Show British Acclaim U. U S. S Air Force On 3rd Anniversary of War LONDON Sept 3 m The P-The The advent advent advent ad- ad vent of U. U S. S army air forces in inthe inthe inthe the European theater was acclaimed acclaimed acclaimed ac ac- ac- ac claimed Thursday by the R RAP A F Fas Fas as one of the outstanding events of the third year of the war war war-a a year which the British army said had brought an allied invasion of Europe within the range of practical cal possibility It was three years ago Thursday that Britain and France declared war on Germany two days after her invasion of Poland Commenting on the fact that American planes and American pilots in growing numbers now are helping carry the battle to Germany an air ministry statement statement statement state state- ment summarizing developments of the last 12 months said Appearance or of these forerunners forerun forerun- ners of the American air fleets of the fourth year of the war will perhaps be regarded by future historians as the most significant event of the period under review Among the contributions which the United States already has made to the air war the air ministry ministry min ministry min min- mentioned specifically precision preci preci- sio sion n bombing attacks on Germany by Flying Fortresses and the work done by made American-made Bos Bos- tons Liberators and Catalinas with the coastal command The latter was credited with sharing in the notable achievement achievement achievement achieve achieve- ment of convoying every everyone one oi of the American soldiers who reached this Island without loss The ministry also declared that Mustang fighters with the army cooperation command had performed performed performed per formed admirably during the August August August Au Au- gust 17 commando raid on Di Di- eppe A hint of the growing striking power of the R RAF A F bolstered by the resources of th the United States was given by the air ministry when it declared that while the bomber command was capable of plane 1000 raids on an Germany little little little lit tle more than 10 per cent of our operational aircraft have been engaged engaged engaged en en- gag gag-ed in bombing Germany During the past year the statement statement statement state state- ment said home-based home British fighters have shot down close to a thousand German planes over Europe while nazi night raiders have been destroyed over Britain R RAF A F losses in the European I theater in the same period were put at planes Authoritative sources said the theair theair theair air ministry's figures brought to to the number of axis aircraft destroyed during the first three I years of the war compared with I British planes lost An anniversary statement Is Issued issued issued is- is sued simultaneously by the British army said that with the entire re resources resources resources re- re sources of the United States thrown into the conflict Britain had been able to concentrate in the United Kingdom a greater striking power than ever before thus before thus bringing operations on a continental tal scale within the range of pos pos- The statement said the past year had been marked by a steady transition from defensive to offensive preparations for the forces based In Britain |