ANOTHER 50 PLANES SHOT DOWN
WAR CABINET’S ADMIRATION OF PROWESS CHURCHILL’S MESSAGE OF CONGRATULATION (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Aug 12, 11 a.m.) LONDON, August 11 It is officially announced that so far 50 German planes have been shot down today in air battles at Portland and Weymouth, after an action over the Straits of Dover. Nineteen of our fighters are missing. Two of His Majesty’s ships at Portland suffered minor damage from splinters. Bombs falling on land caused some damage to naval buildings, including a hospital. There were several casualties, one being fatal. The official communique adds: A number of houses at Portland and Weymouth were damaged by bombs, some seriously. Some damage was done to communications. An oil tank was set on fire, but it was soon extinguished. The Prime Minister, Mr Winston Churchill, sent congratulations to the Royal Air Force squadrons engaged in Thursday’s brilliant action. The message expresses the War Cabinet’s admiration of the skill and prowess of the airmen and congratulations on the defeat and the heavy losses inflicted upon a far more numerous enemy.
Barrage Balloons Attacked An Air Ministry communique issued at 1 p.m. says: “ Enemy aircraft which approached the southeast coast this morning and attacked barrage balloons were engaged by our fighters. The anti-aircraft guns were also in action. Two enemy fighters were shot down by our fighters. In a second engagement over the English Channel three more enemy fighters and one bomber were shot down. Terrific Wall of Fire In the first actions this morning over south-east coastal towns a fierce dog-fight resulted in eight German fighters being shot down. Later, diving down from a great height, German fighters attacked balloon barrages on the south-east coast. One balloon was set in flames, and its cable, freed from the blazing envelope, came down with a lash like an enormous whip. The ground defences then, putting up a terrific wall of fire, prevented a second wave of Messerschmitts from reaching their objectives. This afternoon several squadrons of Messerschmitts raided a south-east-ern town for the third time today, and attacked barrage balloons, on which they swooped at 400 miles an hour. A hail of bullets from the leading plane sent the balloon down in flames. The remaining raiders abandoned the attack. No bombs were dropped. Many Houses Wrecked Many houses were wrecked in a raid on two south-east towns today. The casualties are believed to be slight. Direct hits destroyed a brewery and damaged another brewery. Many houses over half a square mile in this part of the town were reduced to ruins. A children’s service was in progress in a chapel when the raid began. The children sheltered under a wall, and all escaped.
A whole family was wiped out among the fatalities resulting from the German bombing of a Welsh town. Sco res of houses and shops were damaged.
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Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21189, 12 August 1940, Page 7
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478ANOTHER 50 PLANES SHOT DOWN Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21189, 12 August 1940, Page 7
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