EVENING ATTACK

Taranaki Daily News, 11 September 1940, Page 7

EVENING ATTACK

By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright

ENEMY IN VAST WAVES LONDON AREA REACHED

DEFENDERS' GRIM FIGHT

Rec. 9.15 p.m. London, Sept. 10. After a morning of cairn Germany launched another 350 aircraft at ;outh-east England and the London area between 5 and 6 p.m. yesterday. Successive waves of bombers and fighters crossed the coast between the North Foreland and Hastings, wherever they turned they were engaged by Royal Air Force fighters, new squadrons taking up the attack from point to point. J As the enemy crossed the KentWh coast British fighters were ready. They fought them over the rolling woods of Sussex, across the hopfields of Kent, above the commons and downs of Surrey and over the streets and houses of LoD" don. They pursued them back over the English Channel on the return journey. An ti -aircraft guns also helped to harass the enemy. The evening objectives apparently included Royal Air Force stations in southern England and various industrial targets, as well as London. Many of the enemy, however, were driven back before reaching any objectives. Canadians' Great Battle. Inside London, the Royal Canadian squadron of the Royal Air Force fought probably their greatest battle over the streets of London itself. They met the enemy on the south side of the Thames, chased them up-river from London Bridge to Hammersmith and dsetroyed three Dornier bombers, three Messerschmitt 110 fighters and four Messerschmitt 109's. Anti-aircraft guns put up a fierce barrage, as a result of which the bomber formation broke and turned seawards, rapidly losing height. Several raiders approached over a south-west suburb pursued by Spitfires. The raiders dropped several bombs, one of which completely demolished a store. Anti-air-craft guns hit a big bomber, which spiralled to the ground. A Polish sergeant-pilot shot down a Heinkel and a Messerschmitt singlehanded, while one English Spitfire squadron destroyed six Messerschmitts and probably one Heinkel. Preliminary reports show that some raiders penetrated north of the river,

where only minor damage was caused. Scattered bombs were dropped on the south of London, many of them in the outskirts, but again no serious damage resulted. Furious Dogfights. There were furious dogfights around London, but only a few enemy planes penetrated north of the Thames. Bombs were dropped on the . south of London, but there was no serious damage. An Air Ministry and Home Security communique stated: "This evening considerable forces of enemy aircraft again approached London. They were heavily engaged. Preliminary reports show that while a few penetrated north of the river only minor damage was done there. Scattered bombs were dropped on the south of London and many in the outskirts, but again no serious damage appears to have been done. "While full reports are not yet available the casualties are not expected to be heavy. The enemy dropped bombs on a town in Kent and wrecked a number of houses. Several people were killed."