ALREADY REPLACED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 January 1944, Page 4

ALREADY REPLACED

AMERICAN LOSSES IN GREAT AIR BATTLE SOME MISSING PLANES MAY BE SAFE DIRECTED TO ISOLATED AIRFIELDS. ON ACCOUNT OF UNEXPECTED FOG. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) Received This Day, 11.0 a.m.) LONDON, January 13. The Americans have already replaced the planes and air crews lost: in the great air battle over Germany on Tuesday, says the “Evening Standard’s” correspondent with the United States forces. Great replacement depots arrange replacements within 24 hours. The United States Army official newspaper “Stars and Stripes” announced that the delay in assessing the results was due to a fog which unexpectedly settled over' the airfields before the raiders returned home. Many bombers had to be diverted to distant airfields and it is believed that some at present listed as missing may have landed safely in more isolated parts of Britain. * — ENEMY FIGHTER LOSSES FIGURES NOT YET COMPLETE. (Received This Day, 1.10 p.m.) LONDON, January 13. Of 152 German fighters shot down over Central Germany on Tuesday, American bombers destroyed 125 and Allied fighters 27. The figures, which are not yet complete, do not include a large number shot down by the bombers which failed to return. The total American bomber loss is now sixty.