CLAIM BY BERLIN

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24824, 22 February 1944, Page 5

CLAIM BY BERLIN

"83 BOMBERS SHOT DOWN" CREDIT TO NIGHT-FIGHTERS (Reed. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON. Feb. 20 The Berlin radio, claiming that 83 four-engined boiubers were shot down over Leipzig in the early morning, says: "During an • aerial battle unequalled yet over Europe, German night-fighters, in close collaboration with the anti-aircraft defences, inflicted the greatest defeat on the enemy so far. The Royal Air Force bombers thought they could avoid heavy losses in a large-scale attempt to hoodwink the defences. The disaster which befell the R.A.F. shows to what extent the German night-fighters hare learned to deal with formations which approach under cover of utter darkness and thick cloud."

STUTTGART BOMBED DENSE FIRES BURNING PLANES IN GREAT STRENGTH (Reed. 1.30 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 21 Bomber Command planes were out in great strength last night, with the important industrial city of Stuttgart as the main objective, states an Air Ministry communique. Cloud over the target began to clear toward the end of the attack. The crews reported seeing dense fires burning among the factories of the city. Mosquitoes bombed Munich and objectives in enemy-occupied territory. Many mines were laid in enemy waters. Eleven planes are missing.