NAZI LOSSES

Opotiki News, Volume III, Issue 320, 8 October 1940, Page 4

NAZI LOSSES

HEAVY BALANCE PERIOD OF RAID FLYERS AND PLANES SMASHING R.A.F. BLOWS NAZI WAR MACHINE PROBLEMS FOR WINTER (News by Cable.) LONDON, Oct. G. The total losses in planes up to midnight on Friday arc summarised as follows: British, 1437 ; German, 4694; Italian, 21J. It is authorativelv stated that during the. week ending at midnight on Saturday the confirmed German aeroplane losses in battles over Britain amounted to 104 planes, not including machines damaged or probably lost. On the basis of confirmed plane losses, the German losses of pilots arc estimated to exceed 250. In the samo period the Royal Air Force lost 40 machines in and around Britain, but from these 21 pilots were saved. How the Royal Air Force is smashing Germany’s industries and war machine nightly while the Germans are bombing London’s houses and shops is shown by a large map issued by the M nistry of Information. The map shows the vast web of destruction woven by British bombers, which have struck at over 200 military targets, while over 700 blows have been struck against Germany herself. Besides each name of the bombed target is the number of times it has been attacked. For instance, Berlin has been attacked 15 tines, Wilhelmshaven 20 and Frankfurt 12. A map of the Ruhr inset shows that every important town has been a victim of the Royal Air Force. Hamm lias had over GO raids anil Essen 16. Significance of Targets The Ministry of Jnlormation in accompanying notes stressing the significance of some of the targets, says: “We still bomb Germany’s aluminium plants. The Royal Air Force in the past two months has continuously attacked oil plants in westem Germany which normally produces 40 per cent, of the total of 2,500,000 tons of oil yearly. Now the Royal Air Force is paying attention to centra] Germany, where over 50 per cent, of the oil production is carried on.”

The Ministry repeats the belief that the bombings have already appreciably reduced Germany’s aircraft production, while the divnage, at Hamburg and Bremen has prevented the loading and unloading of any ships there. The Loyal Air Force is also interfering with the internal water transport and rail traffic, this resulting in entire industries often being interrupted. It is stated that the bombing of the invasion ports not only removes the threat of a German landing, but handicaps the inland waterways in the occupied territories, because barges have been brought down from the Rhine ami other German rivers which normally carry huge loads of her goods. The most telling proof of the damage caused by the Royal Air Force is found in the German press which now is forced to make cautious admissions in view of public opinion. Winter Air Campaign Contrasting the problems of the winter air campaign facing the British Royal Air Force and the German Luftwaffe, experts are o! the opinion that the greatest German difficulties are likely to be the icing conditions which may hamper planned extensive raiding. At the same time Britain probably rv 11 be visited throughout the coming winter months by single “nuisance raiders,” which may be unable to do any damage of military importance, but can continue the annoyance of ind scriminale bombing of dwelling houses and civilians.

On the Other hand the Royal Air Force pilots of night bombers will have the advantage' of experience gained during the operations over Germany last winter, one of the hardest winters they could possibly have encountered, and, being fully trained and- equipped t’o combat ice, cloud the poor visibility, they should be able to turn the bad weather to much better account than the Gorman pilots who have had no similar training. It is even suggested in some quarters that while night bombing is l.kely to continue on the same scale throughout the winter as at present, daylight raids may be possible by flic Royal Air Force over Germany by the;, use of cover afforded by clouds.