B-17’s DROPPING BOMBS OVER BREMEN, December 1943. Control of the air started with an attack on the Focke-Wulf plant at Bremen in April 1943, but the main attacks did not get under way until that summer. On six successive days in late July Allied air forces attacked the German aircraft industry so successfully that the production rate started downward. It was not until February 1944 that the decisive air battle came, when for a period of six days of perfect weather a continuous assault on the widely dispersed German aircraft-frame factories and assembly plants seriously reduced the capabilities of the Luftwaffe. Subsequent attacks affected the entire aircraft industry and it never fully recovered.] [Illustration: ENGLAND BRITISH FIRE FIGHTERS combating a fire started by bombs during a German night attack over London, February 1944. The Battle of Britain began in August 1940 and continued on a large scale through October. During the air blitz over England the Luftwaffe suffered irreparable losses from which its bombardment arm never recovered, even though smaller attacks were carried out until late in the war. In daytime raids over England during the Battle of Britain from August to October 1940, the Germans lost 2,375 planes and crews, while the British lost 375 pilots.] [Illustration: ENGLAND A BRITISH SPITFIRE FIGHTER chasing a German V-bomb over England. Only fast low-level ships, such as the British Spitfire or the U. S. P-47 or P-51, were good at this type of pursuit since the robot bombs averaged well over 300 miles per hour. These bombs, launched from sites along the invasion coast of France and the Low Countries, caused considerable damage in England and in addition were a demoralizing factor in that one never knew when or where they would strike. The launching sites were placed on the list of targets for the Allied air forces, but because these sites could be easily moved and camouflaged they were not completely destroyed until the invasion forces took over the areas in which they were located. The first of the V-bombs appeared over England on 13 June 1944.] [Illustration: ENGLAND MEMBERS OF AN ENGINEER UNIT operating multiplex machines in the process of preparing maps from aerial mosaics. Relief and other features were plotted from photographic diapositives, contained in the conical shaped holders on the beam in background of lower picture, to sheets on which control and check points have been plotted. In these two photographs contours are being drawn on the maps by use of the multiplex machine. Contrary to general opinion, France was not a well-mapped country. During World War I detailed maps showed primarily trench fortifications and special small areas. The Engineers were responsible for making maps, which required the services of highly trained personnel.] [Illustration]