ENEMY BOMBER

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 130, 2 May 1940, Page 9

ENEMY BOMBER

CRASH IN ENGLAND. LOADED WITH MINES. DEATH AND HAVOC. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegrapn—Copyright,.) Received May 2, 10.40 a.m. LONDON, May 1. Six persons, including four of the German crew, were killed and 154 were injured, of whom many are in hospital, when a Heinkel bomber crashed in flames at the popular Essex seaside resort of Clacton-on-Sea. About 50 houses were damaged, two houses and a bungalow being completely destroyed. The Heinkel is reported to have been loaded with mines.

The Heinkel, which is believed to have been a mine-layer, was first hoard flying low off Clacton. Apparently it was hit by anti-aircraft guns and sought a landing place. It burst into flames after landing and then a terrific explosion, heard over a radius of 20 miles, occurred, wrecking and setting on fire seven houses and burying many of the occupants. The Heinkel ploughed through tlie roofs' of six buildings before burying itself deep in the courtyard of a block of flats. The terrific explosion which followed rocked the whole town, and tlie streets for hundreds of yards were littered with bricks and tiles.

The total damage is estimated at £IOO,OOO. Fire-figliting 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. The Air Ministry report covering the incident states: “Enemy aeroplanes approached the east coast at several points late last night. Anti-aircraft guns went into action and one enemy ’plane crashed in flames in a coastal town in Essex, houses in the vicinity being damaged.”_ The injured include 34 seriously hurt.

There is not a whole house standing in the neighbourhood where the raider fell. Many families are homeless. The explosion lifted some houses a foot from the foundations and threw heavy furniture to the road. The raider carried a cargo of incendiary, bombs.