HAIL OF SHELLS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21196, 20 August 1940, Page 5

HAIL OF SHELLS

RAIDERS TURNED BACK ANTNAIRCRAFT SUCCESS PLANES SHOT DOWN (Official Wireless) (Received August 20, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, August 19 The anti-aircraft defences proved extremely effective during yesterday’s enemy raids. Seventy German bombers in the evening paid the anti-aircraft defence the biggest compliment in their power—they turned back. The enemy bombers were in four groups, forming a large rectangle. Forty were Heinkels and the other thirty Dorniers. Behind them flew escorting fighters, stepped up in tiers. As they approached the outer part of the Thames Estuary they were received with a hail of shells from the anti-aircraft batteries. At this moment a Spitfire patrol was approaching the scene, ready to finish off whatever of the enemy had braved the terrific anti-aircraft fire. The Spitfires were just in time to see the enemy’s retreat. All that were left for the Spitfires were a few circling Messerschmitt 110’s and a number of lone bombers forced away from the main formation. They shot down five of the Messerschmitts and one Dornier 17 for certain and it is thought that three more Messerschmitts were unlikely to get to their base. They also damaged several more badly. Many Other Successes The anti-aircraft gunners had many other successes. In one area alone three enemy aircraft, a Junkers 88, a Heinkel 111 and a Messerschmitt 109 were shot down by light anti-aircraft fire. In all the gunners got 13 planes, including one by a Lewis gun at a searchlight site. The Lewis gun crew saw a Dornier 215 flying with a Hurricane on its tail. Behind the Hurricane was a Messerschmitt, which was firing in its turn on the British fighter. The Hurricane was in obvious difficulties and was seen to crash, although the pilot was safe. A searchlight crew opened fire at a Dornier at 1000 feet with a Lewis gun. Three other searchlight posts also went into action. Finally a Dornier crashed. Two of the crew were found to be dead and the other was injured. Brought Down By Home Guards The Home Guards, using rifles, have brought down a German bomber. This became known today, when the War Office stated that during the air raids on Sunday a few Home Guards in the South London area were attacked by machine-gun fire from an enemy dive-bomber. They retaliated with rifle fire, and after firing 180 rounds they caused it to crash.

An Air Ministry and Ministry of Home Security communique confirm that in general little damage was done in the air raids on this country yesterday evening. A number of high explosive bombs, however, which fell on a town in south-east England damaged some houses and caused a small number of casualties, some being fatal. During last night enemy air activity was not on a large scale, but bombs were dropped at a number of points in England and South Wales. Little damage was done and few people sustained injuries.