AIR WARFARE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 October 1940, Page 6

AIR WARFARE

NAZI LOSSES IN ATTACKS ON BRITAIN SUMMER PHASES REGARDED AS OVER. ’ ENEMY’S HUMILIATING FAILURES. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.30 a.m.) RUGBY, October 1. The 49 German aircraft, shot down over and around Britain yesterday, brought the total for September to 1102. This is regarded by some commentators here as marking the end of the summer phase of the war in the air. The total British losses in single- ' seater fighters over and around Bri- ' tain in September numbered 319, but L whereas, at a conservative estimate, ’ Germany has lost in trained personnel " 2755 men, no fewer than 168 pilots of ; the British planes shot down in the month’s fighting in these great air battles are safe. ’ Although, compared with the num- ' ber Of enemy aircraft destroyed in some recent daylight raids, yesterday’s engagements were not characterised by big losses, they are declared by the “Daily Mail” to constitute the most humiliating defeat of the enemy since his big scale raids on London began. Despite the size of the forces sent over, each of these attacks was broken up and the results achieved were practically nil. In all, six mass attacks were made during the daylight hours and only a few stragglers, which were quickly turned away, penetrated far inland.

AIR MINISTRY REPORT .MANY OBJECTIVES BOMBED. (Received This Day, 9.30 a.m.) RUGBY, October 1. An Air Ministry communique states: “The R.A.F. visit to Berlin last night consisted of a sustained attack on objectives carried out by strong bomber forces. Other bomber forces attacked oil refineries at Leuna and Hanover, an aircraft factory at Rotenburg, a munition factory near Magdeburg, goods yards and rail communications at Bremen, Ehrang, Osnabruck, Mannheim and Brussels, docks at Cuxhaven and Amsterdam, the Channel ports of Ostend, Dunkirk, Calais, Boulogne and Le Havre and several enemy aerodromes. In the course of these operations an aircraft of the Bomber Command engaged and shot down an enemy aircraft into the sea. Coastal Command aircraft, operating with the Fleet Air Arm, attacked docks and petrol stores at Rotterdam and Vlaaraingen, shipping and stores j at Ostend and set fire to an oil dump , at Hamsede Aerodrome. Five of our i aircraft are missing.” • .