EIGHT SHOT DOWN

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 257, 29 July 1942, Page 5

EIGHT SHOT DOWN

German Raiders Over; Britain LONDON’S GUNS SOUND LONDON, July 28. Enemy air activity over England last night was on a somewhat larger scale than for some time past. Fires and damage were caused in the Birmingham area, where there was a number of casualties. Some damage was done elsewhere in the Midlands and the eastern counties as well as in Greater London, where some damage was caused by incendiaries. Eight enemy bombers were shot down. Londoners once again heard the capital’s guns roaring into action. HEAVY DAMAGE IN HAMBURG Three Waves Of Bombers (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) LONDON, July 27. The R.A.F. raid on Hamburg was the biggest yet made over Germany, except the three 1000-bomber raids. Berlin officially stated that the attack on Hamburg caused heavy civilian losses. Many buildings were destroyed, specially residential quarters. One of the outstandingly successful attacks of the whole war, is how Marshal Sir Arthur Harris, Chief of the Bomber Command, describes the raid. Hamburg at the present stage of the war is probably the most important target in all Germany. The importance of the city to the Germans is made apparent by the defence system which is stated by experts to be the best in Germany. The present full moon, states the Air Ministry news service, is the first since the spring when the nights have been long enough. to bring Hamburg within range of a heavy raid. Last night’s destructive attack came as the climax of a week’s heavy bombing. Earlier raids, with Duisburg as the main 'target, were iu poor weather, but last night there was no cloud at all and the crews were able to make the most of the moonlight. After reading reports on the raid from all bomber groups, Sir Arthur Harris sent a message to the crews congratulating them on the magnificent effort against Hamburg and stating that their work during the past week would long be remembered by Germany.

Losses Relatively Light. Losses for the week’s raiding against such well-defended areas have not been heavy when they are considered as a whole. Under 5 per cent, of the total number employed are missing. The attack on Hamburg began just before 1 a.m., when the first wave of heavy and medium bombers loaded with the maximum of incendiaries came in. A second wave also dropped more incendiaries than high explosives, with the result that more than 175,000 incendiaries were dropped in 35 minutes and much of the old town was on fire. There were fires all round Aussen Alster Lake and many in the dock area. Pillars of black smoke rose, but as they did not drift over the town the target was clear for the last wave, which was fully loaded with high explosives, including 4000-pound bombs. Everything was so clear that all the targets were selected within a quarter of an hour. Fires continued to spread, and the last crews to leave saw them burning long after they had left the target. The Coastal Command attacked shipping off the Frisian Islands. All the aircraft returned. From the night’s operations 29 bombers are missing. This afternoon, Wellingtons bombed objectives in north-west Germany, an Air Ministry communique states. Two of our aircraft are missing. REPORTED VERY HIGH Casualties In Hamburg’ (Received July 28, 11.55 p.m.) LONDON, July 28.

The damage caused by the R.A.F. raid on Hamburg can be judged from the fact that the Germans admit that ■they dropped 120,000 incendiaries in the biggest fire raid on London. Yet we dropped 175,000 incendiaries on Hamburg, which is about one-fifth the size of London. Rome radio declared that casualties in Hamburg were very high. The raid was one of the heaviest experienced by Germany. Paris radio said, that the raid may be considered a spectacular success for the British. FIRST RAIDER DOWNED N.Z. Night Fighters (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Special Correspondent.) LONDON, July 27. The New Zealand Hurricane night fighter squadron is claiming its first Nazi. It fell to Flight Lieutenant Harvey Sweetman, Mission Bay, and crashed not far from the squadron’s station. It was a Dornier 217, one of the latest German bombers. Sweetman’s flight have one of its airscrews in their hut. The squadron is awaiting official confirmation. Sweetman was operating with Havocs and then left them and became a “lone wolf.” He sighted the Hun, which fired at him and he saw tracers Uy over his head. He returned the fire and then the Dornier banked to starboard and became silhouetted. Sweetman immediately gave it a three second burst, after which the Ilun went straight down. . The victory occurred the night following a visit by Air Commodore L. M. Isitt, who stayed the night. He also visited the New Zealand Spitfire squadron which is nearby. He talked to all ranks, watched the two squadrons competing in a local swimming competition when the Hurricane squadron beat the Spitfire squadron, and also won the relay race, Sweetmau, Flight Lieutenant J. Clouston, Wellington, Pilot Officer A. 11. Smith, Auckland, and Sergeant R. J. Dall, Hamilton, swimming well. Air Commodore Isitt had a long talk with Wing Commanders I’. G. Jameson, D.F.C., and bar, and I. S. Smith, D.F.C. and bar. Jameson is operating over France, shooting up railway locomotives, which nowadays is one of the Spitfire pilots’ favourite pastimes. Jameson led a group which had* shot up four that day.