AIRMEN KILLED

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21195, 19 August 1940, Page 7

AIRMEN KILLED

BOMBS DROPPED ON ’DROMES DAMAGE TO PROPERTY SLIGHT MANY RAIDERS DESTROYED (Official Wireless) (Received Aug. 19, 12 noon) RUGBY, Aug. 18 Reports received show that to 6 p.m. 36 enemy aircraft were destroyed by our fighters during the raids on south-east England at midday, says an Air Ministry communique. Bombs were dropped on several Royal Air Force aerodromes, where some of the service personnel were killed and others injured. Five British fighters are missing, the pilot of one being safe. A Ministry of Home Security communique states: “In the raids upon this country at mid-day bombs were dropped in the outer fringe of the South London area, Kent, and other parts of south-eastern and southern England. The information so far available shows that some civilian casualties were caused in the neighbourhood of Croydon. Elsewhere the number of casualties was small and the damage to property slight. This evening large formations of enemy aircraft again crossed the south-east coast near Dover and the North Foreland. Big formations attempted to penetrate London defences along both sides of the Thames Estuary, but were broken up by our fighters and driven back over Kent and Essex.

It appears that very little damage was derne. A few casualties were caused in the evening raid. Sixteen of our fighters were lost in the combat, but the pilots of eight aro safe.

The Swiss High Command annouced that anti-aircraft guns henceforth will fire on warplanes violating Swiss neutrality.