AIR LOSSES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 September 1941, Page 6

AIR LOSSES

DURING PAST WEEK GERMAN MUCH HEAVIER! THAN THOSE OF ROYAL AIR FORCE. (British Official Wireless.) ■ (Received. This Day, 12.45 p.m.) RUGBY, September 28. Although comparative figures of air losses do not always give a fair picture of achievement, it is noteworthy that the week’s German air losses over Britain and occupied territory greatly exceeded those of the R.A.F. R.A.F. operations during the past week over Germany and occupied territory have been much reduced, owing to unfavourable weather conditions. However strong forces of bombers and fighters made successful attacks during the day and night of September 21 on a power station at Gosnay and railway objectives at Lille. In all 24 German fighters were destroyed in those operations, for the loss of 13 R.A.F. fight-j ers, but two pilots were saved and no bembers were lost.

News was given this week of new Hurricanes, equipped with a powerful armament of twelve guns or four cannons. They have gained further successes against enemy shipping. At daylight on September 26 they attacked four mine-sweepers and two anti-air-craft ships, probably destroying two mine-sweepers and damaging the antiaircraft ships. R.A.F. fighters also sank a patrol vessel off the French coast.

The Coastal Command also made successful attacks on enemy ships off the coast of Norway. A 5000-ton supply ship was hit and a 6,000-ton supply ship also isl believed to have been hit.

The docks at Calais, Dunkirk and Boulogne were raided by Bomber Command aircraft and also objectives at Cologne and in Western Germany. In the afternoon of September 27, there was a big air sweep over France. A railway centre at Amiens and a railway junction near La Bassee were

bombed with good results. Twenty-one enemy fighters were destroyed to 14 R.A.F. machines. The attack was the week's heaviest, and Germany sent up more fighters than had been seen for a long time. A total of 28 British aircraft are missing, but five pilots are safe, while 45 German fighters were destroyed. Regarding daylight air operations over Britain, an official communique states: “There is nothing to report.”