NAZIS’ BIG LOSS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21188, 10 August 1940, Page 7

NAZIS’ BIG LOSS

PLANES, MEN, MATERIAL BRITISH IN GOOD SPIRITS STUNTING ON RETURN (United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, August 9 Germany launched the greatest and most determined air attack against Britain since the outbreak of the war yesterday, when over 30r. dive-bombers and fighters carried out a series of three attacks against Channel shipping over a period ot nine hours. They first attacked in groups of about 80 aeroplanes, culminating in a final raid by 150 machines between 4 and 5 p.m. It is estimated that the Germans dropped 2000 bombs, but the convoy continued to steam on. Sixteen British fighter pilots are reported missing. It is possible that some of them have been saved by ships of the Royal Navy. One Hurricane squadron, including New Zealand and Australian pilots. shot down 21 machines. The British fighters returned stunting to show their good spirits. Germany lost about 100 skilled personnel and aeroplanes worth more than £500,000. The wreckage of the machines was strewn over the waters of the Channel. This is Britain’s reply to Germany’s attempt to blockade Britain by air. “Bombs have been dropping almost continuously since dawn,” said a resident of the Channel coast, “But, thanks to the British fighters, all of them have fallen into the sea—so have a number of German aeroplanes. The whole countryside is L ; ttered with spent bullets.” German raiders were still active long after nightfall, but in smaller numbers. They operated over a wide area, mostly at a great height. British Raids on Continent r The British Air Ministry communique states: Bombers yesterday carried out daylight attacks on enemy-occupied aerodromes at Cherbourg and Hamstede, in Holland. Night bombers, though again hampered by poor weather, attacked the Homburg oil plant, the Kiel dockyard, store depots at Hamm and a number of aerodromes in north-west Germany. All our aircraft returned safely. The coastal command reports the loss of one reconnaissance aircraft over the Norwegian coast yesterday. Nazis’ Exaggerated Claims A German communique says: “ In an air attack on a convoy, German machines sank 12 ships, totalling 55,000 tons, and damaged seven. During the ensuing combat five British fighters were shot down. One of ours is missing. “ A further 29 fighters were shot down in later combats. Two of ours were lost. “ Our motor torpedo-boats attacked a strongly-protected convoy. They sank an 8000-ton tanker, two steamers of 4000 to 5000 tons each, and set on fire a smaller tanker.” Damage to Industrial Property The Ministry of Home Security, in a communique, states: Shortly before midday a single enemy aircraft crossed the north-east coast of England and dropped a number of highexplosive bombs. Damage was done to houses and Industrial property in a coastal town. There was a number of casualties, only one of which was fatal. Anti-aircraft guns and Royal Air Force fighters engaged the enemy bomber and shot it down at sea. Dutch Sailors Machine-gunned Seven Dutch sailors, including two seriously injured, arrived at a southwest port after being machine-gun-ned several times by German raiders during yesterday’s attack against a convoy.

Anti-aircraft guns brought down a German bomber off the north-east coast this morning. The bomber adopted glide bombing tactics in order to avoid the ground batteries. The crew of three escaped in a rubber boat, but were taken prisoner. Two German fighters unsuccessfully attacked the south-east coast early this evening. They came in twice, peppering the objective with cannon shells. The anti-aircraft defences drove them off. The Ministry of Home Security reported that bombs fell last night in the south-western districts of England. Some damage was done and there were some casualties, one of which was fatal.