FIRE-RAISING RAID

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 December 1940, Page 6

FIRE-RAISING RAID

NAZI ATTACK ON CITV OF LONDON SERIOUS TOTAL DAMAGE. ENEMY PLANES' ENGAGED BY FIGHTERS. lß.v Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright i (Received This Day. 12.30 p.m.) LONDON. December 30. R.A.F. fighters last night battled with the German planes which subjected one area in London to intense attack and to one of the greatest fire-raising raids since the outbreak of war. Serious damage in this area was caused by a number of fires, some of which burned for hours after the “raiders passed” signal had sounded. Churches, hospitals and commercial premises were the target of the Luftwaffe, which left part of London overhung by great palls of smoko as building after building' went up in flames. An army of firemen, wardens, workers and civilian volunteers battled with thousands of incendiary bombs which were showered on the district, but as fast as they overcame one batch, the air was ' filled with the swish and crackle of more Molotov breadbaskets, dozens of which were dropped in about half an hour.

Fighters appeared to have saved at least one area from many explosives, of which remarkably few were dropped. London roof watchers proved their worth as never before. Buildings in this district which, had spotters and their own personnel were soon freed from incendiary bombs without damage. The spotters also did valuable work in directing firemen to fire bombs on roofs hidden from the streets. Regular and auxiliary firemen braved intense heat and falling walls. Many had miraculous escapes: others died at their job. Some were killed or injured when buildings collapsed. DAYLIGHT BOMBING SLIGHT DAMAGE IN TWO AREAS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.2 a.m.) RUGBY, December 30. During daylight today, it is officially stated, bombs were dropped by single enemy aircraft at one point in Essf Anglia and at another in Kent. The damage was slight, and there were few casualties. ______