AIR BATTLES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 August 1940, Page 6

AIR BATTLES

GERMAN RAIDERS MET FIERCELY IN ATTACKS ON THAMES ESTUARY. SOME NOTABLE FIGHTER RECORDS. (By Telegraph—Pi’ess Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.50 p.m.) LONDON. August 28. The Germans made no fewer than six daylight bombing attacks on one Kent coastal town. The last was made at about tea time. At least seven planes were seen to spiral down during half an hour of whirlwind battle between English and German fighters. There were similar fierce encounters earlier. A bomb blew up a house and killed three women, including a cripple. A Glasgow squadron composed of weekend (auxiliary) pilots has now destroyed 63 enemy planes without loss. The Belgian Legation announced that two Belgian fighter pilots, including the distinguished peace time aviator, Lieutenant Philippart, have shot down seven German planes since August 18. NIGHT ATTACKS RAIDERS OVER NINE TOWNS. IN ADDITION TO LONDON. (Received This Day. 12.55 p.m.) LONDON. August 28. Raiders so far tonight have been reported over nine towns, in addition to London, namely one town in the south-east, two in the north-east, two in the south-west, two in the northwest, one in the Midlands and one in Wales.

A London report says a number of parachute flares were seen to drop while searchlights weer exploring the sky.

There was a wonderful spectacle as over fifty searchlights concentrated on two points from which the drone of enemy planes was heard. Several flashes in one district momentarily lit up the sky. Again adopting useless tactics, enemy planes approached singly. The searchlights picked them up and forced them from the metropolis. Loud explosions were heard in one area soon after two planes had passed over.

RAID AMENITIES

COMFORT IN SHELTERS.

SWEEPSTAKE ON TIMING OF “ALL CLEAR.”

(Received This Day, 1.15 p.m.) LONDON, August 28.

A man telephoning from an air raid shelter in London at midnight said: “The people here are comfortable, with deck chairs, armchairs, camp beds, chess, draughts, cards and books. A sweepstake is now being held, on when lhe all clear will go.” Bombs are reported to have dropped on two south-eastern towns and on one Midland town. LONDONERS CALM TESTIMONY OF NEUTRAL CORRESPONDENT. (Received This Day. 11.30 a.m.) BASLE, August 28. The “Basler Nachrichten’s” London correspondent says increasing air attacks against London have a strange effect on the population. The greater the number of raids, the calmer their demeanour,. He adds that all the bombs have fallen far from military objectives.