The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1944-06-22


erage for the beaches and for ship
ping.
The Germans had q thousand
planes based on or near Sicily.
Thirty-one of the airdromes had
been attacked In the preliminary
phase for month. Rail communica-
tons were bombed In order to
isolate Sicily as nearly as possible.
(the second In the list Of the bomb
ers functions). Messina was a chief
target for 1t was a convenient rail
bottleneck. Also the principal rail
lines running down the boot OF Italy
were hit.
Telephone exchanges and stations
where radar sets were located were
hit. This is another thing the Ger
mans taught us in their invasion Of
Poland and 1t explains what seemed
to be some OF the senseless bomb
ings OF the little Polish villages.
Radar and telephone exchanges
were often set up In these villages.
They were located by radio detec-
ton.
In Sicily itself, the enemy bases
had been so thoroughly destroyed
that the Germans couldn't get enough
OF their planes in the air to inter-
fere with the landings. Also, the Sec
ond and third functions OF the
tactical airforce were 1&ell car
ried out: namely. the isolation OF the
enemy forces from their supplies
and also interruption of movement
OF endorsements.
The fourth function of the tactical
bombers, which is to break down
the signal communications, re-
ferred to Observation-Disclosures OF tele-
phone and radio installations.
Ground Troop Support
The fifth is the close support OF
the ground troops. This was
achieved in Sicily with more sue
cess than was fully realized at the
time. Some commanders OF the land
ing troops complained that there
were no. fighter planes over them.
Later some Of these same COM
manders, when they advanced and
saw the wrecked armored cars.
tanks and other equipment streWr
along the roads, realized that the
enemy had been held back by
the attacks from the air.
In Sicily. meanwhile. troops were
dropped behind the lines, and this
contributed its share to the success
OF the invasion. We know how well
airborne troops have operated in the
Pacific theater and In Burma. This
job is listed as sixth in air forces
tactical operations and includes car
rying OF paratroopers, running a
shuttle Of transports and towing
| elders which land personnel and
equipment (the glider pilot fights
! with the land forces since he cant
/ glide uphill.
We now come to the last two func.
tons OF an air force-less dramatic
but highly important reconnais-
sance and the building OF air bases.
In the Sicilian campaign, a mil
lion photographs a month were
made SO that the commander Of
each landing unit had pictures Of
every place he had to 60 to with
his detectives plainly marked.
We know OF the record time in
which bases have been destroyed
captured and reactivated In the
Pacific theater OF war. In New
Guinea, a base was taken, built
manned and put into complete
operation hundred miles from the
nearest allied base, and well behinc
the enemy lines.
Thus we see the scope Of air force
operations, how closely they are
knit into the operations OF the lane
and sea forces; and how the allies
have achieved air supremacy ir
Europe. But, because air forces are
SO elastic, they can be massed sud
denly and, therefore, actual com
mand Of the air is much harder Il
maintain. At a given moment, The
Germans who certainly do not have
air supremacy any longer might be
able, by heavy concentration anc
great sacrifice. to achieve tenn
porary command OF the air in {
given locality. The allies did have
command OF the air in Italy. Other
wise, the beachhead at Anzio coult
never have been maintained AS /
was, supplies and reinforcement.
could be landed In broad daylight
On the German side, no concentra
ton Of men or supplies could be at
tempted except at night.
The shadow OF the Luftwaffe ha.
grown thin, the weapon Hitler
hcreated1to enslave the world ha!
! turned In his hand.