DOG-FIGHTS OVER BRITAIN

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21206, 31 August 1940, Page 7

DOG-FIGHTS OVER BRITAIN

GERMAN RAIDERS DRIVEN BACK THREE WARNINGS SOUNDED IN LONDON BOMBS AND MACHINE-GUNS PEOPLE REMAIN CALM (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received August 31, 11.10 a.m.) LONDON, August 30 The sirens sounded three air raid warnings in London today. The first alarm in the morning followed a battle over South-east England. The German planes apparently attempted to penetrate the defences in formations of 15 or 20, but were broken up by fighters and anti-aircraft fire. Half-a-dozen dog-fights were progressing simultaneously. The German attack came from several points. Fresh patrols of fighters soon arrived. Watchers got fleeting glimpses of a struggle at a great height. The anti-aircraft batteries went into action in one London district over which there was much machine-gunning. Bombs are reported to have fallen in a London district. Most of London’s heavy traffic poured on as the sirens wailed and pedestrians either stood on the pavement or strolled on.

A second warning sounded after a formation of raiders in the afternoon was seen approaching the south-eastern district. Fighters are believed to have scattered the formation, the members of which swung towards the coast. A big battle occurred earlier in the south-eastern area. At least six bombers were shot down. It is- believed that about six German planes were brought down in one district of the London area while trying to locate a factory. During a third alarm fighters engaged enemy planes over the London area. Dog-fights developed and bombs were dropped. It is authoritatively stated that the anti-aircraft batteries have shot down 100 raiders in the past month, equally divided between the heavy and light guns.

Terrific and Spectacular Battle The most furious German attack in last night’s raids over Britain apparently centred in the north-west coastal district, where a terrific and spectacular contest ensued between anti-aircraft batteries and relays of bombers. Sweeping in over a wide area the raiders dropped many high explosive bombs and incendiary bombs. Two people were killed and thirty injured. Fires broke out at a number of points, including two warehouses. The fire brigades successfully went into action. A children’s hospital, two public houses and two private houses were damaged. A bomb fell on an auxiliary fire service station. Other bombs broke gas and water mains. London was not unscathed last < night. Two screaming bombs fell in one London residential area, and demolished two houses and caused a number of casualties. Casualties were also caused when a raider, apparently damaged, jettisoned its bombs on a large housing estate in north-eastern England and demolished three houses and seriously damaged several others. A father, mother and son were trapped in one of several houses which were damaged when twenty high explosive bombs fell on a north-east coast town. A rescue squad dug out the parents and continued the search for the boy. Deliberate Attack on Hospital Incendiary bombs fell on an isolation hospital in the north-east. One fell through the roof of a ward from which all the patients except two had been removed to a shelter. These two were a convalescent sailor and a patient who was too 111 to be moved. The sailor volunteered to care for the patient. When an incendiary bomb crashed on the floor the sailor picked It up with blankets and threw It outside. Other convalescents helped nurses, porters and Home Guards to deal with other Incendiary bombs. The matron said it was deliberate attack. The isolation hospital was some distance from the town. Whistling and Screaming Bombs Many incendiary bombs were scattered in the Midlands. One of the crew was killed and three injured when a German bomber was shot down in South-east England last night and crashed on a village green.

HEAD=ON ATTACKS SOME THRILLING ENCOUNTERS GALLANT BRITISH AIRMEN MANY PLANES SHOT DOWN (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received August 31, 1 p.m.) LONDON, August 30 The German bombers and fighters concentrated their attacks on Friday, for the second day running, on aerodromes in south-east England. Three times Spitfires and Hurricanes broke up large German formations. In the first attack shortly before mid-day the German air force sent over 150 bombers and about the same number of fighter escorts. After crossing the Kent coast the enemy spread out fanwise, formations of 50 aircraft attempting to bomb Kent and Surrey aerodromes. The second raid took place after lunch and on a smaller scale, but it was followed an hour later by another mass raid. Once again the enemy used more than 200 aircraft and widened the area of their attack to north of the Thames. During the morning raid 11 Hurricane pilots inflicted a crushing defeat on formations of Heinkels, Messerschmitts and Jaguars. Returning over the Channel British pilots first sighted 50 Heinkels, flying at 16,000 feet, in sections of three. Then the Hurricane pilots saw that | flying above the Heinkels were large numbers of Jaguars, and still higher were Messerschmitt 109 fighters. The Hurricane pilots decided to attack the Heinkei bombers first. They flew at them head-on and shot down tw r o, and as they reported afterwards, effectively broke up the formations.

The Hurricanes then attacked the Jaguars, shooting down six and destroying probably two more.

Hurtled Down in a Line In the same raid six Spitfire pilots dived out of the sun on about 80 Messerschmitt and Jaguar fighter bombers. They were flying three miles high in four circles of 20 aircraft. As the Spitfires dived to attack 20 Messerschmitt 109’s protecting fighters hurtled down in a line astern and joined in the battle. Two Jaguars were crippled and were last seen falling with white smoke pouring from the fuselage. One of the Spitfire pilots was forced to bale out, but landed safely in Kent.

A south-east coast town had three raids last night. In the first an entertainment hall on the seafront was set on fire.

Whistling bombs fell in a second raid and screaming bombs in a third raid.

Ten more Spitfire pilots routed another formation of 50 German bombers, protected by about the same number of fighters. The bombers were flying in waves, with the fighters circling above. The Royal Air Force squadronleader led a head-on attack at the bomber formation, which completely broke up. Then the Spitfire pilots attacked the bombers singly. Before the enemy turned in retreat they lost four Heinkels and one fighter. During the raids on Friday night a Spitfire pilot sighted a German bomber flying at a great height, illuminated by searchlights. The searchlights lost their target, but the Spitfire pilot tracked the bomber across the clear starry sky by following the lights from its exhaust. The Spitfire pilot made several astern attacks, closing within 40 yards of the enemy. He saw his machine-gun bullets hit. The bomber’s port engine stopped and then the starboard engine caught fire.

A Ministry of Home Security communique issued at 7.50 p.m., says: Large formations of enemy aircraft again crossed the Kentish coast this afternoon, later spreading out over a wide area, attempting to attack a number of Royal Air Force aerodromes in the home counties.

Preliminary reports indicate that no serious damage was done to aerodromes. At one town in the home counties industrial premises were damaged and a number of people killed or injured. The enemy was heavily engaged at all points by our fighters, which inflicted severe losses. 1000 Nazi Planes Destroyed An Air Ministry communique states: Reports received to 10 p.m. show that 53 enemy aircraft were destroyed on Friday. Fifteen of our fighters were lost, but five pilots are safe. It is now known that the total number of enemy aircraft destroyed on Thursday was eleven. The number of enemy aircraft destroyed in air attacks on this country this month now exceeds 1000.

The official casualties in connection with the sinking of H.M.S. Orpheus are given as five officers and fifty ratings missing, presumed killed.