Evening star., 1942-09-27

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Picture an advanced naval air base order comes tor
sudden surprise attack The target is small enemy islano
several hundred miles away Intelligence reports show 1t IS
held by some 500 men, with fight of shoebased Zeros
Antarcrat protection provided by the guns of light
cruiser and two destroyers
From its camouAaged base, such ship the Mars is
TAXED out with $50 Marine paracutists aboard The sky
dreadnoug takes off in the darkness Cloud layers obscure
both and but secret equipment enables the crew
to fly straight to their goal.
The Marine paratroopers swiftly bail out AS they tumble
down. searcgts probe through the dark Then Zros zoom
up charge toward the sky deanoug Before they can get
in range the Mars guns open Three enemy lighters are
quickly downed others crippled Outranged the rest sheer on
With flares lighting the harbor the Mars swings over the
enemy warships Bombay doors open and tons OF high
explosives plunge down. On the first bombing run, hag-
ents of antiarcraft shells nick the planes wing But at
strategic spots sapnel bounces harmessy off the amor
In two runs all three vessels shattered With AA-
guns sienced the Mars at low altitude, pounding
shore installations Taken completely by surprise the enemy
force decmated AS the Marines the giant ship
speeds back for renfocements On its second trip out with
air-borne infantry, it lands machine guns light artillery
ammunition In less than hours 1000 men are flown to
the captured base And this with just flying deadnough
20 such ships could drop 5000 chutists the first trip
division of arborne infantry could be landed in day.
Enormous glider forces keyed into spreattack
plans Germany is reported using 1OOman glders True or
not we may expect ar aers much larger than
the Aman type announced Present bombers and larger
transports can tow least of this adding M
to the chuts each tow-shp With the huge planes
under way, that figure can be tripled.
Mass Deivezy-Quick
FLAMES the size of the Mars easily tow six 5Onan
gders Including chutists from 400 to 45Q could be
landed at one Twenty of these giant ships could put
down 1900 heavily armed men, from bases 1000 miles dis
tant Over 5OOmile radius, rapid shutting by the
number of planes could bring in $4,000 air soldiers in "a hours
Giders will loose miles from their goal for silent land
ngs ships will then slow down, timing their arrival to
coincide with that of the glider force
Troops landed from the air must be kept supplied,
prise will turn to defeat naval transport service has
been established keep up with Marine arborne units
With giant cargo planes ammunition and food be rushed
advanced forces. Whppet tanks fame thowers anttank
guns can easily be carried in such ships Small mobile Kitchens
portable electric plants will be flown in after shock troops have
landed Cargo gders carry heavy loads under conuc
ton and townships will be armed to protect glider trains
With aerial reinorcements and supplies further surprise
blows can be delivered The danger that advance forces will
be cut off is almost eliminated.
New panetypes weapons methods of attack will add still
further to our air-suprse punch Until Midway, B26