Thirty Chinese combat planes were shot down in two engagements with Japanese aircraft near Hankow on Friday, a Japanese naval spokesman claimed yesterday morning.
The number of Chinese losses, the spokesman declared, was "definite" on the basis of complete tabulated reports from individual Japanese fliers. This was the largest number of Chinese downed in one day.
Admitting Japanese losses in the engagements, the spokesman, however, declined to make their number Public before a complete check was effected.
The spectacular engagements were staged, the spokesman declared, when Japanese machines neared Hankow and when they were about to leave.
About 30 Japanese machines, consisting of bombers as well as fighters, took part in this operation.
British Gloster Gladiator fighters, reported to be based at Hankow in foreign dispatches of Chinese origin, did not take part in Friday's dogfights, the spokesman said. Chinese aircraft consisted mostly of Soviet-made 1-15 sesquiplanes with a "sprinkling" of 1-16 monoplanes, the spokesman added. One Chinese bomber that took off from the field was also downed, he claimed.
Also destroyed were five grounded Chinese bombers, hangars and run-ays at the Hankow aerodrome.
The Japanese squadrons, which were commanded by Lieut.-Commander Tsuneo Sugahisa and Lieut. Joji Higai, attacked Hankow while two other Japanese squadrons raided Chungking in remote Szechuen Province and Hengyang in Hunan
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