Total of 49 Aircraft Shot Down in 36 Hours Extensive Attacks German Pilot Losses London, May 9
WEEPING down on waves of German planes roaring across the English Channel in attacks on virtually every section of Britain, including London, British fighters last night and early this morning blasted eleven Nazi bombers to. bits to raise the toll of night raiders to 85 for ight nights as compared with the total of 90 for the whole of April.
The eleven bombers shot down did not include any of the fourteen destroyed during the day.
Thus 49 German bombers have been shot down by British fighters and anti-aircraft guns during the last 36 hours, for 24 fell victims on Wednesday night and early Thursday.
The record bag for this year was cesses followed: destruction of the especially important because the Luftrecord number éf 24 German bomb-Wwaffe has lost some 150 men in the ers in moonlight on Wednesday night, ast 36 hours and nearly 400 for May.
'Three of the 12 Nazi fighters fell 'The heavy losses suffered by the within seven' minutes to Hurricane Luttwaffe's personnel was believed pilots of a Polish squadron, while likely {o weaken the moral of the British Spitfire pilots accounted for Germen aviation corps. two more.
"The Secretary of State for Ait, Sir Since the offal announcement Archibald Sinclair, has sent the' fol that. 24 bombers were shot down on lowing telegram to, Air Marshal Wednesday night and Thureday Douglas, Commander-in-Chief of the morning, pilots of fighters have re-Fighter Comm: "I am charged ported that many additional raiders Probably were so badly damaged that by the War Cabinet to convey to you and your squadrons -engaged in they could not have reached their ast night's operations their congratu-bases. lations on their outstanding success."
"The joint communique of the Air and Home Security Ministries said The Air Ministry communique issued last night states that there that the "scale of the enemy air at-was considerable air activity off the tack Inst night again was heavy. The south and south-east coasts and.over Drineipal concentrations were on the st Kent yesterday.
Humber area and two districts in the Several combats took place between north Midlands. In the Humber area British and German fighters, in which considerable damage was done. Pre~ ten enemy planes were shot down Siminary reports indicate that the and one RAF. fighter missing, al-casualties are not Ukely to be heavy. though the pilot is safe. Two more A northewest coast town also was enemy fighters were destroyed by attacked but the damage and casuatanti-aircraft fre. No reports have les so far reported are not very been received of any bombs being serious, Bombs also were dropped dropped. on a number of other areas, mostly London had an alr-raid warning eastern and southern England, includ late yesterday evening. Ralders aping the London district.
Proached from the south coast, and "In a few of these areas some dam-afler a few minutes Aghters were age was done, but most bombs did seen to engage the enemy, Later, a little harm and only a small number German plane was retiring to the sea, of people was killed. rapidly losing height.
"Eleven enemy bombers are known to have been destroyed during the Growing Toll hight by fighters of the RAP, ten The German air force lost 24 over this country and one "over bombers by moonlight on Wednesday Prance."—United Press. ight to achieve "extensive" damage Heavy Losses n several cast and west coast areas Britein. According to Berlin, some London, May 9. six ports were raided.
A German bomber was shot down RAF, night fighters, it is now by RAP. fighters yesterday evening learned, accounted for 20 raiders—afer 12 Nazi fighters had been dis-three over northern France, posed of in a series of thrilling com-their most successful night of the war bats over southern England earlier Three more fell to anti-aircraft gun in the day for the loss of a single ners and one fouled the balloon British plane. These daylight suc-barrage,
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