115 BROUGHT DOWN

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21195, 19 August 1940, Page 8

115 BROUGHT DOWN

ENEMY RAIDERS DESTROYED

SERIES OF THRILLING DOGFIGHTS

GALLANT AIRMEN

(United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received August 19, 3.15 p.m.) LONDON, August 18 Tho \ir Ministry states: At least 600 German bombers and fighters participated in three mass raids against England today. Londoners heard their anti-aircraft guns in action for the first time. It was learned authoritatively at midnight that the figure of German air losses today was 115. After resting for a day the German air force again attacked aerodromes and harbours in the south and south-east. Reports up to 8 p.m. of 86 German losses show that 73 enemy aircraft were destroyed by Spitfires and Hurricanes of the Fighter Command. Fifty-three were bombers or fighter-bombers. As well as in London the anti-aircraft batteries were also in action along the coast from Essex to Hampshire. So far reports have been received of twelve enemy aircraft shot down by anti-aircraft guns and one by searchlight Lewis gun crew. The first attack took place shortly before 1 p.m. Enemy formations crossed the Kentish coast at several points and shortly afterwards other formations attacked over Hampshire. A squadron of Spitfires engaged German bombers which were about to attack their aerodrome in Surrey. Within a short time they had destroyed eleven—six bombers and five fighters. About the same time a Hurricane squadron was challenging an attack in the Hampshire area. They shot down six Junkers 87 dive-bombers and two Messerschmitt fighters. During the air battles in Kent a squadron of Hurricanes was on patrol w T hen it sighted five Messerschmitt fighter-bombers at 21,000 feet. One pilot said: “We climbed up and dived down on the enemy aircraft, shooting down the lot in a dogfight.”

Crashed One a Minute A low-flying German fighter machine-gunned an army signal training unit on the south-east coast, but when it returned a second time the trainees were .waiting with rifles and blazed away. The German reared up and crashed. A German bomber attempted to machine-gun a bus carrying London trippers seeking a quiet Sunday in the country. The driver saw the bomber coming and braked suddenly. The bomb overshot the mark by 50 yards, bullets ripping into the road. Raiders crashed every minute for nearly a quarter of an hour when Spitfires and Hurricanes broke up a formation of 50 Germans attempting to attack a Kentish town. Five German planes were seen to spiral to the ground when the British fighters swarmed to the attack against 100 bombers over an Essex town. Crowd*?, ignoring the warden’s appeal, clustered the doorways to watch the battle and cheered wildly as the enemy took death dives. Forty dive-bombers, with large numbers of Messerschmitts circling high overhead, launched a powerful attack on a south-western aerodrome. There were several casualties among civilians living nearby. A large number of houses have been left without water as a result of a bomb bursting a watermain. Sixteen Messerschmitts machinegunned a number of workmen, killing several. “GOOD AUSTRALIANS” REFUGEE BRITISH CHILDREN OVER 400 ON THE WAY (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received August 19, 3.15 p.m.) LONDON, August 18 Four hundred and seventy-nine British children left a British port and are now well on the way to Australia. Mr G. H. Shakespeare farewelled the children. He said he hoped those who did not want to return after the war would settle down and become good Australians. Described by the captain as travelling in ‘‘their own ship,” nearly 400 children from grant-aided schools in the more vulnerable areas of Britain recently left for Australia. About 15 of these young voyagers were only five years old, but, supervised by 38 expert escorts, two doctors, a dentist, and ten hospital nurses, the whole party is well provided for. Addressing the children on the eve of their departure the Dominions Under-Secretary said: “Don’t forget that people in Australia will judge England by the way in which you behave. I don’t expect you to be too good, but be truthful, brave and kind, and be grateful.”