Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-12-14
Japan 10 Be Raided
Again and Again.
Gen. Arnold Says
New Bottle Wagons on
Way, He Declares in
Revealing Secret Weapon!

ers would return again and
again" to strike at the heart of
Nippon's island empire-along
with the disquieting news that
Uncle Sam has some secret wea-
tpons of the air that will deal
paralyzing blows to our enc
mics"
Speaking to graduating classes of
four Army flying schools-Randolph,
Kelly, Brooks and Hondo Fields-Lt.
Gen. Henry H. Arnold said yesterday
that "for once" Toxic was right in
warning the Japanese people that
more American bomber raids could
be expected before the war is over.
Eyes, We are coming and we hope
to make it soorh and when We do
scome it will be in large numbers
land we won't stop with one visit. We
will return again and again." he
said
= Stating that I'VE have a secret
weapon or two up OH aerial sleeves .
AGen. Arnold lent emphasis to the
swarning by disclosing that para
schute bombs, which explode with
deadly effectiveness just above the
ground, were first developed and
used by the Army Air Forces.
: New Battle Wagons on Way.
: He did not divulge what type
the secret weapons might be, but
proceeded to predict that entirely
new battle wagons are on the way
and reminded the graduating airmen
that he had already said the present
day big bombers were perhaps the
last of the small bomberS."
Detailing the rapid development
of modern aerial fighting equipment,
Gen. Arnold said that the United
States production, Just approach
ing" its peak, alone is more than
the combined output of Germany
and Japan who have passed their
peak"
Operating in eight combat zones,
Army flyers to date have sunk 81
enemy ships, scored 81 believed sunk
and hit and damaged l59 of all
types, he said. From February l to
December s., he added, they have
definitely destroyed 929 enemy
planes and probably destroyed ZIG
In aerial combat" with loss of 100
planes, plus 104 missing.
In addition to the threat of COM
Ing raids On Toxic, the Air Force
chief warned the other two Axis
powers that within & few months,
the Germans, the Italians, will be
feeling the impact of these humid
reds of planes dropping their bombs,
not on one or two nights week but
every day and every night in the
week"
The standard so caliber machine
guns of the Army planes are ter
rifle weapons of aerial destruction"
and one of the outstanding sue
cesses Of the war, Gen. Arnold said,
but they will seem like peashooters
compared with the firepower that
We are putting into our newest big
ships"
Pictures Taken at 500 M.P.H.
New developments in cameras and
Photographic technique, he re-
marked, have resulted in increas-
mely effective Photographic recon-
Nuisance on the combat fronts
our pursuit planes can take good
pictures at 300 miles an hour, from
10000 feet, accurately enough to
show up individual railroad ties"
Gen. Arnold said that present pro-
duction of planes is more than 1000
a month, the expansion program will
double that rate, and that United
States production alone is more than
the combined output of Germany
and Japan. ,
He cautioned, however, that I'VE
must not rest on our laurels and
think smugly that all is well, for
we know it will not be long before
the Germans come out with an an
swer to our Flying Fortresses, and
we must be ready for it when it
comes"
Gen. Arnold referred to the pub
hes part in air matters in discuss
Ing plane accidents.
When you read of air accidents
In the newspapers, please remem-
Der that there are several thousand
planes in the air at all times in the
United States. Some time ago it
was recommended that reports of
accidents be restricted. 1 said, No
the Surest way to destroy parents
confidence and to give the enemy a
chance to start a lot of rumors is
to restrict such news. We will an
nounce every accident
The parents, Gen. Arnold said
should be interested to know that
records of the past year show that
flying in the Army Air Forces sis
the safest military flying in any of
the worlds air forces"
Recently in the Southwest Pacific
A-20 light bombers and B-26 me-
dunn bombers attacked japanese
anti-aircraft positions at Soputa,
ne said in discussing parachute
bombs. Our planes roared in at
an altitude of rs feet, barely SKIM
ming the tree tops. The Jap anti
aircraft guns were hidden in among
those trees but that didn't stop our
pilots from dropping their para
chute bombs with deadly effect
Parachute bombs, as you know
are terrifying things. They take
more time to hit the ground, but all
of the fragments are thrown into
the air when they burst-few are
buried in the ground
Our planes flying only rs fee
above the ground were able to drop
these bombs with pin-point accuracy
and get away in good time before
they exploded. am proud to an.
nounce that we were the first all
force to develop and use this deadly
war weapon.
I'm this raid at Soputa, Jap anti
aircraft guns were destroyed. Am
munition dumps were exploded.
In this thrilling action an anti.
aircraft shell exploded near one Of
our A-20s. This A-20 was piloteo
by Capt. Edward l.. Larner of Sar