Evening star., 1943-01-18
Ten German Craft
Downed in Two
London Raids
Ey the Associated Press.


force of Raj bombers laid huge
fires across Berlin in the re-
newed war of the capitals" last
night, but stiffened defenSes Of
the German city took a toll Of
% planes, compared with only l
the previous night.
London's anti-sircraft gunners
meanwhile threw NaZi raiders into
confusion by the flerceness of their
barrage during two assaults last
night and early today when the at
tackers lost 10 of parhaps so planes.
German efforts at retaliation for
the mighty attack which apparently
caught Berlin defenses mapping Sat-
urday night were relatively mild.
London's ground guns threw up a
curtain of steel and fire more thun-
derous and powerful than anything
Londoners ever heard before.
Instead of trying to drive the
bombers away from vital objectives
and into the path of night fighters.
the gunners aimed for bullseyes di-
rectly on the attacking bombers.
The nights bag brought to more
than 1000 the number of enemy air.
craft destroyed over Britain since
the start of the war.
New Secret Devices.
The barrage showered London
rooftops with shell fragraments and
several persons were killed or
wounded by shells which exploded
only after striking the ground. The
firing, which ceased only after the
last of the raiders departed, COM
bined with new secret anti-aircraft
devices to make a spectacular show
The Air Ministry announced both
offensive and defensive operations.
Berlin was again attacked by a
strong force of our heavy bombers
last night" the Air Ministry COM
munipue said. "A great load of
bombs was dropped and, by the
end of the attack. large fires were
burning"
The bombers flew in bright moon
light on most of the 1,200-mlle
round trip, but encountered some
clouds over the target area. In con-
trast to the light opposition Satur-
day night, the Ar Ministry said
There were many combats with
enemy fighters" One of these was
reported shot down. .u-.-
Nazis Claim Is Were Downed.
The air ministry said % bombers
failed to return.
The German high command, in a
communique broadcast by the Ber-
lin radio, said Nazi night fighters
and anti-aircraft guns shot down
Is, most of them four -motored
types. Seven other Allied aircraft
were declared destroyed in opera
tions over Western Europe and the
North Sea.
The German figure for Nazi plane
losses was six. The high command
said ">e German raiders caused
ext distinctions, particularly
In ( district west of the large
Thames bend"
Hitlers officers did not comment
on damage in the Sunday night
raid on the German capital, but
subsequent Berlin broadcast said
fire losses from the terror attack"
were heavy.
A high-fying plane, perhaps an
enemy reconnaissance craft, sent
British anti-aircraft guns into
action along the Thames Estuary
this afternoon. No fresh bombing
was reported.
Other Areas Attacked.
In addition to the new bombing OF
Berlin, the Raj sent fighters against
freight trains, barges and trucks
serving the Germans in France, Bel
gium and Holland. The forays lasted
l3 hours.
The Air Ministry said that of the
enemy bombers which struck at
London few of them penetrated the
outer defenses."
Bombs were dropped at number
of places in Greater London and
elsewhere in Southeast England" it
reported. Some damage was done,
but it was nowhere on a large scale
and mainly was confined to houses.
The number Of casualties so far
reported is not large"
Among the 10 German raiders
shot down was a Dornier 2l7, a two
motored utility craft which the Ger
mans use for purposes ranging from
reconnaissance to dive-bombing.
The Air Ministry news service
credited four of the bombers de-
stroyed to Beaufighter squadron,
saying that this established a new
night fighting record, Wing Comdr
c. M. Wight Boycott was the leader
Londoners Delighted.
Delighted that Berlin at last was
being repaid heavily for the scourg-
ing of their beloved city, Lon
doners nevertheless were wondering
whether the London Berlin duel
meant a return Of l940-4l expert
ences. The Rome radio said Adolf
Hitler's government was threatening
full reprlsals.
A DBN dispatch broadcast from
Berlin said a strong German force
made the early morning raid and
thousands of explosive and incen-
diary bombs were dropped. How
ever, London sources estimated that
not more than 80 bombers partici-
pated in each raid-both last night
and this morning. They said no
(Gee RAIDS PAGE Ar