MASS ATTACKS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24418, 2 October 1940, Page 7

MASS ATTACKS

GERMAN AIR RAIDERS

FEW REACH LONDON AREA

EFFICIENCY OF DEFENCE

(H'vtish Official Wireless' 0 (United Press Association) (Bv Electric Telegraph—Copyright).

RUGBY, Sept. 30 (Received Oct. 1, at 7 p.m.)

It is officially stated that 47 enemy aircraft were destroyed by British fighters Our losses were 22, with 12 of the pilots safe An Air Ministry and Home Security communique says: “Late this afternoon enemy aircraft, approaching in three separate force crossed the coasts of Kent. Sussex, and Dorset simultaneously Our fighters engaged and scattered the enemy A few bombs were dropper) and some damage was caused in a town in Dorset and a town in the Thames Valley, where some casua’ties have been reported Elsewhei c the damage reported is slight During the afternoon a. isolated attack was made on . town in Suffolk. Houses were damaged, but reports indicate that the casualties were very few ”

The enemy’s attacks to-day followed the right and left of a boxing ring, with blows spaced throughout the uay All were parried, and none found its mark with real effect

Nazi Tactics Fruitless

The enemy opened with a right towards Lot.don about 12.12 a.m., B.S.T. Another stab in the same direction followed about an hour later. Both were largely feints, and probably designed to wear out R.A.F. fighters. In ..either case was the attempt to reach London a success. Soon after 11 a.m. he aimed a left towards the West Country Like the first two attacks, it was a tentative jab rather than a full blow

About 70 bombers and fighters crossed the coast between St. Albans Head and Portland, threading fanwise over Dorset and Somerset. It was again right and left in the afternoon. Shodls of Machines

Just as Londoners were settling down to mid-day dinner the German right fist was again jabbed in their direction, this time more purposefully than before. Though the main body of 120 enemy aircraft reached no further than a line north of the downs, a few got through to the London area. They were quickly driven off. Another 200 to 300 followed. Finally, about half an hour later, a left was shot out toward Portland and Bristol. Unusual Crashes During an evening attack on the south-east of England two Messerschmitts 109 met unusual ends. One was shot down bv one of his fellowcountrymen and the other crashed in Windsor Great Park after the pilot failed to recover from a flat-out dive after two Ansons. He tried a steep turn at, only 1800 feet. His engine spluttered and before he knew where he was he hit the ground. He was taken prisoner by a Hurricane pilot from New Zealand, who was driving his car .near the park while on leave. Success of Spitfires The best fighting of the day was in a mid-day attack on the southwest of England. 1 A Spitfire squadron met 20 Dornier 215 bombers surrounded by 50 to 60 Messerschmitt 109’s behind, above, and on either flank, The British leader went right through the fighters. In the meantime one pilot dived on a Messerschmitt 109 and sent it down smoking in a vertical dive to hit the ground in full view of the pilot who shot it down. Another formation of Spitfires went mainly for the fighters and they , shot down six for certain. Four Mbssersc’uinitts crashed on land, one was sent down in flames, and the sixth blew up in mid-air. Several others were badly damaged. One of the R.A.F, Polish squadrons chased 30 Dornier 215 planes from Beachy Head to the French coast. The Dormers were in close herringbone formation and escorted by large numbers of Messerschmitts 109. The Poles shot down one Messerschmitt near Beachy Head, two more as they were approaching the French coast, and finally one of the Dormers on land over France : This squadron has now destroyed more than 100 of the enemy At the beginning of the afternoon drive towards the West Country a patrol of Spitfires chased away a number of Junkers 88 before they so much as crossed the coast. When first sighted the Junkers were flying north at. hif?h speed. Spitfires dived on them from the rear. By the time the enemy wheeled away to fly back to France four of their number had been shot down at sea.