NIGHT RAIDS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24422, 7 October 1940, Page 7

NIGHT RAIDS

LESS EFFECTIVE BRITAIN’S DEFENCES IMPROVED METHODS COMMENT ON AIR FORCES (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, Oct, 6. (Received Oct. 6, at 10.20 p.m.) A Government spokesman stated the problem of night interception of air raiders was well on the way to solution. Details could not be released, h« added, out he confirmed the impression ol the reduced effectiveness of German night bombing this week, due more to the greater practice of anti-aircraft gunners with a new predictor and consequently increased accuracy than such a factor as the weather, fear of which, judged by the demeanour of prisoners, finds no place in a German airman’s make-up. German Raiders More Wary The morale of the German Air Force shows no sign of breaking, although Germany’s great losses have made the raiders more wary, particularly of the British eight-gun fighters. The R.A.F has found the Berlin anti-aircraft defences a tough nut to crack, the gunners being accurate and the fire usually constant. The spokesman rated the Italian Air Force as 25 per cent, good, 50 per cent, mediocre and 25 per cent, rubbish: The Italian machines were not as manoeuvrable as the British and are vastly inferior in armament. Fierce Defence Barrage Experts agree that last night’s barrage over London was the second heaviest, if not the heaviest, of the war. More guns and more, different types of guns were in action than previously, and in the early part of the night there was hardly five minutes’ quietness. Enemy night raids were practically confined to London and Southeast England, but they were small and brief. Houses and commercial and industrial buildings were damaged and fires were started, but the fires were extinguished by morning. Some damage to property and a few casualties were caused by enemy raids in eastern counties.

23 PLANES LOST SATURDAY’S RAIDS EFFECTIVENESS OF DEFENCES ENEMY’S RANDOM BOMBING LONDON, Oct. 5. (.Received Oct. 6, at 9 p.m.) Figures issued by the Air Ministry at 8 p.m. show that 23 enemy aircraft were destroyed to-day. Nine British aircraft are missing. Two of the four British pilots reported missing later returned to their bases, so that Britain lost only two fighter pilots, as against the personnel of the 23 German planes destroyed. A number of enemy air attacks was made on Britain between dusk last fiight and the early hours of this morning, but these were on a restricted scale. The attacks were mainly directed against London. An Air Ministry and Ministry of Home Security communique states: “A number of bombs were dropped on south-east England, and some fell in other parts of the country. In London and the surrounding districts some houses were destroyed and other buildings damaged. The casualties reported are not numerous, although they include some fatalities.

Small Number of Casualties In a town in south-east England a number of buildings was damaged. Elsewhere in this area, as well as in others where a few bombs were dropped, the damage was slight. The number of casualties reported in all these areas was small but include some killed. “In all districts fires resulting from incendiary bombs were dealt with promptly by the fire services and were very quickly extinguished. “An enemy bomber was shot down by gunfire from the ground last evening, making a total of three enemy aircraft destroyed. One of our fighters is missing from patrol yesterday.” The news agencies report an attack by the German Air Force in waves over the south-east coast today. The bombers are said to hav« been heavily escorted by fighters. Raiders Over Capital London had two “ alerts ” since daylight this morning, but they were of short duration. During one, according to reports, a few German aircraft which had penetrated the outer defences were seen over the capital. A Ministry of Home Security communique states: “During to-day the enemy made a number of attacks over the Kent and Sussex coast by forces of several squadrons. All were broken up and repulsed by our defences before they developed seriously. Reports received to 5 o’clock this afternoon show that bombs were dropped on a number of coast towns and a few also were dropped in the London area. Very little damage was done, but a number of houses was demolished at Hastings, which was twice attacked, and in the Medway area. In all the attacks the number of casualties was very small, though some were fatal.” “Blind Man’s Buff” Yesterday was a “ blind man’s buff day” for the raiders. The sky during an alarm which lasted for the whole afternoon was cloudy, and gunfire was heal’d practically continuously in one suburb after another intermittently. In Central London, random bombing again proved ineffective. The raiders were handed by gunfire, and fighters compelled them to confine their attacks mainly to south-east England. Thfy often jettisoned their bombs haphazardly before fleeing for safety. The night raidei’s fumbled about in the sky in a thick grey mist, clearly uncertain where they were. They dared not come down low and face the anti-aircraft guns or thq improved balloon barrage, which is now much higher. Even parachute flares are useless under these conditions.