114 AT COST OF 27

Marlborough Express, Volume LXXVI, Issue 247, 20 October 1942, Page 5

114 AT COST OF 27

MALTA'S TOLL OF AXIS PLANES FOURTEEN BRITISH PILOTS SAFE. PAST WEEK'S AIR LOSSES.

B.O.W.

RUGBY, Oct. 19.

In the week ended on Saturday the enemy lost 114 aircraft in the assault on Malta for a British loss of 27 Spitflres, with 14 pilots saved. The enemy made some 1400 sorties against the island, therefore approximately one hostile aircraft in 13 which set out from Sicily failed tc return. This takes no account of the scores qf others so crippled that they had little hope of getting home. Never before have British pilots destroyed so many of the eneftiy in one week around Malta. The Axis lost altogether 131 planes last week, of which 125 were shot down in the Middle East, three over Britain, and three over Western Europe. The R.A.F. lost 70 aircraft, including 36 in Western Europe, and 33 in the Middle East. The renewed Axis air attack on Malta, which began eight days ago, has slackened considerably. Only a few fighters and fighter-bombers made tip- and-run raids on aerodromes yesterday, and no damage was caused. Spitflres destroyed one raider. Fighters destroyed eight more enemy aircraft at Malta the previous day. The enemy's air offensive, however, has eased considerably, and most attacks are only furtive tip-and-run raids on aerodromes. From October 11 to yesterday the enemy lost 112 aircraft. Middle East Headquarters at Cairo states: "On land there was some patrol 'and artillery activity yesterday. Air activity over the battle area was on a small scale, but our long-range fighters successfully attacked targets on the coastal road. "On Saturday night our torpedocarrying aircraft attacked an enemy merchant ship, which was listing to port and beached near the coast of Tripoiitania following a previous attack on Wednesday night. "Air activity around Malta continued, although the enemy inflicted very little damage. "Our long-range fighters on an offensive patrol over Sicily shot down a Heinkel 111, while fighters inland destroyed two Messerschmitt 109s. "We lost one aircraft in these operations, but one pilot is safe."