RECORD BAG

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 May 1941, Page 5

RECORD BAG

SECURED BY NIGHT FIGHTERS Enemy’s Heavy Loss of Trained Airmen VALOUR OF BRITISH FIRE-FIGHTERS IN FACE OF TERRIBLE DANGERS GERMANS LOSE 124 AIRCRAFT IN TEN DAYS LONDON, May 11. Thirty-three German aircraft were destroyed in a big fire raid on London last night. Allowing four of a crew to each bomber, the enemy lost 130 trained airmen in a few hours. All but two of the aircraft destroyed were shot down by night fighters—a record for any night, A later message states that four of the 33 enemy aircraft destroyed were shot down by anti-aircraft guns. Some of London’s historic buildings were heavily damaged, amongst them the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Hall. Westminster Abbey was also seriously damaged. In the House of Lords several men were killed while trying to put out fires. The debating chamber in the House of Commons is reduced to ruins. The roof of Westminster Hall has been pierced by a bomb and the interior of the building damaged, The clock tower in the Houses of Parliament was hit by a high-explosive bomb, but Big Ben still chimes the hour, with its face blackened and scarred. Westminster Abbey is open to the sky. The roof in the centre of the building has fallen in. The most historic part of the Abbey escaped destruction. The British Museum was set alight by incendiary bombs which fell on the roof at the back of the building, but the outbreak was prevented from spreading. CHALLENGE TAKEN UP GRIMLY Other reports say that the raiders were over London from shortly before midnight till nearly dawn. They rained down thousands of incendiary bombs in the third big attempt to set the capital on fire. London’s fire brigades took up the challenge and fought grimly. Five hospitals were hit, including a children’s hospital. In one district the raiders dropped high-explosives before the incendiaries in the hope of dislocating the fire fighting services, but the trick failed. Once again the fire-fighting services displayed the greatest heroism in the face of enormous dangers. An observer said it was the most awe-inspiring spectacle he had seen. Blazing buildings stood out in stark relief in places. The moon was blacked' out by the smoke when the bombers roared down. Then the whole city became one huge glare of light. A roof watcher said he had witnessed all the raids on London and had never seen anything to equal this one. Soon after dawn people came out of their shelters to see the firemen still playing their hoses on the debris. This morning’s Air Ministry communique says the raid lasted for several hours and was particularly heavy. Reports show that the number of casualties was high and that considerable damage was done. Outside London bombs were dropped at many points, particularly in the south-east and East Anglia, where a small number of people were reported to have been killed, Nowhere was the damage extensive. Late yesterday afternoon some bombs were dropped in the south-west cf England, houses being damaged and some people injured. For the first 10 days of this month the Germans have lost 124 aircraft and an estimated loss in skilled pilots of 500. HARD RETURN BLOWS Hamburg Again Attacked Heavily by RAF, BERLIN AND MANY OTHER TARGETS ALSO BOMBED GERMAN NIGHT FIGHTERS FARE BADLY LONDON, May 11. The R.A.F. is hitting back hard, a heavy raid being made on Saturday night on Hamburg, while Berlin and the ports of Bremen, Emden and Rotterdam were also attacked. German night flyers trying to give British bombers the same treatment given to their bombers over Britain had a bad time. Four were shot down and several others probably destroyed. At Hamburg the German High Command admits much destruction and numerous fires. The Air Ministry said the British raid was as effective as it was fierce. Load after load of incendiary and high explosive bombs were dropped and the docks and industrial quarters were left blazing. A New Zealander making his first raid on Germany was attacked by four German planes. Two were driven off and the third shot down in flames. The remaining German plane, which continued to press the attack, was also sent down in flames. Another British plane was attacked by two German night flyers. The British gunner held his fire until the enemy dosed in. One of the enemy planes crashed and the other gave up the attack. Coastal Command aircraft attacked enemy shipping, scoring a direct hit on a naval vessel and damaging two supply ships. Many fires were started in oil stores and refineries and docks at Rotterdam. Tn all these operations seven British planes were lost.