American Airpower Comes of Age

AMERICAN AIRPOWER COMES OF AGE
The general impression among the higher officers in the
Allied Air Forces is that the high command of the GAF has
made one blunder after another, not only in their technique of
employment but also in their grand strategy. However, our
people did not credit all the errors to the GAF command and
staff. They volunteer the information that: “Our secret weapon
is Hitler, hence do not bomb his castle. Do not let him get hurt,
we want him to continue making mistakes.” It looks now as if
he is taking his place in a similar niche for the ground troops,
for the decisions made with regard to German ground dispositions
have been to our distinct advantage when we might have
been having one awful time. “Hitler, the Secret Weapon of the
Allies.”
Weather perfect until 100 miles West of Algiers and then we
were above the overcast, came down through and landed at
Casablanca at 11:00 A.M. 134 Lunch with Meloy and Asp at the
old German villa that Patton had after landing on beach. 135
Noted all the planes on the field and asked for inventory, far
too many for work being done.
Took off at 12:25 P.M., arrived Lagens, Azores, 6:35, met by
A. D. Smith. He drove Marshall, Handy and me all over the
Island Terceira, ended up at his quarters where we washed up
and had a drink. Then to the mess hall where we met the RAF
CO and all had dinner. 136 About 35 to 40 planes a day pass
through Azores; new runways being constructed so that there
will be no tie-ups due to cross winds. Took off at 9:15 P.M. for
Stephenville. Big change in Azores since my first trip. 137 The
islands still look wonderfully well-kept, few spots not planted,
crops look good, but most of the men work at the airports
instead of in the fields, that makes for a shortage of food.
Stone fences, boulders and cobbles, no cement or binder.
Houses built same way but have mud covering on outside.
Hence when there is a heavy explosion from charge on runways,
houses go down and US has to pay the bill.
Wednesday, June 21, 1944 [Stephenville, Newfoundland to
Washington, D.C.]
Landed Stephenville 7:00 GMT, 5:00 A.M., NFT, now changing
to Washington, WST, 3:00 A.M. Maxwell waiting for us and
166