Show S. S L 1 Flying Officer Calls U. U S. S Bombers Tops LOS ANGELES Sept 24 GP An jp-An An American flying officer from Salt Lake City who has fought both Japs and Germans says lays that United States heavy and medium bombers are far superior not only to those of the enemy but also to those of r our allies And as for American pursuit planes declared Lieutenant Colonel Colonel Colo Colo- Colonel nel K H. H Gibson In an Interview over an NBC west coast radio hookup the Lockheed P for Instance are so so fast and climb so rapidly they can readily evade anything the Japanese send at them if evasion tactics are in order Colonel Gibson commander of bomber operations in Alaska including including including in in- the Aleutians said not a single P 38 has been shot down by bythe tile the Japanese in those areas Tells Example He told of one Instance in which a flight of P downed five Jap Zeros Zeros Zeros' and one four flying boat in a single dive Only in maneuverability are the Zeros superior superior su su- su- su said the colonel adding that that isn't half enough German flying fighters are superior superior superior su su- su- su to the Japanese he declared declared de de- Glared but as sea warriors he believes believes believes be be- the Nipponese excel A lone German pilot is a dangerous dangerous dangerous dan dan- man he said but once a Jap is separated from his flight he doesn't know what to do Colonel Gibson who was with the Royal Air Force for six months before his Alaskan assignment backed up his statement on the superiority of American bombers with the story of Lieutenant Ira of Eugene Ore Stays With Plane Lieutenant W Win i n t e r m u ute t e a bomber pilot was attacked by Japanese fighter planes on a mission mission mission mis mis- sion over the Aleutians and his plane was set afire Nevertheless he continued to his target re released released released re- re leased his bombs and started back his plane still burning Ord Ordering ring his crew to bail ball out stayed with the ship until a wing burned off Pilot and crew all landed safely on an island where they were picked up a day or two later by a navy flying boat Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth Hodder Gibson is a son of Mr and Mrs W W. H. H Gibson 1203 Fourth avenue He is a gr graduate of Westminster college and was graduated from the army flying school in 1936 prior to serving in England and Ireland He was transferred to Alaska and at 31 was made commander commander com coin mander of the United States bomber operations there |