RAF TRIUMPHS IN BIGGEST AIR BATTLES OF WAR

Goering's Air Force had lost 175 machines up to ten o'clock last night following a day which saw fought the fiercest air battles of the war. Fighters brought down 171 and A. A. fire four.

Thirty British fighters were brought down, but ten of the pilots are safe.

At midnight on Saturday the total of enemy aircraft destroyed was 1,983. Now the total has passed the two thousand mark to 2,158.

The total of raiders sown is the second highest since large-scale attacks on this country began. On August 15 last 180 Nazi machines were destroyed.

Soon after the fourth Alert of the day, at 8.10, the A. A. barrage began to spread its protecting mantle of steel and fire over the capital.

MADE OFF

Planes came over at frequent intervals, but appeared to sweep across the sky at high speed, drop their bombs, and make off in an attempt to escape the guns.

During yesterday's big daylight raids the Nazis flung their planes over the Kent coast and up the Thames Estuary in waves of a hundred at a time.

An evening Air Ministry communiqué said:

This morning a large number of enemy aircraft crossed the coast near Dover in two waves. They were promptly met by strong formations of our fighters and an air battle ensued.

HOUSES HIT

In the course of this two small enemy formations penetrated to the London area.

"Bombs were dropped, and among other enemy objectives Buckingham Palace was again hit. The Queen's private apartments were damaged by a bomb which did not explode.

"Elsewhere in the London area houses were hit, some fires broke out, and damage was done to gas and water mains.

"From preliminary reports it is clear that the number of casualties was small."

As Reported by The Daily Herald

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