Evening star., 1942-10-05
BY ALFRED TOONIBS.

-.
The public had before it today
the most complete report made
yet on battle performance Of
American aircraft - showing
that we have been shooting down
enemy planes at a rate Of 21a to
land it was the hope Of au-
thorities here that the critics
chorus would be stilled.
The special subcommittee Of the
House Military Affairs Committee,
headed by Representative Harter,
Democrat, Of Ohio. presented . de-
tailed analysis Of the record Of the
Army Air Forces craft and con-
cluded:
"It is our belief that they are more
than a match for any Of the planes
that are now pitted against them"
And elsewhere the report says that
American planes are fighting on nine
fronts throughout the world where
they "are meeting the enemy and
beating them in virtually every en-
gagement."
The record Of American combat
craft in action from the date when
accurate figures became available on
February l through September 20
was:
Enemy planes destroyed in combat
by Army aircraft of all types on all
fronts, 279; United States planes de-
stroyed in combat on all fronts, 114.
Ratio at Times IA to 1.
The ratio of enemy planes de-
stroyed to United States losses in
combat in the 30-day period from
August IA through September IA
was rs to l, the committee dis
closed. At times during the war it
has ranged as high as IA to /.
I'm the final analysis" the COM
mittee said, "it is the box score
that counts. 1t is idle to compare
the speed, performance and maneu-
verability of one plane against an
other engaged in war.
These, in actual combat, are
academic questions. It is only COM
mon sense to say that our planes and
our pilots are performing excep-
tionally well when they are knock
ing down two or three enemy planes
to every one of ours that is lost.
Your committee finds that our planes
are not inferior to those Of Germany
and Japan"
This marks the first time that any
exact information has been released
on the 'box score" for American
| planes in the war as whole. The
committee explained the Army's re-
luctance to make these figures pub
lie before with the statement:
First, because they may be of
some possible value to the enemy
| and second, and more important
they may lead the public to feel
that this is normal or usual rate. y
1t was explained that when Amer
lean forces go on the offensive the
public must expect American losses
to grow greater.
Seen Reply to Truman Group.
The report was looked upon as an
answer to criticism of American
fighter craft which has emanateo
from the Senate committee headed
by Senator Truman and from Other
sources.
wide publicity has been giver
this complaint, which has led tt
confusion in the minds of the pub
lic," the report stated. They art
uncertain as to whether American
youths flying our combat aircraf
have good equipment or whethe
they are handicapped in aerial com
bat because their planes are in
ferior to the enemy"
In commenting on the great con
troversy over the relative effective
ness of American P-39 and Pa
fighter planes and the Japanese Ter
the committee report said:
THE Zero has certain better fly
ing characteristics (such as taste
climb, higher ceiling and create
maneuverability) but the P-40 has
number of better fighting charac
teristics Greater fire power, heav
armor, leakproof tanks, higher spec
and greater diving ability, whic.
make it effective against the Zero.
y "The Zero is an excellent flyin
machine and relatively poo
fighting machine.
Fighting Power Decreased.
'The Zero acquires its exceptions
flying characteristics by decreasing
J its fighting capabilities. Conclusiv
Judgment as to whether flghte
plane is good must in fairness de
pend on whether it wins or loses i
combat with the enemy"
The report then goes on to Sa
that the combat results of P-39 an
; P-4O planes against enemy Graf
has ranged from a low of 1.6 enem
planes destroyed for each Unite
States plane lost to a high of l
! to l.
In speaking Of American heav
bombers, the committee says tina
, "the Bits and B-24s Flying Fort
resses and Liberators) are nc
equaled by any planes being pro
duced by any other nation in tn
! world"
: Only on one subject does the com
: mlttee report remain Sllent-tnat
= on the failure of the Army Al
1 Forces, after nearly year of actus
warfare, to put into action in tn
!. European theater single flghte
plane equal to combat requirement
: there.
!. But the report does make MOI
understandable to the layman tt
; reasons for this.
= Are Balanced Team.
a Our Air Forces are a balance
team, it is pointed out, and
analogous to an Army corps,
which there are infantry, artiller
e engineer and other units.
r A balanced air force includes 10
and medium altitude fighters, d.
{ signed for cooperation with grour
i troops; fast-climbing, high-altitut
r fighters and high-altitude Gov