SUPERFORTRESSES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 144, 17 June 1944, Page 5

SUPERFORTRESSES

GREAT NEWBOMBERS THEIR OPERATION TO BE CENTRALLY CONTROLLED DAY OF JAPAN’S DOOM NEARER ’By Telegraph—Press Asaocia'ion—Copyright, Recd. 9.5 p.m. Washington, June 16. The War Department, announcing the raid on Japan, released a statement by the United States Chief of Staff, General G. C. Marshall, in which he said that the 829, super-Fortress, had a power so great that the joint Chiefs of Staff, decided it would be Uneconomical to confine the Fortress organisation to a single theatre. “Therefore,” said General Marshall, “these bombers will remain under the centralised control of the joint Chiefs of Staff with a single commander, General H. H. Arnold (Chief of the United States Air Corps) acting as their agent in directing their bombing operations throughout the world, 'these planes will be treated as a major task force, in the same manner as naval task forces are directed against specific objective. “This type of flexible centralised control recognises that very long-range bombardment is not a weapon for air forces alone. Under the joint Chiefs of Staff, theatre commanders will have a voice in its employment, ensuring maximum effectiveness. The War Department disclosed that 829 super-Fortresses are heavily armoured ships, whose bombload range and ceiling exceed any other ulane. The super-Fortress is powered with four engines, each of 2200 horsepower. The wingspan is 141 feet, compared with the Flying Fortress' 104 feet. The super-f ortress can drop bombs from higher than 30,000 feet. Her cruising speed is more than 300 miles an hour. The super-Fortress armament includes 50 calibre machine-guns in power turrets, and 20 millimetre cannon.

The crew comforts surpass anything in any previous warplane. The cabin is sound-proof, and four cots and minor conveniences increase the crew efficiency in long flights. The War Department has also released a statement by General Arnold. “The use of the 829 in combat brings actuality to an Air Force plan made years in advance for truly global aerial warfare,” he said, “it proves that our planners and engineers, coupled with the capacity of American industry, are an unbeatable combination. The result here is a highly complicated and most deadly aeroplane, capable of delivering the heaviest bombs yet known through air power.

“I assume the heavy responsibility for its potential use. ’t his makes possible a softening-up attack on Japan very much earlier than would be possible with aircraft hitherto known to combat. This mighty weapon advances the bomber line a long way. The employment of Z 29 is just beginning. It goes directly into battle from production lines, and we have much to learn before its full power may be developed. Consequently. Ihe frequency of usage will be carefully determined tor some time. “From this circumstance, let our enemies take what comfort they can, while they can." The New York Times Washington correspondent says General Marshall’s statement is extremely significant, because it indicates that the 20th Air Force is virtually a separate air force under exclusive control of the joint Chiefs of Staff, who are planning global strategy. The highest, sources point out that the 20th Air Force thus becomes a weapon of world-wide capabilities.