BAGGED IN A MONTH

Grey River Argus, 21 July 1941, Page 3

BAGGED IN A MONTH

R.A.F. Continues Offensive LONDON, July 2V. In the month oetween June 14 and Ju:.y 11, r.gnter command pilots new o.er iwu million nines. mey carried out 36 successful offensive sweeps over enemy territory, Mining tnese sweeps they destroyed t.Ol r.iessersciimitts, ana prouably destroyed many others in addition. British bomoers destroyed four Messerschmitts and damaged others. These victories over enemy territory cost the R.A.F. 118 fighter planes, while 17 puots were saved Many other planes were seen to land, by paiachute, m France.

One of the most interesting features of the Royal Air Force operations undertaken in daylight over enemy territory has been the seivov of sweeps, sometimes earned ouc twice a day. Thosp following the fortunes .of these offensive measures may have noticed that more recently there lias been an indication tmv Royal Air Forcp lighters have encountered somewhat increased opposition. Such, in fact, is the case ■ Pilots report that hosti e aircraft are met with in far greater numbers' than was the case in the earlie; sweeps.

This is regarded as highly sat’slae tory evidence that one .of the mam purposes of these patrols is succeeding. When Germany attacked Rus sia, the dav lighter strength of tin. Western Front diminished sensib'y both in quantify and quality. Tn ■ increased resistance means that many of these fighter squadrons had returned from the Eastern front in or, der to endeavour to deal w'th tin-' Royal Air Force menace. It is nfl too much to say that several huntite 1 Nazi lighters would be available fo" use. against the Russians were it not for these sweeps carried out‘by the Royal Air Force.