WIDESPREAD GERMAN ATTACKS ON BRITAIN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 August 1940, Page 5

WIDESPREAD GERMAN ATTACKS ON BRITAIN

Terrific Dash to Sea by R.A.F. Fighters SOME ENEMY FORMATIONS DRIVEN BACK FROM COAST EXTENDED ATTACK ON SOUTH-EAST TOWN (By Telegraph.—Press Association—Copyright.) LONDON, August 3. Raiders were over England last night in the most widespread attack to date. The 8.8. C. went off the air “in the interests of national security” for half an hour. The skies over the south-east coastal areas blazed with a flash of guns, shell-bursts and searchlights. Fighters made a terrific dash to the sea and engaged the raiders, after which the sound of fleeing enemy engines quickly faded. A raid on one south-east town lasted for over an hour, and it was the third attack of the night. Two formations of bombers, Hying at. a great height, turned tail from fierce fighter opposition before crossing the coast. Wales shook to the most violent anti-aircraft firing during the war when raiders released bombs over many towns and penetrated far inland. Bombs which fell in a town in the north-east of England shook the buildings on the seafront. The enemy also raided a district on the south-west coast, a town in the Midlands and a town in north-western England. Raiders dropped incendiary bombs in a town on the northeast Scottish coast, and large high-explosive bombs in a nearby village, where the defences accorded the raiders a hot reception. Bombs fell in open country in the south-east and south-west of Scotland.