AXIS AIR LOSSES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 250, 4 August 1941, Page 5

AXIS AIR LOSSES.

2500 PLANES IN SEVEN MONTHS. BRITISH OFFENSIVE GROWS LONDON, August 1. An examination of published figures of Axis aircraft losses in operations against Britain during the first seven months of 1941 shows that more than 2500 machines have been destroyed by Britain alone. , The figures for July, as far as can be .ascertained at present, show that 433 enemy aeroplanes have been destroyed in ajl theatres of war for the loss of 308 British aircraft.

The gradual increase in Royal Air Force losses during the year is an indication of the growth of the British offensive, both by day and night, against the enemy. In spite of the fact, however, that the Royal Air Force has been fighting more and more over enemy, territory as the year advanced, the average rate of destruction of Axis aeroplanes lias been well maintained.

British losses, though steadily growing with the increased violence of the Royal Air Force attack, are not comparable with the rate of destruction inflicted on the Germans when, during the Battle of Britain last autumn, they were carrying out similar tactics. An American resident of Hamburg who has now left Germany, speaks of •the devastating effects of raids by the Royal Air Force on the German town. He mentioned particularly the raids on May 8, 10, and 11, and said that business activity was completely held up while demolition squads cleared away the wreckage from the roads. — British Official Wireless.