Plane Losses In First 2 Years R.A.F. 3089 Axis 12,020

Northern Advocate, 4 September 1941, Page 6

Plane Losses In First 2 Years R.A.F. 3089 Axis 12,020

[British Official Wireless] _ _ „ (Received noon.) RIGBY Beptemlier AN AXIS LOSS OF 8020 PLANES, EXCLUDING APPROXIMATELY 4000 DESTROYED BY THE RUSSIANS, IS SHOWN IN AN AUTHORITATIVE TABULATED LIST OF LOSSES DURING THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF THE WAR. The figures well ilinstrate the .successive phases of the Royal Air Force and German offensives. Thus, during 1940, which included the Battle oil Britain, the Axis lost over and round Britain 3088 planes, against 847 by the Royal Air Force. During 1941, the figures for this theatre were even more striking. The Axis lost 568 against only 39 by the Royal Air Force.

Over Europe < The growing weight of the Royal Air Force offensive against Germany and occupied territory is strikingly shown by comparative figures. During 1939 in this theatre the Axis lost 20 and the Royal Air Force 26. In 1940, Royal Air Force losses were 349, against 45 by the Axis, but in spite of the sustained and increasing Royal Air Force offensive, figures during 1941 show a huge proportionate swing in British favour, the Axis having lost 625 against the British loss of 959. The dominance of the Royal Air Force in the Middle East is shown by the figures for 1940 and 1941. During 1940, 'the Axis lost 421 against 78 by the Royal Air Force, including Imperial Air Forces acting in conjunction. So far in 1941, the Axis has lost 1666. against only 305 by the Royal Air Force. Naval Achievement The most telling figures, however, are perhaps provided by the Royal Navy, which, since the outbreak, shot down 563 Axis planes, suffering themselves not a single loss. The final summary of the figures shows Royal Air Force losses since the outbreak to be 3089, against approximately 12,020 by the Axis. Berlin Hammered An Air Ministry communique confirming the earlier report of Royal Air Force raids last night on Frankfurt and Berlin, also states that other towns in western Germany, including Mannheim, were attacked, as well as the ports of Ostend and Dunkirk. Nine of cur aircraft are missing from these operations. The Berlin radio says the Royal Air Force heavily attacked Berlin last night, dropping incendiary and high explosive bombs and causing casualties. A message from Berlin picked up ixx New York, says the raid was one of the heaviest this year. The United Press correspondent in Berlin reports that the raid was notable for the heavy anti-aircraft fire. The air was filled with the din of guns of all types. Buildings shook and windows rattled. Searchlights intermittently crisscrossed the sky.

bombers raided the capital last night, but claims that only a few machines succeeded in flying over the city and that no industrial or miltary objectives were hit. It is stated in London that British bombers last night raided Berlin and also south-western Germany. Large fires were left burning in Berlin, and bombs were seen to burst among industrial buildings. The invasion ports were also attacked. Another high level attack was made on Bremen yesterday by a Flying Fortress. There was no fighter opposition, but the ground defences were strongly active. Fighters made several sweeps over the Channel and northern France yesterday. No enemy fighters were encountered. Few Over Britain A small number of German bombers operated over Britain last night. Raiders were reported over East Anglia and north-east England. At one place there was some damage, but no casualties have been reported. Anti-aircraft fire was heard in the early hours of this morning in the London area for the first time since the early days of Germany’s attack on Russia. German aeroplanes are believed to have passed overhead. There is no report of any bombs being dropped. The Berlin radio says the Luftwaffe, by widespread reconnaissance, is laying the ground-work for coming raids on England. It is claimed that Royal Air Force raids on Germany have killed 3853 people and injured 9445 since the outbreak of war. To Heart of Capital Although the largest R.A.F. force attacked Frankfurt last night, it is revealed that the forces which bombed Berlin included a high proportion of the heaviest bombers. Large fires were left burning and bombs were seen to burst on industrial buildings. A sudden clearing of the clouds over the River Spree gave the bomber pilots the direction to the heart of the German capital, enabling them to drop their bombs, which they saw bursting among industrial buildings and leaving fires burning. Four-engined Sterlings and Halifaxs, weight-carrying Manchesters and a number of Hampdens were brought over the sea of cloud to the exposed capital to undertake what has been described as one of the heaviest raids, as far as the weight of bombs dropped is concerned, on Berlin.

Another report says Berlin admits that a strong formation of British

Cone of Searchlight The captain of one Sterling said that as they reached Berlin the guns were shooting up into the main cones of searchlights. They ran right across the city from south-west to north-east and dropped their bombs. Fires sprang up almost immediately and a very good fire raged in the centre of the city. The rear-gunner cculd see it 15 minutes afterwards. Then, after a time, they saw a great explosion and another fire started. Reports in general show that there were enormous explosions when some of the heaviest bombs were dropped on Berlin and a very large fire was seen near one of the main railway stations. Frankfurt Suffers While the bombers were over Berlin a heavy attack developed on Frankfurt. Here also there were convenient gaps in the clouds and flares and moonlight overcame the thickening gi’ound haze, which spread out from the River Main. On both banks of the river large fires sprang up and grew steadily as cur aircraft bombed into them.