workships. With the Luftwaffe helpless to counter-attack, the R.A.F. has carried out bombing practically at will. One of the interesting air developments of the present campaign has been the success of the rocket-firing Typhoon. This aircraft was originally designed for a fighter, but it proved successful for strafing enemy armour and strongly held blockhouses. Typhoons work in close co-operation with the army, and some artillery commanders express the opinion that they are more accurate than gunfire. Each Typhoon carries eight rockets which can wreak terrible damage in a few minutes. Typhoons usually attack at an average speed of 400 to 450 miles an hour. They may fire all eight rockets tegether or “ripple” them, that is, five pairs in quick succession and a “ripple of rockets” is devastating in effect. In addition to the damage they do they also have a decided effect on morale. When a rocket is fired it makes what is described as a “roaring hissing” and explodes with a noise like a shell. German prisoners confessed themselves so unnerved that some express the cninion that once rockets are used beyond the Rhine the war will soon be over, but how much reliance can be based on prisoners’ views is a matter of opinion. At any rate the rocket Typhoon has proved an ideal tank-buster.

An indication of the present state of Luftwaffe morale is that Allied pilots recently reported that the Germans frequently baled out of their aircraft immediately they sighted Allied planes and without either side firing a shot Although they sometimes operate in formations of 40 or 50, the Germans avoid a fight unless they have considerable superiority in numbers.