The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-07-11

WASHINGTON, July 10.-R)-
Artemus L. Gates, Undersecretary
of the Navy today predicted early
elimination of the Japanese air
force as an effective weapon"
In his final report as Assistant
Secretary for Air, post he sur
sendered last week after nearly
four years service to become under
secretary, Gates described destruc-
ton of Japanese air power as naval
aviation's first job" and express
ed confidence it will be accom-
plished shortly
In addition, however, he said,
naval aviation must be ready to
augment the Army Air Forces
bombing of japanese targets by
delivering pin-point attacks where
designated; it must continue to de-
liver mobile air power to strike
targets inaccessible or unsuited to
long range land based bombers; it
must be ready to support future
troop lands; it must continue its
effective destruction of enemy ship
ping; and it must destroy Japanese
naval units wherever found. In ad-
dition, it must keep our own sup
ply lines safe by constant patrol."
Asserting that naval aviation is
not IAN autonomous or separate
fighting organization nor should it
be-" Gates described it as an In
tegral part of the Navy operating
in conjunction with the surface and
sub surface forces. Furthermore,
ne said, any omission from his re-
port, dealing with naval aviation,
should not be construed as re-
Election upon the accomplishments
of the Army or its airforce."
I'm the virtual elimination Of the
Japanese carrier based air force
and in the defamation of the Japa-
nese Army and Navy Air Forces,
he said, more than $1,000 enemy
planes have been destroyed since
Pearl Harbor by Navy and Marine
planes against fleet combat losses
of approximately 2,700 a combat
ratio of better than six to one.
preliminary figures for the first
quarter of this year indicate that
approximately $500 Japanese air.
subsurface forces. Furthermore, he
craft were destroyed by fleet
planes against combat losses OF
about 300, a combat ratio Of over
nine to one. The most recent cam
paign, that fol the possession Of
Okinawa, has been the most In
tense of any so far encountered
From the beginning OF the cam
paign in mid-March up to and into
June, more than 3, 700 enemy plane:
were destroyed by Navy and Ma
rine units, $50 by our fleet AZ
gunners, 457 by Marine pilots O.
the Tactical Air Force, 2.6O5 b5
carrier based aircraft, PIG in thu
course of suicide tactics, and 81
by patrol planes.
Navy and Marine Airborn'
combat losses amounted to NOR.
than $50, combat ratio OF approx
mately six to one.
| Our air-sea team" Gates said
twill undoubtedly meet even stiff
fer tests as it progresses to tn
home islands Of Japan, where WI
can expect to encounter increase
use of the Kamikaze Corps suicid
| pilots, who attempt to crash thei
planes or baka bombs against ou
ships, as well as increased use
suicide swimmers and simila
tactics born of desperation. So ia;
however, no fast carrier, battle
ship or cruiser has been sunk o.
Japanese suicide tactics although
extensive damage has been done.
Gates said more than $4,000 air
craft, or nearly half Of all air
craft built since Pearl Ksrbor, wer,
deployed to the fleet last year. Ac
CELEBRATED delivery is continuing thi
| year with new models either il
II production or under way.
The NavIs carriers now totalin,
about 100. sates said.-- represent :