Evening star., 1943-11-03

MS historic change was revealed IN new
field service regulations concerning command
and employment of air power. The regula-
tions state that land power and air power are
co-equals and interdependent forces neither
is an auxiliary of the other"
Air Superiority of Prime I.portnee
The regulations leave no doubt as to the
Importance of airpower. 'The gaining of air
superiority" it was said, SIS the first require
ment for the success of any major land oper-
alton" Without air superiority, ground forces
must take such extensive protective measures
that their mobility is curtaied
Flexibility is termed the greatest asset of
the air forces. 1t permits concentration of
the whole weight of air power against selected
targets IN turn, "a battle-winning factor of
the first importance. Control of available air
power must be centralized and command must
be exercised through the air force COM
mander if this inherent fexibility and ability
to deliver decisive blow are to be fully
exploited" the new regulations state
Celebration of Navy Day last month
brought emphasis upon the growth of Naval
aviation. At the beginning of World War |,
the Navy had 81 airplanes. By the end of
this year it will have u 500 airplanes of all
sizes from small observation scouts to giant
long range patrol bombers
With tactics made possible by the big num-
bers now available, aircraft carriers are not
the vulnerable targets their early critics be-
lieved them to be. They are now able to put
up their own protective air umbrella while
huring destruction on enemy concentrations
hundreds of miles away
Navy Building Bigger Carriers
SO powerful have carriers proved them
selves that the Navy is now planning three
45,OOO-ton carriers, bigger than any now in
service. The new carriers were termed
natural development to the growth in the size
OF airplanes.
Last month the Office OF War information
published searching analysis Of the manner
IN which American air forces are obtaining
clear-cut aerial superiority over the enemy.
The box score proves that our combat planes
and our alrmen are superior to the planes and
alrmen OF the enemy, the report states.
FleMblity Essential in Air Manufacture
Nevertheless, the Owl warned that air
craft models cannot be frozen for the sake of
production If our superiority is to be main
tanned. There is no assurance that alrplanes
superior TO-DAY VIII De DetteT IMAM the planes
the enemy may produce tomorrow. Design
Improvements must continue. American air
craft production, however, has become so
great that we can afford to take slight tenn
porary losses in production to get more ef-
tectlve model, it was pointed out.
Commenting on American air superiority,
United Aircraft officials pointed out that its
basis was begun long before Pearl Harbor by
| the aircraft industry which concentrated on
engineering and technical developments. At
the same time, officials stated, the industry has
! always maintained the greatest possible fex-
| bility in production so That design changes
can be incorporated into current production
with a minimum of delay thus getting i'm
proved models to the fighting fronts in a
hurry.
For example, at this moment, they said,
Pratt & Whitney Aircraft is preparing
to discontinue its production OF all current
| type engines and swing into more powerful
types, but with only minor decline in total
| horsepower output during the changeover
| period The new engines will make it possible
for the Army and Navy to have still better
airplanes than those which are now establish
ing America air superiority.