553 SHOT DOWN

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21195, 19 August 1940, Page 7

553 SHOT DOWN

HEAVY NAZI LOSSES RAIDERS ON ENGLAND BRITAIN’S ACHIEVEMENT (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Aug. 18 From figures issued by the Air Ministry up to mid-day on Saturday it is officially confirmed that 553 German aircraft were brought down in the attacks on Britain from August 8 to August 16 inclusive. During the same period 130 British machines were lost resisting these attacks, and a further 33 were lost in raids over Western Europe. Of the British pilots, however, 48 have been saved, whereas the number of Nazi pilots rescued by their own side must have been very small, as most of their 553 raiders crashed on or near the British coasts. These confirmed German losses refer only to those machines known to have been destroyed, and it is estimated in official circles that the number so badly damaged that they failed to reach their bases, or were at least rendered unserviceable for some time, is not less than the number actually destroyed. On this basis the effective casualties suffered by the Germans number not less than 1106 machines during the last nine days. The past week has been a record for the anti-aircraft gunners, who since last Sunday morning shot down 57 German bombers and fighters. Nearly half of their week’s bag was claimed on Thursday, when the Germans made their big attack on Britain’s shores. It is now certain 22 of them were destroyed by antiaircraft fire. Magnificent “ Bag ” The magnificent results of the Royal Air Force record day on Thursday, when 180 German aeroplanes were destroyed, continue the subject of comment in the press. Reviewing the results of the raids since August 12 the Times—at the time its article was written the known number of German aeroplanes destroyed on Thursday was 169—notes that the proportion of losses in pilots is about six German to one British, and in machines over four German to one British. Thursday’s results, when the British losses were 34 machines, of which the pilots of 17 were saved, was, says the Times, considerably more favourable than the average.

“ The Germans cannot stand the truth as portrayed by these figures. In their account of Thursday’s fighting they appear, not for the first time, to have waited for the British statement and then roughly transposed the total losses. For they have the casualties as 143—within one of the figure of German losses published in a preliminary British account—and their own as 32, or two short of the total of our losses.”

The Spitfire and Hurricane pilots of the fighter command have had a quiet day after the war’s greatest week of air fighting. With over 550 of their bombers and fighters lost in nine days the German air force kept away from Britain. Many pilots recalled the thrills of different battles. Seven Spitfire pilots on the Yorkshire coast were congratulating themselves about the result of an encounter with no fewer than 130 German bombers and fighters. Were in the Right Place One pilot said: “ We seven were on our way back to our home station after a routine flight when we got word to look out for an unknown number of enemy raiders. We just happened to be in the right place to be given the job. There was a good deal of haze and cloud, but when the cloud broke we found we were on the trail of at least 80 Heinkel 111 bombers, covered from behind by 50 Messerschmitt 110 fighters flying at a great height. “ The leader of our Spitfire section at once decided to attack by creeping in between the two formations and catching the bombers unawares. The rest of the Spitfires set off to engage the enemy fighters. A fierce dogfight followed. Altogether three Messerschmitt 110’s were destroyed and one more is a probable loss. All the Spitfires returned safely.”