701 SHOT DOWN

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21198, 22 August 1940, Page 7

701 SHOT DOWN

GERMANS’ AIR LOSSES STATEMENT BY MINISTRY LQNG=RANGE THINKING (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Aug. 22, 11 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 21 The Secretary of State for Air, Sir Archibald Sinclair, in the House of Commons, gave the latest figures of the results of the air fighting. “Including 55 shot down by antiaircraft guns,” he said, “our defence has accounted for 701 German aircraft since August 8, mainly through

the prowess of the fighters. “We have lost in fighters over Britain and bombers over Germany and Italy a total of 192. “Our casualties in the air over tnis country and round our coast have been 90 fighter pilots, compared with more than 1000 German pilots and crews. If there were included the bomber crews which we lost over Germany since August 8 our losses have been much less than 300 personnel.

“Our night attacks have been much heavier than our day attacks, and as the nights grow longer so also will the arm of our heavy bomber squadrons lengthen, until we are striking ever deeper into the enemies’ vitals.” Sir Archibald emphasised that long-range thinking on the military problems of the war is not being neglected. In the notable successes of

the fighter and bomber squadrons can be seen some results of longrange thinking in the past. That process of looking ahead will remain in active operation. Speakers who have pleaded for an offensive spirit are forcing an already open door. The War Office has just as much offensive spirit as has the Royal Air ‘Force. Empire Air Scheme Substantial progress is being made with the Empire air training scheme. They had expected to reach a certain figure of pilot production from Canada in July or August next, but they are now going to get that figure by April. By now they should have had in full operation five schools in France. One of the first things he did was to make preliminary arrangements for starting schools in North Africa, but with the collapse of France all that has gone by the board. Details of Careful Checking Giving details of the method of reporting enemy aircraft losses, Sir Archibald said enemy casualties were classified under three main headings —certainly destroyed, probably destroyed, and damaged. An enemy aircraft was deemed certainly destroyed if it had been seen to hit the ground or break up in the air or descend in flames. In counted as probably destroyed if it was seen to break off the combat in circumstances leading to the conclusion that it must become a loss. The third category included cases in which enemy aircraft were considerably damaged; for example, if the undercarriage dropped, if the engine stopped, or if parts of the aircraft were shot away. On returning from combat pilots were interrogated by the stated intelligence officer, and when reports from all of them were received the intelligence officer interrogated them again in cases where any doubt existed. The numbers of enemy aircraft in each of the three categories were then transmitted by each squadron to the group headquarters, to the Fighter Command headquarters, and then to the Air Ministry. Only those in the first category were included in the official communique. There was strict instruction to the pilots to exercise the utmost discretion in their reports, and they were on their honour and the honour of the squadron, as well as that of the Royal Air Force. It could be said with confidence that pilots erred on the side of understatement. It was known that numbers of enemy aircraft in the second and third categories frequently failed to reach home. No credit was taken of the losses inflicted on the enemy by those of our pilots who failed to return. On several occasions during the last fortnight the total enemy aircraft in the second and third categories exceeded those in the first. Independent persons having access to the official records have been impressed by the reserve with which the results are announced.