Flying Rockets

Twin-motored R.A.F. Beaufighters with underwing rocket guns have been wreaking Buck Rogerish havoc among enemy convoys in the Aegean during the last six months. R.A.F. flyers say that rocket salvos hit like 6-inch naval guns, are far deadlier than bombs. Said one, of his latest convoy attack: "My salvo blew the whole stern away. I had to weave plenty to get out of the way of chunks of ship that came up at me."

Last week the U.S. War and Navy Departments announced that six types of U.S. fighters and fighter bombers have been equipped with rocket guns, that they have been used in the Pacific, Burma and Mediterranean theaters. Rockets give little recoil when fired. Their penetration power and fanning explosions are spectacularly effective against barges, bivouac areas, fuel and ammunition dumps.

Rocket projectiles, lacking the control of rifling, cannot be aimed very accurately except at short range. But on the invasion coast there are plenty of targets made to order for one of the few basically new weapons of World War II.

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