BEATING JAPAN BY BOMBING

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVII, Issue 23215, 31 May 1945, Page 5

BEATING JAPAN BY BOMBING

Possibilities Reviewed Concentration Of Air Strength

By Telegraph—N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright (11.45 p.m.) LONDON, May 30. An assessment of the possibilities of destroying the Japanese war potential by bombing is made by the assistant editor of the “Daily Mail,” Mr Cplin Bendall, who as an air correspondent made several operational bomber flights over Germany and who is now in the Pacific theatre.

Mr Bendall says that whereas the bombing of Germany took years to develop it Is intended to destroy the Japanese .war potential within months. He adds that certain factors make this possible, but so far the Japanese are offering fierce, well-organised resistance. Twice the number of heavy ack-ack guns, many believed to be 88 millimetre guns made from German designs, defend Tokio. Compared with Berlin there are perhaps 200 searchlights and a fanatical if depleted fighter force, phosphorus air mines and rockets and several mystery weapons, including so-called balls of fire which apparently are flying bombs redesigned to carry . suicide pilots. Super-Fortresses in a great bomb-to a-finish phase have abandoned the Icy altitudes for which they were designed and are bombing Tokio from 5000 feet. Heavy bombers would not dare to stay so low over Berlin, but it is possible over Tokio because Japanese radar and other devices are years behind those of the Germans. The Japanese gunners rarely hit what they cannot see, and low cloud gives almost immunity from flak. It is also so tempestuous over Japan that when Super-Fortresses flew over at high altitudes they met with terriffic winds. Accuracy Achieved Now Super-Fortresses are achieving the accuracy that was demanded of the R.A.F. in Europe. Deliveries of Super-Fortresses have reached 200 a month, which means an overwhelming force when Japanese fighter production has been reduced by three-quarters in three months and the ground defences have to be faced for only about 30 or 40 minutes in each' attack compared with 10 to 11 hours over defended territory In Europe. There are only seven real “pulse targets” in Japan. If all goes well, they will be ticked oft singly in the next few months.