Evening star., 1941-05-08
R. A. F. Smashes
u Bombersf for
Night Record
New Mark Is Claimed
After Heavy Attack
By 300 Nuzi Craft

oy oVU NoZI STuN
BY the Associated Press.
LONDON, May 8.-The Luft-
waite clashed with R. A. F. pa
trolls In numerous daylight all
battles over the English Channel
coasts today as R. A. F. night
fighters claimed a new record in
shooting down % German planes
during smashing nocturnal raids
on British port areas.
In addition to the % planes
claimed downed by fighters and
- one by anti-aircraft fire, a Brit
ish source estimated 10 or more
of the raiders were damaged and
possibly brought down.
Another source estimated 300 Nazi
bombers flew over Britain last
night. This is not record number,
so the new toll of PLANES shot
down could not be explained purely
as merely the result of a greater
number of potential targets.
About Is planes engaged in one
of today's dog-fghts, S miles up
In clear sky. The diving, swoop-
ing planes were silver specks against
the heavens when the sun glinted
on their metal wings.
The toll of % planes claimed
for Britain's night fighters
against German raiders over
night makes one believe that
there really is some new tech
nique which can produce such
grand results" British broad
cast said today The broadcast,
heard in New York by c. B. c.,
expressed optimism over the rec
ord bag and, emphasizing that
there is not yet a full moon,
predicted that I'VE may do bet
ter still.D
Streets Machine G Gunned.
The sky over the Channel was
filled with the roaring of motors
and the chatter of machine guns
and was criss-crossed with vapor
trails, recalling the vast daylight
fighting of last fall.
A Messerschmitt swooped down
on southeast coast town and ma
chine-gunned the streets but then
was said to have been chased back
across the Channel by r. A. F.
fighters. Other raiders were op-
Grating in pairs miles in the air
over several south coast districts.
Others Damaged.
The Air Ministry news service
said that in addition to the planes
reported downed last night num-
Der of others were damaged.
Three of the German planes
claimed by fighters were destroyed
over air fields in Northern France
by r. A. F. pilots who awaited re-
turning raiders, the news service
said
Pilots just initiated to night
fighting scored their first successes
last night, the service continued,
adding that lone pilot, who has
made habit of getting two a night,
repeated again by shooting down
two Heinkel Ills within a few
minutes
One fighter squadron reported
four German planes definitely de-
stroyed," another squadron claimed
three and two other groups each
were credited with two
Shot Flyer Gets His Man.
An r. A. F. pilot, shot in the hand
and forearm by the gunner of the
German machine he was attacking,
brought down his opponent and
then flew safely back to his base,
1t was said.
Another pilot, describing a long
chase, said:
Il went after him for all I was
worth and got him after about 40
miles, giving him a long burst with
my guns. Although he tried firing
at me, the erratic behavior of his
machine spoiled the gunner's aim.
He was we'll on fire after my Sec
ond burst and I circled around and
watched him crash"
Informed quarters said the re-
cent successes against German
night raiders might be attributed
largely to these factors:
l. The R. A. F. is getting more
adequate numbers of various types
of planes.
2. Defending fighters are always
more successful in moonlit nights.
Full moon is due Sunday.
8. Raiders are more easily inter-
eepted when they are forced to fly
all the way across Engalnd to at
tack western port areas such as
Clydeside Glasgow and Mersey-
side GiverpooD.
4. Night pilots are gaining in ex-
perience.
Ratio 6 to l for Britain.
1t was noted that Britain ac-
knowledges only IL r. A. F planes
have been shot down over Ger
many or German occupied territory
ut nighttime this month, COM
pared with 73 Germans claimed, a
satio s to l in favor of Britain.
Apart from the night raiders, the
(See RAIDS, Page A-4)
IN nm Amerirnns