Vol. 2—No. 7
U. S. Navy Pre-Flight School, Chapel Hill, N. C.
Saturday, October 30, 1943
l^ar
over Germany
By Ens. W. 0. Shanahan, USNR
Academic Department
Last week the heavy losses suf
fered by American B-17 bombers
in raids over Germany renewed
even more sharply the old debate
on the effectiveness of strategic
bombing.
Over Schweinfurt, the principal
center of ball-bearing manufac
ture in Germany, some 60 Fort
resses (the Germans claimed 120)
Were admitted to have been de
stroyed. Since previous losses had
averaged from 20 to 30 planes on
each raid, both the President and
General H. H. Arnold found it
necessary to make public state
ments. They concluded that though
the raid had been costly, it was
a necessary and vital blow at one
of the enemy’s key industries.
It was widely believed that a
new German rocket gun had been
responsible for the heavy Amer
ican losses. Inasmuch as pyrotech
nic missile weapons have been used
in anti-tank warfare, it was not
surprising that German inventors
should devise a model for anti
aircraft use.
Apparently the rocket gun con
sists of a tube or pipe fitted be
neath the plane’s wings from
which is fired a projectile approx
imately twelve to eighteen inches
in length. Two-motored aircraft
armed with rocket tubes seem to
he encountered more frequently,
although the device, which may be
jettisoned, is probably light enough
for the Messerschmitt or Focke-
Wulf.
Rocket tactics are based on an
advantage in range over the .50
caliber machine guns in our heavy
bombers. German fighters fire
rocket projectiles equipped with
time fuses at long range, 1000 to
2000 yards, into our formations.
The attacking aircraft usually con
centrate upon a single bomber in
See AIR WAR, page U
Speaks Before Regiment Of Cadets
LIEUTENANT COMMANDER Clarence E. Dickinson, Jr., USN,
spoke to the Regiment of Cadets in Memorial Hall on Tuesday after
noon. Throughout his talk he stressed the importance of teamwork,
discipline, and training. “There is no place in this war for in
dividuals,” said Lieutenant Commander Dickinson. “We have got a
tough job ahead and we must work together.” The speaker also talked
of some of his experiences, to the interest of the cadets and ofiicers.
Lieutenant Commander Dickinson took an active part in the Battle
of Pearl Harbor, the First Raid on the Marshall and Gilbert Islands,
and the Battles of the Coral Sea and Midway. He has been awarded
a Presidential Citation, the Air Medal, and three Navy Crosses.
Halloween Dance for Cadets
In keeping with the Halloween
season, it will be free cider and
doughnuts for cadets and their
dates attending the regimental
dance in Woollen gymnasium this
evening.
Music for the affair will be fur
nished by the popular swing sec
tion of the Pre-Flight band.
The dancing will start at 2030
and end at 2315. Taps will come
at 2400.
The 33rd Battalion will be per
mitted to wear service blues to the
dance, while the remainder of the
regiment will wear khaki.
Personnel Changes
A total of 10 officers and enlisted
men were detached during the past
week.
Officers detached were Lt. (jg)
Richard P. Cassiano, USNR, mili
tary arts instructor, to Training
Task Force, Clinton, Okla.; Lt.
(jg) L. J. Cunningham, USNR,
assistant boxing coach, to NATC,
Pensacola, Fla.; Lt. (jg) Ernest
J. Holcomb, USNR, assistant dis
bursing officer, to New Orleans,
See PERSONNEL, page U
Pre-Flighters Aid
Celebration of Navy
Day at Raleigh
A representative group of of
ficers, 1,000 cadets and the Pre-
Flight band journeyed to Raleigh,
N. C., last Wednesday to join in
the nationwide celebration honor
ing the U. S. Navy.
The parade of the day, replete
with bands, flags, and marching
cadets, proceeded from State Col
lege to Memorial Auditorium
where the celebration was climaxed
with the swearing into the Navy
of 200 volunteers and talks by
celebrities present.
Lt. Comdr. Clarence E. Dickin
son, Jr., USN, principal speaker
of the day, was introduced by
Comdr. John P. Graff, USN
(Ret.), Commanding Officer of the
Pre-Flight School.
“There’s one thing I’d like to
get over to you,” said Lt. Comdr.
Dickinson, “and that is that this
war—which already has taken
such a toll in men, ships and planes
—is only in its infancy.
“This war, and this country,
was kept alive during the first
year and a half of the present con
flict by a very small group of men
in the Pacific. In fact, at one time,
we had less than 200 actively em
ployed combat planes to keep back
a horde, the existence of which we
had never suspected.
“The small group I worked with
was able, in the first six or eight
months, to win a few victories
See PRE-FLIGHTERS, page U
Movie Schedule
Oct. 30—Free movie at Village
Theatre, “It Ain’t Hay” with Ab
bott and Costello. Feature starts
at 1940 and 2113. Complete show
one hour, 31 minutes.
Oct. 31—Free movie at Village
Theatre, “Presenting Lily Mars”
with Judy Garland and Van Heflin.
Feature starts at 1310 and 1505.
Complete show one hour, 52 min
utes.