Eighteen Night Raiders Destroyed

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 95, 22 April 1941, Page 6

Eighteen Night Raiders Destroyed

LAST WEEK’S SCORE (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, April 20. Twenty-three German aircraft were destroyed over Britain during the week ended at dusk yesterday. Of these, 13 fell to fighters and eight to anti-aircraft gunfire, while the method of destruction of the remaining two is unspecified. All but four were shot down at night. During that period, the R.A.F. losses over Britain were nil. Germany lost five machines over Germany, while the R.A.F. losses over Germany and German-occupied territory were 30. i The Axis losses in the Middle East during the period were 03 in aerial combat and 17 on the ground. The R.A.F. losses in this area were 21. , Four enemy aircraft were destroyed by shipping during the week, three by Tiis Majesty's ships and one by a Free French naval ship. Aircraft of the Fighter Command, in 'the course of an offensive patrol to-day, destroyed an enemy fighter over the Channel. One British aircraft is missing. In less than two months, RA.F. night fighters have shot down 66 night raiders over Britain. This figure is equivalent to several squadrons of Luftwaffe. The March total was 21, including 11 in one night. This month the figure is already 45, with ten days to go. In three ccnsettitive April nights, fighters destroyed six, then ten, then nine raiders, their total of 45 in three eights exceeding the total number of night bombers brought down by fighters during the whole of last year. These figures for night successes take no account of the large number of raiders probably destroyed over the sea. and which in daytime would have been seen to crash. Among the rapidly-increasing nightfighter strength of the R.A.F. certain squadrons and individual pilots already Stand out as veterans. One squadron, which in 1940 accounted for only three right raiders, has this year already destroyed 24 The leader of this squadron has ten victories. Two other night fighter squadrons have 1941 bags pf 12 each. Compared with the successes the R.A.F. night fighters are now achieving, ♦he attempts of the Luftwaffe to hinder | British night bombing has proved a i signal failure despite the fact that our ] night fighters have minutes in which to , !find the enemy, while the German fighters have hours. j I