RAIDS ON LONDON

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 August 1940, Page 7

RAIDS ON LONDON

THREE WARNINGS HEARD ON THURSDAY

ATTACKING FORMATIONS BROKEN UP.

CITY TRAFFIC POURS ON.

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 10.10 a.m). LONDON. August. 30. Sirens sounded three air raid warnings in London today. The first alarm was in the morning and was followed by a battle over south-east England. German planes apparently attempted to penetrate the defences in formations of 15

to 20, but were broken up by our ' fighters and anti-aircraft fire. Half a dozen dogfights were progressing simultaneously. The German attack came from several points and fresh patrols of fighters soon arrived. Watchers got fleeting glimpses of the struggle at a great height. Anti-aircraft batteries went into action in one London district, over which there was much machine-gunning. Bombs, it is reported, fell in a London district. Most of London’s heavy traffic poured on as the sirens wailed. Pedestrians either stood on the pavement or strolled on. A second warning sounded, after a formation of raiders in the afternoon had been seen approaching a southeastern district. Fighters it is believed scattered the formation, ( the members of which swung towards the coast. - A big batfl e occurred earlier in a south-eastern area and at least six bombers were shot down. It is believed that about six German planes were brought down in one district of the London area, while trying to locate a factory. During the third alarm, fighters engaged en_>ny planes over the London area. Dogfights developed and bombs were dripped. It is authoritatively stated that anti-aircraft batteries have shot down 10 raiders in the past month, equally divided between heavy and light guns. ENEMY LOSSES (Received This Day. 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, August 30.

The Air Ministry states that 42 enemy planes were shot down up to 7.30 p.m. Ten of ours were lost but four of the pilots are safe. The Air Ministry announced late last night that one of our fighters intercepted and shot down an enemy bomber in Southern England. We lost nine planes on Thursday, but seven of our pilots were saved.