AIR BATTLES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 December 1940, Page 5

AIR BATTLES

HEAYY ENEMY LOSSES IN NOVEMBER MORE THAN FOUR TO ONE IN PLANES. MUCH GREATER RELATIVE LOSS - OF MEN. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.32 a.m.) RUGBY, December 1. A high disproportion of British to German losses was a feature of the results of air battles over and around Britain in November. On several days in the latter part of the month not a single British aeroplane was lost. During the month the British losses of planes totalled 54, compared with 234 German aircraft destroyed. The disproportion is even more remarkable when considered in terms of personnel, for of the 54 British aircraft lost during the month, the pilots of 23 were saved. On one day—November 28 —the score went in favour of the Germans, when seven British machines were lost to six of the enemy. For five days, November 22 to 26 inclusive, however, the British losses were nil, whereas in that period the Nazis lost 24 machines in attempted raids over Britain. The figure of 234 enemy machines destroyed during the month includes a further two brought down on Saturday, making five for the day. This was announced'by the Air Ministry today.

For purposes of comparison, it is interesting to note that during October the enemy aircraft lost over Britain numbered 241 and British losses totalled 119, with 62 pilots saved.