LA CAMPAGNE DES MARIANNES - I

EDITORIAL: When this issue 102 of Air Battles hits newsstands, back to school will already be a memory for many of us. Nevertheless, it is undeniable that the situation in which our country finds itself (like many others for that matter) can only be of concern to us. What to think of the mad prices of energy and, more generally, of raw materials and foodstuffs? All of this obviously sounds like an economic system running out of steam, racing straight into a wall it now sees clearly, but refusing to consider other options. What to see in the real economic war between the United States and China and finally, what is the place of Europe in all this? Recent events related to the Covid-19 pandemic have highlighted Europe's dependence, subject to various shortages ranging from simple screws to surgical masks. Our ancestors must be turning in their graves! But there is logic in all of this. Indeed, if we refer to the number of inhabitants, Europe (provided it is united) seems very weak compared to China, India and other Asian countries. It is therefore not foolish to think that soon, raw materials will run out and that our planet will hardly be able to provide enough to manufacture the elements of the unbridled consumption in which we have been engulfed for more than forty years. And we no longer have the “muscles” to claim our share. But stop there, I'll leave you to your thoughts. In this issue, our friend Bernard Baéza takes a look at the famous Carrier Battle of the Marianas... going back to its origin, describing the rise of the US Navy's fleet of aircraft carriers that will knock out Japan . You now have the first episode. Good reading, Michel Ledet.