Three Pilots Safe of Four of Our Planes Lost

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 September 1940, Page 5

Three Pilots Safe of Four of Our Planes Lost

SUSTAINED ATTACKS ON ENEMY INVASION BASES SHIP SUNK BY COASTAL COMMAND AIRCRAFT It is now known that 23 enemy planes were shot down yesterday in raids on Britain, three by anti-aircraft gun fire, a 8.8. C. broadcast reports. Britain lost four planes, but the pilots of three are safe. An earlier Air Ministry communique stated that five British planes had been lost, but one is now reported to be safe. Enemy aircraft crossed the Dorset coast and attacked Bristol. Bombs were dropped on the coast and on the outskirts of Bristol. Some damage was done and a number of people were killed or injured. There was minor activity in south-east England. Agency messages state that yesterday’s raids were made by two large German formations. The first encountered heavy anti-aircraft gun fire and Spitfires shot down some of the raiders and sent the others racing’ off for home. The second raid was by a still larger force of about 50 enemy planes, which were attacked by fighters and several destroyed. A Dornier bomber flew low over a south-east coast town and machine-gunned the streets. The people had taken cover and no one was hit. The plane, which had been roughly handled by British guns, crashed into the sea. It is not known if any of the crew were rescued. In London there was only one air raid alarm during the day. A short burst of gunfire was heard in a south-west district of the capital. On Wednesday night single German planes tried to penetrate London’s defences. High explosive and incendiary bombs were dropped at random in many parts of the London area. Planes were also reported in other parts of Britain. A highexplosive bomb was dropped on a town in East Scotland but there was no material damage. On Wednesday eight German raiders were shot down. Four British planes were lost, but the pilots of two escaped.

Long Raid on Berlin

AS PART OF EXTENDED OPERATIONS As a sideline to the routine bombing of Channel ports, the R.A.F. on Wednesday night made a 2|-hour raid on Berlin, besides attacking many other objectives, the 8.8. C. reports. At the end of these attacks fires and explosions occurred among barges, shipping, docks and quays of the German invasion bases. Other forces of bombers attacked many places in Germany, including an electric power station, railway communications and goods yards, gun emplacements and several aerodromes. Early yesterday morning Hudson aircraft of the Coastal Command sank one of three enemy ships. Three direct hits were obtained on the biggest of these vessels. In all these operations only two British aircraft were lost.