RAIN OF BOMBS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21184, 6 August 1940, Page 5

RAIN OF BOMBS

BRITISH AND GERMAN RAIDS ON BRITAIN MANY PLANES DESTROYED United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received August 6, 11 a.m.) ' LONDON, August 5 The Air Ministry spokesman stated: Since the German air campaign began on June 19 we have dropped 33,431 bombs on Germany and the Germans have dropped 6987 bombs on Britain. England has lost 172 planes and Germany 307 during that period. In view of the German numerical superiority their losses do not represent a relatively much higher figure than the British. Nine Spitfires this morning shot down two Messerschmitt fighters on the French side of the English Channel within range of German antiaircraft guns. Another Spitfire shot down a third Messerschmitt on the English side of the Channel. These German losses are apparently the same as the three mentioned in an Air Ministry communique, which states that three enemy fighters were shot down near the south-east coast this morning. One of our fighters is missing. A raider on the south-east coast dropped bundles of leaflets of Hitler’s speech in a country churchyard, littering gravestones, tree-tops and a church tower. Two high-explosive bombs fell in a field. British-Nazi Comparison In regard to the comparison of British and German air losses cabled this morning, the Germans, in harassing night attacks during the past seven weeks have been employing anything from 50 to 100 aircraft over widely diverse objectives. These operations do not, therefore, amount to serious attacks by the German air force, and they are not so regarded by the Royal Air Force. A high authority stated in London today that in his view Goering was speaking quite fairly when he said recently that his airmen had as yet done little more than conduct aerial reconnaissances over England. These operations made small demands upon his available bomber resources and the conclusion to be drawn is that he is still engaged in bringing his air force up to front-line strength and is training his crews for bigger operations.

When the German air force launches its attack in force it will be carried out by aircraft not 50 or 100 strong, but in several hundreds at a time.

There is little doubt in air circles in London that the Germans are preparing patiently and with characteristic thoroughness what they hope to be the decisive use of the air arm, but it is probable that they are not yet quite ready. At the same time it is known that both Germany and Britain are going forward with new types of machines in an effort to establish superiority. Night or Daylight Operations With regard to the use to be made of night or daylight operations, there is no doubt that the Germans held the view earlier in the war that daylight operations are necessary to obtain really valuable results in bombing objectives. The superior results achieved by the British airmen in night raids over Germany may be attributed to the very much superior training in point to point navigation by map and more practice in night flying, and the fact remains that in a recent period of a month the British bombers dropped some 37,000 bomb over Germany and Germanoccupied territory against the German reply of about 7000 bombs.

At the same time there is no doubt that the black-out contributed largely to British immunity and small-figure casualties.

On the other side of the balancesheet, however, must be reckoned the fact that neither the Germans nor the British have yet solved fully the problem of night interception of aircraft. In any night raid a number of aeroplanes is sure to get through the defences, although the British have been more successful in preventing the enemy reaching objectives than he has been in countering the British attacks.

Apart from the problems of the air tactics which may be employed when the future air conflict is considered it should be realised that the British fighter strength was recently very substantially increased and is still being increased. .Britain has more reserves, more experienced pilots than ever, while the British production resources are increasing by leaps and bounds, and the Germans probably have reached the peak. German pilots, however, must be regarded as worthy representatives of their service. The average age of German pilots and crews recently captured is 26 years, and as far as the evidence goes their losses have produced no noticeable deterioration in their morale. Claims by Germany A German communique says: The air force on August 4 reconnoitred over England and Scotland, also the sea along the coasts, and sank a merchantman at the mouth of St. George’s Channel. We bombed shipping at the wharf at Sheerness, oil tanks and antiaircraft posts north of Gillingham, and anti-aircraft posts near Thames Haven. A few British planes bombed Western Germany. Insignificant damage was done. A farm was set on fire in the Borken district and a civilian was killed.