OVER SEVEN TO ONE

Evening Star, Issue 23683, 17 September 1940, Page 7

OVER SEVEN TO ONE

R.A.F.’S GREAT DAY RECORD NUMBER OF ENEMY PLANES DESTROYED (British Official Wireless.) Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright RUGBY, September 15. A total of. 185 German planes were destroyed yesterday, representing the most severe defeat suffered by the Nazis in a single day. The “ bag ” was five better than the number brought down on that great -day exactly a month ago, when the Germans lost 180 planes. Included in the total were 131 bombers, and as these machines carry from four to five men, the Germans lost sevex-al hundred airmen. It was reported earlier that 30 British fighters were missing, but five of these have since returned to their bases, making the British losses 25 planes, the pilots of 12 of which are safe. The German losses wore, therefore, more than seven to one, HEAVIEST TDLL YET PAID DEMONSTRATION OF R.A.F. SUPERIORITY (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 16. (Received September 17, at 9.40 a.m.) Yesterday’s destruction of enemy aircraft represents the heaviest toll the German air force has paid on any one day since the Battle for Britain opened. The previous highest total was 181, exactly a month earlier, on August 15. German air attacks on Britain have proved extremely expensive, and with each new assault has been demonstrated the superiority of the R.A.F. and the rapidly-growing efficacy of the British ground defences. Since the beginning of the war 2,170 enemy planes have been destroyed over Britain. In the same period 553 British aircraft have been lost over Britain, but 259 of the pilots of the latter have been saved. SMASHING DEFEAT . ENEMY'S HEAVIEST ATTACK SHATTERED AT LEAST 450 NAZI AIRMEN LOST (British Official Wireless.) x RUGBY, September 16, (Received September 17, at 10.10 a.m.) Spitfire and Hurricane pilots of the Fighter Command- yesterday delivered the most smashing defeat on the, Luftwaffe it has ever received.' Over onethird of the German bombers and fighters massed for what was to have been the enemy’s heaviest attack on London were destroyed and at least 450 of his trained crews lost. At least scveif of the total of 185 aircraft • destroyed were shot down by anti-aircraft guns, and it is expected that when a fuller investigation has been made the total bag of the anti-aircraft guns will be found to be larger. The R.A.F. losses were but a seventh of the enemy’s. When R.'A.F. pilots raced to the attack they saw 400 enemy aircraft in little groups of nine arranged three by three like a sergeant’s stripes. Each group of nine bombers had nine Messerschmitt 110 fighter-bombers between them and a little arrowhead flight of single-seater Messerschmitt 109’s circling above them as high as 35,000 ft. There were no very large bags of enemy aircraft by single squadrons, though some who went up twice reached double figures. Spitfires and Hurricanes kept wearing the enemy down, attacking and attacking, bringing down Dorniers, Heinkels, and Messerschmitts by ones, twos, and threes. GOERING OVER LONDON ACCORDING TO BERLIN STORY BERLIN, September 16. (Received September 17, at 11 a.m.) It is officially stated that Goering last night personally piloted a Junkers plane over London, accompanied by two destroyer planes. •‘WATER BUSES" NEW SERVICE HIGHLY POPULAR (British Official Wireless.) ” RUGBY. September 10. (Received September 17. at 11.15 a.m.) The service of “ water buses ” on the Thames, which has been introduced in the last few days to relieve congestion in other transport services through the temporary disorganisation of a few routes as the result of enemy bombing, has proved highly popular. The service has been accelerated and the number of river craft engaged .increased. FAMOUS ART GALLERY HIT BY GERMAN BOMB (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 10. (Received September 17, at 10.10 a.m.) It is now learned that during last week’s air raids on London a bomb hit the Tate Gallery, famous for its collection of modern British paintings and sculpture and for the special galleries containing works by Turner and Sargent and also modern foreign artists.