Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-03-18

Henry MeLemore. with generals
and air marshals and have seen
operational reports, reconnaissance
photographs and charts and graphs
that tell the high command when
the bombing has been destructive
and when it has not.
I have listened to Air Minister
Sir Archibald Sinclair report to the
House of Commons that $4,000 tons
of bombs were rsined on Germany
during February and the first week
OF March.
1t Is nonsense to suppose the
attacks alone will knock out Ger
many, but the kind Of bombing the
Americans and the British are doing
together is an absolutely necessary
forerunner to land attack on Ger
men Europe.
There has been much criticism,
and it is probable that there will he
more, of the whole idea Of daylight
bombing. Some critics maintain the
Germans had to give it up over
England because their losses were
too great. This one Is easy. Our
day bomber losses have been less In
proportion than the British night
bombing losses. The fact Is the
Anglo-American air experts hit
upon the devastating formula for
raids on German occupied countries
both night and day. They have
divided the field according to best
logic and the plan is working.
Trained for Daylight Work.
Our planes are built for day bomb
ing. We have a tremendously &C.
curate bombsight, useful only In
daylight and our crews are trained
for this type of mission. The heavy
armament and armor OF our big
bombers would be only lightweight
by night because our crews would
not be able to see to engage the
enemy fighters. However, by day
our Flying Fortresses and Liberators
are shooting their way through to
the targets.
In three years Of practice the
British have perfected night naviga-
ton in difficult weather over Europe.
1t is estimated that even taking ad-
vantage of British experience, 1t
would cause delay of six to eight
months if We now attempted to train
our crews for night operations.
Dampeners to conceal the exhaust
flames Of our planes would have to
be installed thus slowing the speed
and flight climb appreciably.
1t seems obvious that we should
continue to carry the burden OF the
day bombings while the British
with planes less heavily armed, but
carrying greater bomb loads, damage
the enemy by night. This plan keeps
the defenses busy and tires the de-
| tenders. When day bombings have
destroyed the water mains. the night
bombings set fires which are fought
with tremendous difficulty. In some
instances our day raids have set fires
which serve as a guide to the night
bombers to the targets. This Is
Anglo-American cooperation with .
vengeance.
Three Results Sought.
Here Is what we hope to get out
of it: % Reduction of the German
air force. In the first three raids by
Fortresses and Liberators they shot
down So fighter planes. ca Grip
ping Hun war production. In this
way the accurate day bombing by
the Americans serves best. Every
blow at the sub pens at st. Naza-
rine, Lorient, Wilhelmshaven and
Brest, and every hit on the
marshalling yards at Hamm and
other points are great aid to the
United Nations wherever they lock in
combat with the Nazis. 80 Soften
ing up German-Europe for the final
blow by destroying morale. More
than 100000 people, excluding
those evacuated, have been rendered
homeless, according to the air
minister's report, Almost the best
proof of how much the bombings are
hurting Germany is gained from the
walls and whines of their own radio
commentators and newspapers
| against this brutal, unkind, vicious
type OF warfare They loved to
| dish 1t out, but now they are having
to take it. They forget their former
| gloating over the London, Rotter-
dam and Warsaw blitzing.
No one can stay around British
and American air bases without
feeling that we are on the march to
victory. You can see 1t in the cocky
grins of the boys from Texas, Maine
and all points east, west, north and
south, who herd their Fortresses and
Liberators across the fax infested
skies. You can see it in the more
grim smiles OF the British pilots who
have been fighting across the high
vapor trails for three long, hard
years. You can see 1t in the black
and white OF photographs which
show the devastation of entire acres
of German and occupied cities, and
you can see it in the eyes and the
steps of Englands civilian workers.
who now, after so many weary
months, are lifted body and soul by
the thought that Jerry Is finally
getting his comeuppance.
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