Data on Destruction

Last week the R.A.F. and the U.S. Eighth Air Force in Britain compiled the arithmetic of June, thus far the biggest month in history's biggest air offensive:

> In 13 night raids the R.A.F. delivered some 15,000 tons of bombs to western Germany. Cologne got 2.500 tons (in two raids): Duesseldorf, Bochum and Krefeld in the Ruhr got 2,000 tons each in single raids: 1,500 tons fell on each of three other Ruhr targets. The R.A.F.'s three-month bomb total: 37,500 tons, more than three times the weight of bombs dropped on Germany in the same months last year.

> In four daylight raids on Germany and three on Occupied France, the Eighth Air Force dropped "between 2,000 and 3,000 tons." (Correspondents thought it was nearer 3,000 tons.) Heaviest U.S. load on a single target: 500 tons, concentrated on a synthetic rubber plant at Huels.

> The R.A.F. lost 270 four-engined Halifaxes, Stirlings and Lancasters; the Eighth lost 82 Fortresses and Liberators (plus an unannounced number of damaged bombers in both commands). In all operations, including many lesser sweeps over France and the Lowlands, the R.A.F. shot down 108 German fighters. The Eighth's daylight gunners reported that they destroyed 271 German fighters, probably destroyed 84 more, damaged 178. In the considered opinion of R.A.F. and U.S. air commanders, these figures meant that the Luftwaffe fighter strength is being steadily depleted.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.