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The Key West Citizen
Key West, Monroe County, Florida
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Captain E. V. Rickenbacker, WWII air ace, reported on his survey of the European theatre air front, stating the trend favors the Allies, estimating German air force at 4,700 operational planes, and predicting victory after achieving air superiority.
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Key Westers will be interested in a report made by Capt. E. V. Rickenbacker a short time before he started on what is believed to have been an ill-fated trip in the Pacific on which he has been reported missing.
The report covers a survey trip to the European theatre air fighting front and said that "the trend is entirely in our favor".
Captain Rickenbacker, air ace of World War I, expressed belief that "the European theatre will remain an air theatre until we have secured superiority over the German Air Force and paralyzed the production capacity of the German aircraft industry".
"There is no question that we will win this war," he said. "The only question is how soon."
(Captain Rickenbacker recently inspected United States bomber and fighter stations in the British Isles and several times saw Flying Fortresses in action, dispatches from London state. News of his recent visit had been banned until now.)
Captain Rickenbacker's report to the War Department was made public by Secretary Stimson with the explanation that Captain Rickenbacker was sent to England to survey Army Air Force personnel and equipment under actual combat conditions and in comparison with British and German planes and personnel.
The captain concluded that American conceptions of Army aircraft and their tactical employment are proving sound in combat and that "the British look upon the practical application of our air war theories with increasing approval".
Captain Rickenbacker estimated that the total German Air Force "does not exceed 4,700 operational combat planes of every type, a very small percentage of these being bombers."
"It would be a mistake, however, to draw the conclusion that German air power is on the decrease," he continued, and explained:
"While we may hope that British and American bombers have crippled German aircraft production and maintenance in Germany and France, the case may well be that the Germans are working feverishly on new design planes to offset the aerial superiority which, at the present writing, is definitely on the Allies' side.
"We are bound to suffer losses, maybe even great losses, before the conquest of Germany is completed."
He praised American and British combat planes, both bombers and fighters.
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Foreign News Details
Primary Location
European Theatre
Key Persons
Outcome
trend entirely in allies' favor; german air force does not exceed 4,700 operational combat planes, small percentage bombers; allies have aerial superiority; expect losses before conquering germany; american air theories sound and approved by british.
Event Details
Capt. E. V. Rickenbacker surveyed the European theatre air fighting front, inspecting US bomber and fighter stations in the British Isles and observing Flying Fortresses in action. He reported the trend is entirely in our favor, the European theatre will remain an air theatre until superiority over German Air Force and paralysis of their aircraft industry production. He expressed belief we will win the war, only question is how soon. Report to War Department made public by Secretary Stimson, who explained Rickenbacker was sent to survey Army Air Force personnel and equipment under combat conditions compared to British and German. Concluded American conceptions of aircraft and tactical employment sound in combat, British approve US air war theories. Praised American and British combat planes. Warned against concluding German air power decreasing, as they may be developing new designs; bound to suffer losses before conquest completed.