NIGHT RAIDERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 April 1941, Page 6

NIGHT RAIDERS

GERMANY’S INCREASING LOSSES MARCH FIGURES MORE THAN DOUBLED. ACHIEVEMENTS OF BRITISH FIGHTERS. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, April 19. In less than two months R.A.F. night-fighters have shot down GC> night-raiders over Britain, equivalent to several squadrons of the Luftwaffe. The March total was 21, including 11 in. one night. This month the figure is already 45, with 10 days to go. In three consecutive April nights the fighters destroyed six, then 10 and then nine raiders, their total of 25 in three nights exceeding the total number of night bombers brought clown by fighters during the whole of last year. These figures for night successes take no account of the large number of raiders probably destroyed over the sea and which in daytime would be seen to crash.

Among the rapidly increasing nightfighter strength of the R.A.F. certain squadrons and individual pilots already stand out as veterans. One squadron which in 1940 accounted for only three night-raiders, has this year already destroyed. 24. The leader of this squadron has 10 victories. Two other night-fighter squadrons have 1941 bags of 12 each. Compared with the successes the R.A.F. night-fighters are now achieving the attempts of the Luftwaffe to hinder British night' bombing have proved a signal failure, despite the fact that our night-fighters have minutes in which to find the enemy while the German fighters have hours.

A WEEK’S LOSSES IN VARIOUS THEATRES. HEAVILY AGAINST ENEMY. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.40 a.m.) RUGBY, April 20. Twenty-three German aircraft were destroyed over Britain during the week ended at dusk yesterday. Of these, thirteen fell to fighters and eight to anti-aircraft gunfire while the method of destruction of the remaining two is unspecified. All but four were shot down at night. During the same period, R.A.F. losses over Britain were nil. Germany lost five machines over Germany, while R.A.F. losses over Germany and German-occupied territory were thirty. Axis losses in the Middle East during the period were 68 in aerial combat and 17 on the ground. R.A.F. losses in this area were 21. Four enemy aircraft were destroyed by shipping during the week, three by his Majesty's ships and one by a Free French naval ship. Aircraft of the Fighter Command, in the course of an offensive patrol today, destroyed an enemy fighter over the Channel. One of our aircraft is missing'. _