The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-10-26
. Clapper
OnIy Tonic From Blows
hiIitsriIy Comes From Air
Showing Of Flying
Foriresses Ouisisndine
Bic Ships Able 70 knoek
Out the Fighter Planes
BY RAYMOND cLAPPER

BY RAYMOND CLiAfPkR
wASHINGIOS-we have ss.f-
fered 20 many military blows b.
ginning with Pear Harbor that
those who take their medicins
straight, without sugar coating.
haven't had much that was pieas-
ant 20 swallow.
Finally the tonic cones IN TIE
remarkable performance % our
/ Flying Fortresses- Regardless Il
whatever means the Germans may
devise against them In the future.
these heavy bombers are for the
time being proving one Of The
major favorable surprises OF the
war.
Although some had earlier ques-
toned the effectiveness Of these
b0mbers and called them flying
targets, they are restoring our
confidence while possibly introduce
INK a new element in warfare that
may have an important effect on
tactics. as the introduction Of the
tank did. Fortunately we are in
heavy production on Fortresses
and the similar Consolidated LIB
orators 30 that We can press our
advantage while IL lasts
The unexpected thing about the
performance Of these big four
motored bombers Is their ability
to knock down enemy fighters.
No one was prepared 70 count 50
heavily on the bomber TO destroy
enemy fighters
The Lille raj dshowed that bomb
ers can not only take care Of
themselves but can hand out
deadly punishment. The unofficial
reports passed were almost unbe-
ievable. Both in Europe and in
the Pacific the Fortress has shown
itself to be an animal with more
lives than a cat, and able TO bring
down fighters while remaining in
the air against the enemy fire.
The Fortress has taken the Jap
Zero and the German Foeke-wuf
1Oe alike for a ride.
We devised our heavy bomber
originally to defend our shores.
and designed it to fly high. fast
and far, TO meet the enemy in day.
light far from our own shores and
10 turn him back, as Owl explains
in its remarkable report on Amer
lean aircraft. We did not expect
the enemy 10 reach US. or TO fight
him over his own territory. We
devised a bombsight Of accuracy
which is still regarded By airmen
in Europe as almost unbelievable
so accurate that the saying is
almost literally true that if you
can see IL you can hit it
The British developed the Slow
er. lower. bomber capable OF car
rying more bombs than ours for
mass night bombing over Europe.
But always the bomber over
Europe was regarded as q big
numbering carrier Of explosives TO
be dumped. II had either to slip
in at night or surround itself with
protecting fighters II il went out
in daylight. The bomber. whether
British or American. never was
regarded as a destroyer Of other
aircraft TO any such degree as the
Fortress and Liberator have be-
come.
Our big bombers are so heavily
armed that they can outrange APP
preaching enemy fighters. In for
nation they are able TO cover the
approach Of the enemy from any
angle. Therefore the big bomber,
with its devastating load. is now
showing that it can range in day.
light far out beyond the limits Of
short-range escorts hitherto re-
garded as necessary 10 protect
oombers from enemy fighters.
The fighter plane has been re-
sarued as the weapon to use
against fighters. VIII the big.
heavily gunned bomber become
also a major weapon in destroying
the enemy air force in the air?
That is the Possibility that APP
pears now.
One caution should be noted.
Although the Allied air campaign
over Germany is showing posi-
ollities beyond what many earlier
thought likely. few who are quail
fled to judge believe that Germany
can be defeated by air alone.
Precision daylight bombing will
De able TO damage production and
transportation. Mass bonbings
are evidently having = depressing
erect on the German population.
Ihere Is reason TO believe that this
may become an important factor
curing the winter. Yet there -
httle likelihood that air attack. no
matter how extensive. can reduce
germany without ground attack
Also But II begins 70 lock as II
We can count On the air for
great deal more than had been
expected by those who argued
mat since the Germans couldn't
break England BY bombing. We
could count on il for little against
Germany.
VIZ. CtAPPer j. heard on kMO
n"tasi broadcast Mondays and
Thursdays 1T ! p m