Mr. Lucasasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air the numbers of the three fighter squadrons in the Royal Air Force which achieved the highest totals of enemy aircraft destroyed in all theatres during World War II; and if he will 84W state the individual total of No. 249 Squadron.
Mr. WardIt is sometimes possible to assess with some accuracy, after an examination of enemy records, the number of aircraft destroyed in a particular campaign. I regret, however, that it is not possible to give official figures, as distinct from "claims," for the total number of aircraft destroyed during the war by any particular squadron or by any particular pilot. No. 249 Squadron claim to have destroyed 244 enemy aircraft during the war. This is one of the highest claims.