OVER 40 NAZIS DOWNED YESTERDAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 223, 19 September 1940, Page 7

OVER 40 NAZIS DOWNED YESTERDAY.

MAM ATTACKS. Endless Stream Of Raiders In Afternoon. United Press Association. —Copyright. (Reed. 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 18. Forty-two raiders were destroyed in to-day's engagements, one by antiaircraft guns. Nine British fighters were lost, but five of the pilots are afe. Sirens sounded for the eighth time in London at 7.58 p.m. The seventh raid was London's 100 th since the outbreak of war, and was given at 5.58 p.m. Isolated "nuisance" raiders caused three daylight alarms in London before 10 a.m. There was heavy anti-aircraft fire, and shrapnel rained on the roofs of transport vehicles carrying business workers to the city. Three hundred raiders crossed the south-east coast in an endless stream for 15 minutes in the afternoon. Eight fighters escorted each bomber. Thames Estuary Town Suffers. During the third warning of the morning the roar of battle was heard over the Thames Estuary. Numerous high explosive bombs considerably damaged one Thame Estuary town. There were eight casualties. A joint Air Ministry and Ministry of Eome Security communique states: "Enemy air activity to-day has been mainly confined to the south-eastern area. Formations of enemy aircraft crossed the coast of Kent on several occasione during the, day and spread inland-towards London and the Thames Estuary. Few. of them reached London, and no bombs are reported to have been dropped in this area. "A number of bombs were dropped, mainly near the Thames Estuary, but damage appears to have been - caused mainly to dwelling houses, and the number of casualties reported is small, though it includes eome fatally injured. The enemy have been continuously engaged by our fighters and anti-aircraft guns throughout the day."