WARFARE IN AIR

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21372, 17 March 1941, Page 5

WARFARE IN AIR

ENEMY’S BIG LOSSES MANY PLANES DESTROYED COMPARISON WITH BRITAIN (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received March 17, 11.35 a.m.) LONDON, March 16 During the week ended at midnight on March 15, 42 enemy aircraft were destroyed over Britain and the British coasts. Of these 35 were destroyed during the hours of darkness. In the same period the Royal Air Force lost one aircraft in this area. Over enemy and enemy-occupied territory and oVer the sea the Royal Air Force destroyed six enemy aircraft and lost 19. One British bomber which was reported missing from last night’s operations and since has been announced as having “ landed safely away from its base ” is not included in these figures. In the same week one enemy aircraft was destroyed by a Norwegian merchant ship, one by a British naval ship, and two probably destroyed. The previous week’s iigures for aircraft destroyed by ships should be now increased by one, it having been confirmed that an enemy aircraft crashed in the sea after hitting a trawler’s mast on March 7. In the Middle East theatre of war up to March 14, 48 aircraft have been destroyed, for the loss of three Royal Air Force machines. The figures given here take into account an increase of two over the figures given for March 11 and one for March 14, which are dealt with in the latest Royal Air Force Middle East communique. TOO MANY TYPES ROYAL AIR FORCE PLANES CRITICISM FROM GERMANY ((Jnitea Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received March 17, 11 a.m.) BERLIN, March 16 The announcer, asserting that the Royal Air Force is using 40 types of bombers and reconnaissance planes and 20 types of fighters, says the Royal Air Force is bound to suffer in 1 the long run from the multiplicity of types, which he is of the opinion represents a considerable weakness. The announcer claims that Germany has the advantage in having only a few types of more or less uniform design. ANTIAIRCRAFT FIRE ACTIVITY IN BRITAIN ENEMY PLANE SHOT DOWN (Official Wireless) (Received March 17, 11.40 a.m.) RUGBY. March 16 A War Office report on the antiaircraft activity in last night’s raid, which was mainly directed against the south-eastern area, including London, states that the enemy again encountered heavy anti-aircraft fire. One enemy aircraft probably was destroyed. After an engagement the engine was heard to cut out and the aircraft dived steeply towards the sea. An observer corps post in the vicinity confirmed a report of a loud crash into the sea shortly afterwards. It is likely that the air<*raft was destroyed, but it will be classed only as probable unless further confirmatory evidence of its destruction is forthcoming.

GERMAN FREIGHTER EFFORT TO RUN BLOCKADE DEPARTURE FROM BRAZIL 'United Press Assn.—idee. Tel. Copyrlgni) (Received March 17, Noon.) RIO DE JANIERO, March 16 The New York Times reports that the German freighter Norderney, fully loaded with 72,000 hides and 500 tones of rubber, is about to leave Para Harbour, in an attempt to run the British blockade. Fourteen Germans left by plane today to board the Norderney, which has been taking refuge since the outbreak of the war. At present there are eight German and twenty Italian ships anchored in Brazilian harbours. SERVICE IN CRUISER NEW ZEALANDERS PRAISED TKIBTUE FROM COMMANDER United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copy rig-lit) LONDON. March 16 The work of 25 New Zealanders serving in a cruiser in the Home Fleet were highly praised by tiie commander during a recent meeting with Captain Taprell Dorling (“Tarfrail”). Captain Dorling, in a broadcast said he met a large number of sailors from the British Empire when he visited a battleship, a cruiser and a destroyer, all of which were units of the Home Fleet. WOOL IN AMERICA ALL REQUIREMENTS MET i Unilcd Pn*ss \~su. Kliml T»*l. i 'opyriKlit > WASHINGTON. March 15 Senator D. Worth Clark, in a broadcast speech, said available supplies of wool in 1941 in North and South America, with available stocks on hand, exceeded 1.000. 000,000!b. This was adequate for all civilian and military requirements during the year. There were stored in America 250,000,G00ib. of Australian wool, he pointed out. This reserve would meet any likely contingencies.