RAIDS ON ENGLAND

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21194, 17 August 1940, Page 7

RAIDS ON ENGLAND

DAMAGE AT CROYDON INCENDIARY BOMBS (Official Wireless) (Received August 17, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, August 16 An Air Ministry and Ministry of Home Security communique states: Full reports are now available of yesterday’s air battles. At Croydon, besides persons injured in the raid last night, a number of persons were killed. Of the 169 enemy bombers and fighters destroyed 153 were shot down by fighters, eleven by antiaircraft guns, one by a Lewis gun of a searchlight post, and two by fire from infantry. Thirty-four of our aircraft were lost, but the pilots of 17 of these are safe. During the night enemy activity was spread over a wide area. In these eastern counties incendiary bombs were scattered over large areas of open country, causing no casualties or appreciable damage. In a Midlands town some damage was done to buildings, including hospitals and a sanatorium, and slight damage was also done to a factory. There were some casualties, a number of which were fatal. Bombs were also dropped at scattered points in south-eastern, south-western and north-eastern England and South Wales. Slight damage was done to a factory in south-western England, but elsewhere little damage was done and only a few casualties are reported. One enemy bomber was shot down by fighters in the Humber area in the early hours of this morning.