World War: IN THE AIR: Luftwaffe’s Split

Britain’s Air Ministry claimed last week that British air operations on the Western Front were keeping 50% of the Luftwaffe’s fighter strength away from the Eastern Front. Without offering facts to support the statement, the Air Ministry boasted: “The heavy R.A.F. offensive is bringing aid to Russia on a scale that few can imagine.”

Better documented aid to Russia was the British bombing record for September. Listed for the month were:

> 198 R.A.F. attacks against 82 Axis targets. Twenty-eight of the raids were against German military and industrial targets, 120 on ports, airfields and other objectives.

> 204 R.A.F. planes lost, 196 by the Axis (R.A.F. losses were mostly bombers).

> 53 ships sunk in the North Sea by R.A.F. action, 48 in the Mediterranean.

> Despite spotty weather, a total of more than 1,000 bombers left England to raid Europe in five consecutive nights last week. Three hundred took off in one night alone. This was heavy, but it seemed unlikely that 50% of the Luftwaffe’s fighters were meeting the British raiders. A more probable figure: 20%. If the Air Ministry was guilty of exaggeration, it was to meet another British offensive—the people’s, for action to relieve Russia.