FIFTY HOUSES DAMAGED

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 185, 2 May 1940, Page 10

FIFTY HOUSES DAMAGED

Clacton Explosion (Received Muy 2, 12.50 a.in.) LONDON. May 1. It is now revealed that when the Ileinkel raider crashed at the popular seaside resort of Clacton-on-Sea, five people. ineluduig the four members of the plane's crew, were killed and 90 wounded, of whom 49 are in hospital. Other bodies are possibly still under the wreckage. About. 50 houses were damaged and two houses and a bungalow completely dcstroved. The Heinkel ploughed through the roofs of six buildings before burving itself deep in the courtyard of a block of .fiats. The terrific explosion which followed rocked tlie whole town and streets for hundreds of yards were littered witli bricks and tile's. The total damage is estimated at £lOO.OOO. * Fire-fighting and ambulance squads were following the course of the plane when it was seeking a forced landing and finally came down with its load of explosives. A Clacton hotel proprietor who had ■i standing offer before bis guests to reduce their bills by a third for every bomb dropped in the town or mine exploded on tlie beach leaves the offer still oireii. “This was just bad luck, he said.

(Earlier message on Page 9).