FRENZIED NAZI ATTACK

Southland Times, Issue 24242, 27 September 1940, Page 5

FRENZIED NAZI ATTACK

Heavy Bombing Of

London Area

(United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received September 26, 9.30 p.m.)

LONDON, September 25.

Soon after midnight Reichmarshal Goering launched one of the most frenzied attacks yet on London. Sections of the raiders sought out an important part of central London and also a famous shopping area. They first rained hundreds of incendiary bombs, circled round the targets and then dive-bombed. Swooping recklessly under the balloon barrage they joined in a series of furious attacks. The Air Ministry states that 26 raiders were shot down.

Valuable stained glass windows were blown in at an historic central London church. A bomb blew out the interior of a bank a few yards from the church. Fire bombs in central London started a ring of fires within a radius of a quarter of a mile, six of which were blazing simultaneously, enveloping college and business premises and furniture depositories in which were highly inflammable goods. Many nearby buildings were evacuated.

Fire-fighters worked on through a hail of shrapnel. Daylight found only the shells of buildings standing in one well-known street. Walls continued to collapse amid clouds of dust, debris and smoke.

A particularly heavy high explosive bomb caused great damage and also many casualties in one of London’s most popular centres. Residential areas elsewhere were again damaged. CRASH OF BOMBER After the air fights over Bournemouth this afternoon a German bomber crashed, setting fire to a house. Four of the crew of five were killed. Another bomber was brought down near Swanage. Five members of the crew bailed out and were captured. Bombs fell in the South London area in today’s raid. It is officially stated that German planes crossed the Dorset coast in daylight and attacked Bristol, bombing the outskirts. Some damage was done and several persons were killed and injured.

The Associated Press of America announces that it is believed that the buildings and housing of their London office was struck during the night raids. Members of the staff were not injured, but they sent a message advising that they were operating temporarily under extreme difficulty. Communication was cut off for 47 minutes.

Selfridges, in the West End, is among several departmental stores which suffered damage in the course of the recent enemy night bombing. The Indian students’ hostel has also been damaged. Pilots of Spitfires of the Nizam of Hyderabad squadron who also destroyed five German raiders spoke of the defensive circles formed by the Messerschmitt fighters when attacked. The bombers, on the other hand, kept to tight formations and the Spitfires diving on them out of the sun from 21,000

feet had to stand heavy crossfire from the German air gunners.

HEINKELS CHASED.

Pilots of a Hurricane squadron flying high above the clouds chased a great formation of Heinkel Ill’s from the mouth of the Severn well out into the Channel. They kept diving in line astern from 22,000 feet, picking off one Heinkel after another until they had destroyed six and seriously damaged others.

The Air Ministry News Service states that large German bomber formations were seen over England on Wednesday for the first time since the Luftwaffe’s defeat of September 15. In that battle over London a very high proportion of bombers was destroyed, and at least 15 of the German planes brought down today were heavy bombers and three others were fighter-bombers. Twenty enemy planes were shot down between Bristol and the English Channel by Spitfire and Hurricane pilots. Three were shot down by anti-aircraft guns. Four British fighters are lost or missing, but three of the pilots are safe. Between 100 and 200 enemy bombers and fighters flew north-west in a variety of formations just before noon. Fighter pilots saw two wedges of Junkers 88 bombers in tight arrowheads of three with about 40 in each wedge. Messerschmitt 109’s were higher still, flying in steps. Heavy Dornier 17 bombers and Heinkel 111 bombers kept the same close arrowhead formations. Spitfire pilots of one squadron shot down five enemy planes and probably destroyed several more.