1940-10-09 — Page 7

CHINA MAIL Air Force Win Wherever

WINDSOR HOUSE

THE AIR CAMPAIGN tinguishable in the first year of

are

They

submarines,

Go

Five separate periods are dis-

to that time; 78 German alvcraft were shot down or damaged over the air war; the first being the

or near the Dunkirk beaches for Britain can, at the mo- period of waiting which immedi-

the loss of sixteen British fighters. ately succeeded the declaration of

This was really the beginning of ment, only strike directly war, the second the Norway com-

the establishment of Royal Air Force ascendancy. All the time at Germany's military pain, the third the events which began with the invasion of Hol-

during the battle of Ffande British strength through the air, land and Belgium and culminated ing a Watch over the seas and almost incessubtly, mainly by output of aircraft had been ac but the world is expectant in the battle of France, the fourth helping to convoy British and Wellington aircraft

|celerating... Trainét crews were the Dunkirk evacuation and the Allied shipping; and to destroy -waiting for the time at the battle of Britain, which enemy

Allied operations in Norway coming out in greater and greater however, were hampered by the numbers; squadrons were reach- when land action will be may be said to have begun June

absence of an air base there. An ing Britain from the Dominions. 18, when the first large-scale air

heroic attempt to establish one that the tide was Beginning to So at Dunkirk there were signs feasible. Several hints raids on. England were launched.

was matle by a squadron of Glost have come lately that the Air action in each of these per- In January and February ater-Gladiators, but it failed. The form in favour of the Royal Air

iods was distinct. British authorities

In the first it great many "hit and run indivi- Royal Air Force succeeded, how- was mainly confined to 'coastal and dual attacks were made on British ever, in shooting down'many Gor beginning to visualise the overland reconnaissance, leaflet shipping. The Germans, employed man aeroplanes and in maintain- possibilities of invasion-dropping, and, by the Germans evasion, tactics, using cloud covering a heavy bombardment of the sporadic attacks on ships. Only to escape British fighters. Never- German occupied, aerodromes in when the British air arm twice during this period were theless, Royal Air Force fighters

there foretastes of the bombing took their toll. has gained absolute su-.

actions that were to come, first. A special duty devolving upon premacy of the air. In the on the day after the declaration of the Bomber Command of the meantime the continuous war when the Royal Air Force Royal Air Force, in addition to the

made what has been known everleaflet raids, was the

"security bombing by the Royal Air since (though somewhat. in

the "Kiel "raid," Force is a remarkable ac accurately) as

and, second, when following a companiment to the su-German raid on Scapa Flow in first time: bombs perb resistance which Bri- which for the

were aimed at land targets, the tish airmen are making in Sylt raid was undertaken by the Britain.

Royal Air Force. A second big raid on Sylt was made. on March 19:

The story of the war in the air is commonly told

a

✡

By Major Oliver Stewart

✩

**

And now we come to the con-.. Norway and Denmark so that cluding stage of the first year of " every step taken by the enemy the air war. This was the opening cest heavily in men and machines, of the battle of Britain: June 18; On May 10, the third period of was the date of the first large scale the air war began with the in-raid and it was immediately fol- vasion by Germany, of Belgium lowed by raids of increasing and Holland. The Royal Air Force weight and frequency. Working now had to be extended in aid of near their own country the Royal the Allied armies in the field and Air Force now began to exert to consequently 'much of its special- the full its newly found strength. Ised air work had to be held in Enemy losses mounted day by day. abeyance. Its bombing forces went Working over. Germany it coun-. into action. It was engaged on ter-attacked with heavy and in such tasks as destroying bridges cessant bombing raids on military, and harrassing Gennan com- objectives such as oil stores, rail- munications. attacking German ways and armament factories. supply columns, troops and tanks. These raids into Germany, per- As the German armies advanced sistent, heavy and destructive, over France so the work of the showed the offensive fighting and fighting, was intensified until Air Force, and its capacity to Royal Air Force, both bombing spirit and power of the British

patrol" over the Frisian Islands. in terms of courage and waiting stage, the reconnaissance der to check the activities of

In France, during the early or This had become necessary in or endurance. As Mr.. Chur-work was done by individual ma- enemy mine-laying aeroplanes. Allt came to a head at the Dunkirk pierce the German defensive

chines; German aeroplanes, fre-night British bombers circled over evacuation. In a relatively small systems chill remarked: "Never in quently of the Dornier 17 type, the German bases and prevented part of France, and centred on The great and growing strength the field of human con- came over the French lines lying flare, paths from being used.

Dunkirk, most of the British Ex-of the Royal Air Force' was be- flict was so much owed by graphs. British and French ma- at a great height and took photo-

peditionary Forces with French [ginning to tell Not only was the and Belgian troops, were cut off riumèrical disparity in favour of so many to so few." But chines went over Germany, also

from the rest of the French Army: the enemy being removed by Eri- the battering of Germany activity which attracted most at- taking photographs. But the

The interest now turns to Nor-The object of the Germans was to fish manufacturing output aided and those territories un- tention was the extensive leafet way. On April 9, the invasion of destroy these troops. Their aim by the United States and the Do- der her, sway is based on dropping, that was done by the Denmark and Norway was an was foiled, by the Royal Air minions, but enemy losses were to eat into the re- Royal Air Force. The leaflets nounced. Immediately there was Force, which put up so fierce a de- beginning something more than skill were scattered over northern and an intensification of aerial activity. fence that not only did the Ger- sources of the Luftwaffe (German and daring. If one stu- western Germany, and on the first Enemy cruisers in the Norwegian mans fail in their main object of Air Force). The concluding stages bombed and after destruction, but they also lost of the first year of the air war, raid six million were dropped.fjords were

in fact, showed that the Royal Air; dies the daily reports, it There were indications early in wards various aerodromes occupi-heavily.

June 1, the German air arm suf-Force was on its way to mastery is seen that the centres at war of that supper lacy in reef- attacked. Stavanger was bombed fered its most serious reverse up of the air.

the supremacy in com-ed by the enemy were repeatedly bombed form part concerted bombing gramme.

of armed with such vigour by the

pro- Royal Air Force met the enemy it Royal Air Force. Whenever the

gained the ascendancy. And all the time this limited air activity

It has been impossible for, the men in the street

continued the Royal Air Force was preparing itself for much sterner work to come. Probably the man- to keep more than a very the time clear to the enemy. It ner of that preparation was not at

inaccurate list of the mili-consisted not only in increasing tary targets bombed, so the strength of the Air Force, but also in active service training. that the statement just The reconnaissance and leaflet- issued by the Air Ministry dropping flights helped to

our pilots and enabled them to that 200 targets have amass knowledge of the dispost- been receiving particular tion of the German defences attention is of added in- Coastal Command were maintain- terest. The appointment

of the new Chief of the

train

All this time aircraft of the

Air Staff, Sir Charles Por They follow day by day tal, described as the "re every change in the ways lentless chief of the Bomb- and means of the enemy's er Command" is equally output and distribution. These men whom Sir welcome in that the "master plan" evolved for Charles Portul must have utilised to the very ut- air operations is reported to be largely due to his most, carry on their valu- able work behind the fines initiative and daring.

unknown to the world at German bombing large, but on their know- methods up to this time ledge and foresight de- have not been anything pend the accuracy of the more than a witless drop Chief of the Air Staff. plans formulated by the ping of bombs when and how the pilots can release That these men are do- them. The results, while ing their work well is

evidenced by the succes being tragic in so far as the loss of civilian life ses of the RAF pilots and property are concern- and of their new leader. ed, have done remarkably and chief.

little damage to Britain's That Germany is feel- vital points, and as the ing the heavy blows acute- Board of Trade recently ly is now clear to all. Herr pointed out, have utterly Hitler is seeking other failed to prevent a con- ways of attack having fail- tinuous flow of exports ed ignominously m his abroad.

vaunted capture of Brit- ain. But the RAF. raids, The careful scrutiny of inexorable in their calm Germany's industrial persistence and force, are bases is the work of men systematically lowering

who have devoted long his striking power and months to mapping and preparing the way for the charting every item of final attack which he will Germany's economic life.meet on land..

Sallalle

DESERT NIGHTS