DEATHS & DAMAGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 May 1940, Page 5

DEATHS & DAMAGE

EXPLOSION OF ENEMY BOMBER

BROUGHT DOWN IN ESSEX COASTAL TOWN. AT LEAST 100 CASUALTIES REPORTED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON. May 1. The Air .Ministry reports that 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. A later message states that a Heinkel .bomber crashed, its five occupants being killed. The Heinkel, which is believed to have been a mine-layer, was first heard 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 “Daily Mail” says there were at least 100 casualties. HOUSES WRECKED DEAD INCLUDE MEMBERS OF NAZI CREW. NINETY PERSONS WOUNDED. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, May 1. It is now revealed that when the Heinkel raider crashed at the popular seaside resort of Clacton-on-Sea, five psople, including the four members of the plane’s crew, were killed and 90 wounded, of whom 49 are in hospital. Other bodies are possibly still under the wreckage. About 50 houses were damaged and two houses and a bungalow completely destroyed. The Heinkel ploughed through the 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 streets for hundreds of yards with littered with bricks and tiles. The total damage is estimated at £lOO,OOO. Fire-fighting and ambulance squads were fellowing the course of the plane when it was seeking a forced landing and finally came down with its load of explosives. A Clacton hotel proprietor who had a standing offer before his guests to reduce their bills by a third for every bomb dropped in the town or mine exploded on the beach leaves the offer still open. “This was just bad luck." he said. TOTAL CASUALTIES — « PLANE LOADED WITH MINES. (Received This Day, 10.40 a.m.) LONDON, May 1. The casualties at Clacton are now stated at six killed and 154 injured. The Heinkel is reported to have been loaded with mines.