GREAT AIR BATTLE

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21204, 29 August 1940, Page 7

GREAT AIR BATTLE

LARGE ENEMY FORCES RAIDS OVER BRITAIN BROKEN UP BY BRITISH (Official Wireless) (Received August 29, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, August 28 A great air battle raged from the middle of Kent to the Thames Estuary before noon to-day. Early this morning a force of enemy aircraft came over the south Kent coast and soon afterwards a larger force flew over the north Kent coast. It is authoritatively stated that both forces flew inland and were engaged by British fighters, who broke up the formations and inflicted losses upon the enemy. Only half-an-hour separated two warnings in the London area last night, but they were of considerably shorter duration than in the previous night. An Air Ministry communique states: Enemy activities this morning have been almost entirely confined to two attempts to penetrate our defences in the Thames Estuary and Kent. In both cases our fighters intercepted the enemy and broke up his formation. Early reports of these engagements show that six enemy aircraft were shot down by the fighters. Raiders Shot Down A formation of 23 German bombers under a large fighter escort, which approached the south-east coast this morning, encountered fierce anti-aircraft fire. Shells burst among the formation as it proceeded inland, and loud explosions were heard. British fighters intercepted the bombers. Two airmen were seen to bale out. One parachute drifted to sea, and the other came down inland. A British fighter shot down a Messerschmitt over south-eastern England. The pilot baled out and landed in an orchard. High explosive bombs demolished a house in the London district last night. Eight high explosive bombs fell in a south-eastern coastal town shortly after midnight, causing considerable damage, including the demolition of a nursery. There were no casualties. Another salvo fell in a neighbouring district a few minutes later. Fighters intercepted the raiders, and a Messerschmitt after a sharp clash streaked out to sea rapidly losing height. Two other Messerschmitts attacked balloons, shooting one down in flames. A raider is believed to have been shot down off the Welsh coast last night. 24 Planes Shot Down It was officially stated at 8.35 p.m. that 24 enemy aircraft are known to have been destroyed today. A Ministry of Home Security communique states: “Large numbers of enemy aircraft again attempted to penetrate our fighting defences this afternoon. Few bombs were dropped except in one town on the Thames Estuary, where some damage was done and a small number of casualties caused. Twelve of our planes are missing, but the pilots of four are known to be safe. Public-houses Damaged Twenty-four bombers flew over a south-east coast town this afternoon and dropped six bombs, damaging nine public-houses, several restaurants, and a number of shops and private houses. There was only one casualty. Three high explosive bombs extensively damaged a south-western factory. Bombs also fell in isolated country districts. Seven incendiary bombs were dropped near a factory. Not much damage was done.

GERMAN VERSION MUCH DAMAGE CLAIMED SHELLING OF SUBMARINES (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received August 29, 11.5 a.m.) BERLIN, August 28 A communique states: Poor visibility yesterday confined our Air Force activities to armed reconnaissance. in which bombs were dropped on harbour installations at Gosport. Last night strong German air units attacked harbour works, aircraft factories and armament plants in England and Scotland. Fires broke out at Southampton, Aberdeen, Derby and Birmingham. The docks at Chatham particularly showed the effects of the raids. British planes dropped bombs in Germany last night. There was no effect worth mentioning. Three British planes were shot down. One of ours is missing. A U-boat sank 28,600 tons of British merchant shipping from a strongly-protected convoy. German naval guns shelled and probably destroyed two submarines off the French coast. The radio stated that seven British planes dropped 100 incendiary bombs on Berlin on the night of August 25, destroying a house near the outskirts