FIERCE BATTLE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 August 1940, Page 6

FIERCE BATTLE

OVER BRITISH SOUTH-EAST

COAST

FIGHTERS REPEL ENEMY ARMADA.

FRUSTRATION OF INTENDED

ATTACK.

(Received This Day. 12.45 p.m.) LONDON, August 14. Today’s air battle over the southlast coast was one of the fiercest since the air offensive began. Spitfires and Hurricanes frustrated an attempt by 300 raiders to attack the coastal areas.

Two formations of Germans heralded the approach of the armada. They skimmed the water and encountered a fierce anti-aircraft barrage, which blew one raider to pieces and sent down at least two others.

Describing the battle, the Associated Press of Great Britain’s special correspondent says the British fighters held off a terrific attack in a gigantic air battle, which was preceded by half an hour’s gunfire. Heavy coastal guns were heard firing across the channel, followed by thuds from the direction of France. A moment later the sky to the west was filled with aircraft, like a swarm of flies. The fight became such an involved mass of wheeling, twisting and diving planes that it was impossible to distinguish British from German. The ground shook from anti-aircraft fire during the whole engagement. Every gun along the coast seemed in action. All observers agreed that the attack was badly beaten.

WEDNESDAY’S QUOTA

TWENTY GERMAN PLANES SHOT DOWN. ONLY THREE BRITISH PILOTS LOST. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY, August 14. A communique, issued at 10.45 p.m. states that it is now known that 20 enemy aircraft were destroyed in today's fighting round Britain. Seventeen enemy planes fell to fighters and three to anti-aircraft guns. One of our pilots, previously reported missing, is safe. The number of our pilots lost in today’s actions is therefore now three.