Imperial Valley press., 1940-10-14
Heavy Plane Loss
Causes Germans
To Change Tactics
BY j. w. r. MASON
United Press War Expert


British army engineers and un-
employed workingmen who are be-
ginning to clean up London's
blitzkrieg debris should be able
to continue their work without seri-
Gus bombing Interruptions becaus=
the Germans have been forced tC
moderate the intensity of their all
offensive. Due to excessive losses
the heavy mass bomber formations
previously used TO strafe Britain
are now giving way to individual
or small groups of attack planes
with much less striking power.
This change in tactics has be-
come especially evident through
announcements that the German
fighter planes now are being equip
Led with. devices for doing the
bombing themselves. Previously the
principal purpose of the fighter
planes was to protect the great
bombers dropping bombs of five
hundred to two thousand pounds.
These bomber squadronS required
two of three times the number of
fighter planes to guard them, fol-
it left to themselves they were
helpless against the speedy Brit
ish fighters. Owing to the initia-
tive of Lord Beaverbrook the Brit
ish fighting planes were instructed
to evade the German fighters as
far as possible and concentrate
against the bombers. AS result un-
til the change in the German tao
tics, more than seventy five per
cent of Nazi planes destroyed over
Great Britain were of the bomb
ing type.
Daylishts Raids Cut
Now there are few heavy bomb
ers being sent over Britain in lay
time raids. though they continue
to be employed at night when dark
aass affords them natural protec-
ton. The German fighter planes
are carrying NEST of the bonSs
for daylight operations. The ca
pacitv of the fighters, however, IS
used principally for armament,
usually allowing only small bombs
to be carried.
Thus the damage ard the casual
ties resulting from the German
raiders have begun to dwindle. II
O! Ter to try to make up for this
decrease III offensive power the
German have lately been erdea-
voring to dive low and machine
gun civilians in city streets, but
land deferseS make this process
hazardous. To the present it has
been rarely successful.
Losses Cut Down
But by flying individually o.
in small formations and by uSir9
their fighter planes as bomberS the
Germans have been able to cut
their losses. Recent British an
nouncements of the number Of en-
emy planes destroyed have shown
considerable decline. which ap-
plies TO British plane casualties.
Before the Germans were compel
led to adopt a policy of greater
caution, their mass attacks were
successfully countered by compara-
lively few British fighters, moving
against the enemy bomberS and
evading the fighter escorts. Thus
the British numerical inferiority
in planes was not serioSuly felt.
Now with the Germans diversity
ing their attacks the problem of
the British defense is somewhat
more complicated. The British must
Use more planes comparatively than
before, because they are compelled
10 attack the German fighters thai
row carry the bombs. Too. since
The encounters occur in more places
ihaA formerly. il is necessary for
more British squadronS to operate
Pilot Advantage
The advantage to the Germans
IS that they are losing fewer planes.
While the British are SUFFERING less
damage and there are fewer civil
ian losses. Too, parachute skill re-
Gently has become much more eff
iicient, which is an additional help
to the British; their rescued air.
men are good for further combat,
but German parachutists becom
prisoners of war.