The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-15

when Spitfres and Hurricanes be- gan to knock Jerry bombers out of the air by the hundreds, that the Luftwaffe learned its lesson.
 Similarly, before Pearl Harbor the U. s. Air Force paid little attention to fat, fllimsily- constructed little Jap plane called the eZro. What 1t did to us is history.
 Out of these two great strategic mistakes there has been developed new specially of warfare known as Technical Air Intelligence. A course in this subject is now taught here at Orlando. The British had to show us how to work it, and RAF officers came to the United States to help us set up center to do re- search on enemy planes.
 Here captured aircraft and parts are torn down, put under the micro scope, then put together again and test flown.
 THRERE'S A REASON
 FOR ALL THIS
 Why bother about the planes of Jerry and the Jap? For one thing, these technical laboratory detectives learn about enemy inter-plane ra- dios. They learn the arcs of fire tehir guns will cover and so point out the blind spots from which they can be attacked with greatest safety for Allied pilots. Such information helps pilots destroy more enemy planes and get back home safe and sound.
 The Yogi airborne antenna wasn't named because 1t was funny-look- ing magic wand, but because 1t was patented by 8 Japanese authority on radio development. Complete plans were found in the U. s. patent office.
 In 1913, an inventor named Caesar Marshal patented magnetic mine which would explode when a metal lie hull passed within range. In 1919 the Japs took out license to manu- lecture 1t because Americans weren't much interested in it. Also, Japan was an ally then, and the U. s. gov- ernment gave them what they asked for. But the Japs didn't do much with it either. Then the Germans came along in the 1930's and asked the JapS for it. The Germans stud led 1t six years, perfected 1t for dropping into British harbors by parachute from German bombers, and In 1899 the Nazis used 1t. It is no secret that we are using this same principle against the Japs now. U. s. PILOTS ALERTED
 Technical analysis of 8 new ailer- on on the wing of the Jap Zeke plane revealed that this fighter would hereafter be able to turn more rapidly and be more maneuverable than it had been in the past. U. s. pilots were alerted
 Metallurgic analysis of aircraft parts gives important clues on enemy shortages of strategic ma terials and alloys. That helps tell the strategists what to bomb.
 Germany's critical shortages of ball bearings, reduction gears and spark plug points were first revealed to information experts. Subsequent metallurgy as well as photographic reconnaissance has shown the effec- VAFSACoo OA DOiAlDAAi6 AdAOo dbdlIlbe those industries.
 One of the screwlest cases of this kind came in connection with 8 German use of magnesium. Early in the war all oygen bottles were made of magnesium, but when hit by 8 machine gun bullet, the combina- tion frequently blew up the plane. The Germans turned to steel for oxygen bottles But the manufacture of magnesium was controlled by a high Nazi party official and he coln- plained that he was being discrim- mated against. So the German air. craft industry went back to magne- sium oxygen bottles. The British, who made this discovery, used the information where 1t would do the most good - in broadcasts to the German Luftwaffe, telling them how their great party leaders were en- dangering the pilots lives by insist ing. on use of this highly in- fammable combination.