Attacking Force Hurled Back by A.
-A Barrage, Riddled by Fighters London, Sept, 28.
'ORE than 1,000 planes was the price paid by Germany for the prosecution of Hitler's plan of attack on Britain this month, according to figures assembled by authori ies here today.
The thousand mark was passed yesterday when protective reraft batteries around London splashed a cloudless night with jagged shafts of death that sent the invaders falling back upon themselves and into the range of R.A. "fighter craft which riddled them in their retreat all the way to the French coast. The raid cost the Nazis 133 planes known to have been downed.
This month, not yet finished, is the second month in which the Germans have lost more than 1,000 planes, and judging by the results of last night's engagements, given other clear nights, September's air casualties may be the greatest the Nazis have ever suffered, Bye-witnesses described last night's anti-aircraft fire as. "astounding Heavy explosions shook the ground as the raiders released their bombs, Bur the barrage was so fierce that, according to roof-top observers, the enemy was temporarily, at least, compelled to sheer off.
"The raiders for the most part were forced 10 keep at a tremendous. height, Later anti-aircraft fre in the central London area joined the shat~ tering chorus of barking guns to the exclusion of all other sounds. Three bombs were dropped in quick succession in the central London area, Fires, started by incendiary. bombs, were quickly extinguished. Two towns in the Midlands and one north-feast coastal cown were also attacked, Work Carried on Greater London war work a on smoothly yesterday. with the minimum of interruption while targe German bomber formations escorted. by even bigger fighter escorts. tried repeatedly' to penetrate the defences in. what appeared to be their most determined daylight attack on the capital since September 15.
Reports up to carly yesterday evening suggest that It is. proving the fame costly failure as then, Germans lost 191 aircraft, all but six of which fell {o British fighters. The umber of aiteraft now. know have been destroyed yesterday is 130 of which two were shot down by. fanti-aircraft fire. Thirty-four of our fighters are missing but the pilots of 15 are safe, states an Air Ministey communique.
"Yesterday the German Air Force Jaunehed their largest scale attack on Britain for nearly. a fortnight." confirma an Air Ministry news service bulletin, which adds that in doing the Natis lost the largest number of airmen in a single day vince September 15,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.