WAR IN THE AIR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 87, 14 April 1941, Page 7

WAR IN THE AIR.

SQUARING ACCOUNTS.

Axis Losses Nearly Three To One Against British.

British Official Wireless.

(Reed. 2 p.m.)

RUGBY, April 13

For the week ended at sunset on Saturday 52 German aeroplanes were brought down over Britain and the coasts, 43 by night fighters, while the R.A.F. lost one fighter. Over enemy territory Germany lost six aircraft and the R.A.F. 36, of which 26 were brought down at night.

, In the Middle East the Axis lost 44 aircraft in the air and 34 on the ground, at a cost of 12 machines to the R.A.F. The pilots of two of these are safe. All the above figures include losses through gunfire.

In the same period naval vessels accounted for two enemy aircraft and probably one further.

The Air Ministry and Ministry of Home Security, in a communique, state that there was slight enemy activityover the South and East Coaets to-day. Bombs were dropped at a point on the East Anglian Coast but caused no casualties or damage. This afternoon R.A.F. fighters shot down an enemy bomber into the sea off the Cornish coast. It is now confirmed lhat antiaircraft gunfire destroyed thrJe, instead of two. enemy bombers on the nights both of Wednesday and Friday, making a total of 13 enemy aircraft destroyed on Wednesday and six on Friday night.