DARWIN BAG
SPITFIRES' SUCCESS
Greater Toll Of Bombers Taken N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent Rec. 1.30 p.m. SYDNEY, this day.. The air battle over Darwin last Tuesday was the most successful yet fought by Spitfires in this area. Final figures show that 12 Japanese planes were shot down, of which 10 were bombers, and three bombers and one fighter were damaged. Out of seven Spitfires which did not return to their base after the engagement, only three pilots are now not accounted for. In the last four enemy raids on Darwin only five Spitfire pilots have been lost—and it is still possible some of these men may be rescued. The Japanese lost 24 bombers with their crews as well as 10 fighter pilots. In the raid on June 20 the Spitfires also shot down 12 Japanese planes, equalling Tuesday's figure, but only eight of these were bombers. The measure of success in aerial interception is the number of enemy bombers destroyed.
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Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 162, 10 July 1943, Page 5
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159DARWIN BAG Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 162, 10 July 1943, Page 5
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