SUCCESS AT ODDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 July 1940, Page 5

SUCCESS AT ODDS

WON BY BRITISH PILOTS IN VIOLENT AIR COMBATS. ENEMY ATTACKS ON SHIPPING REPELLED. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) LONDON, July 10. Thousands of spectators today saw the most violent air battles yet fought off the south-east coast of England when up to 120 German bombers and fighter escorts attempted in two relays to bomb a British convoy in the Straits of Dover. The raids were part of an attempt by Germany to close the straits to British shipping by a continual aerial offensive. They were on a vaster scale than any daylight attack previously made, but the successful intervention of British fighters scattered them, sent at least 11 planes down in flames, damaged several others, and chased the remainder home. Berlin claims that two cruisers and seven merchantmen were sunk or badly damaged. However, it appeared to eye-witnesses that all the bombs dropped missed the targets, and in spite of the German claims ships are still safely passing through the straits under a shield afforded by the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy. Other attacks were made over southern England and South Wales, and there were some casualties. Altogether during the day British fighter pilots inflicted the greatest damage to the German Air Force since the bombing raids over and near Britain began. In addition to 14 enemy bombers and fighters shot down 23 more were so severely damaged that they are unlikely to reach home. Two British fighters were lost, but the pilot of one is safe. The air fights lasted all day, mostly off the south and east coasts of England. All day long pilots’ combat reports kept coming in, and they always told the same story—victory against odds.

FURTHER RAIDS DAMAGE IN MIDLANDS VILLAGE. SEVERAL PERSONS INJURED. (Received This Day, 9.10 a.m.) LONDON, July 11. Four bombs were dropped on a Midlands village, damaging properly. Several persons were injured by flying glass. J , Enemy planes are believed to have been over south-west districts. No damage is reported. CIVILIANS MACHINE-GUNNED. LONDON, July 11. After circling round a district on the south coast early this morning a raider dropped four bombs and machine-gun-ned the area, demolishing a cafe and damaging three or four houses. A man was killed and a woman critically injured. - R.A.F. fighters shot down a bomber over the English Channel this morning.