GERMAN S MASS ATTACK FAILS
BRITISH PILOTS WEAR ENEMY DOWN GOERLYG PILOTS JUNKERS PLANE OVER LONDON COfficial Wireless) (Received Sept. 17, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 16 Spitfire and Hurricane pilots of the Fighter Command yesterday delivered the most smashing defeat on the Luftwaffe that it has ever received. Over one-third of the German bombers and fighters, massed for what was to have been the enemy s heaviest attack on London, were destroyed, and at least 450 of her trained crews were lost. At least seven of the 185 aircraft destroyed were shot down by anti-aircraft guns, and it is expected that when fuller investigation has been made the total bag of the anti-aircraft guns will be found to be larger. The Royal Air Force losses were but one-seventh of those of the enemy. When Royal Air Force pilots raced to the attack they saw 400 enemy aircraft in little groups of nine, , arranged three by three like sergeants’ stripes. Each group of nine bombers bad nine Messerschmitt 110 fighter bombers between them and a little arrowhead flight of single-seater Messerschmitt 109’s circling above them as high as 35,000 feet. There were no very large bags of enemy aircraft by single squadrons, though some who went up twice reached double figures. The Spitfires and Hurricanes kept wearing the enemy down, attacking and attacking, bringing down Dorniers, Heinkels, and Messerschmitts by ones, twos and threes. BERLIN, Sept. 16 It is officially stated that Goering last night personally piloted a Junkers over London, accompanied by two destroyer planes.
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Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21220, 17 September 1940, Page 5
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255GERMAN S MASS ATTACK FAILS Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21220, 17 September 1940, Page 5
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