158 SHOT DOWN

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21207, 2 September 1940, Page 7

158 SHOT DOWN

“BAG” FOR THREE DAYS

GERMANY’S HEAVY LOSS TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Sept. 1 In the past three days the German Air Force has lost 158 machines and their crews over Britain, at a cost of 25 British pilots and 71 British machines. Eighty-five German machines were destroyed over Britain on Saturday. Of this number 70 were brought down by fighters and 15 by anti-aircraft fire. Thirty-seven British machines were lost, but the pilots of 25 of them are safe. Most Londoners took the raids calmly and carried on as if nothing unusual was happening, but for others it was a terrifying experience. “ The gunfire intermingling with the screaming and exploding of bombs was terrific,” said one woman. “We were in our shelter, but the vibration was so strong that we thought our end was very near. The German machines seemed to come right over our garden.” Crashing Nazi Aircraft “ Our area seemed to be full of crashing German aircraft,” said a Home Guard describing the air fighting over Kent on Friday, when a total of $2 German machines were shot down. Eight crashed in 40 minutes, and the sight of German pilots baling out delighted London crowds. Two German airmen who baled out took 15 minutes to reach the ground. Soldiers and members of the Home Guard found one clinging to the chimney of a house. He climbed down and handed over his revolver. Another of the many Germans baling out landed in a field, where two farm workers stood over him with pitchforks until Home Guards arrived. He said: “ I am glad it is finished.” Crew Blown to Pieces A Home Guard in another area described how a German raider crashed near him and the crew of three were killed. “It was only one of many in our area,” he said. Another raider exploded when it hit the earth and all of the crew were blown to pieces. Yet another cut through telegraph wires and fell in flames on a road. Still another straddled a children’s playground and buried its nose in the earth hear a public raid shelter. An Air Ministry and Ministry of Home Security communique says: Large forces of enemy aircraft crossed the south-east coast this morning in three successive waves at short intervals. Our air defences went into action and the battle which developed resulted in the enemy being scattered and driven back. A small proportion approached the London area and attempted unsuccessfully to attack several aerodromes in the home counties. These aircraft, too, were engaged by our fighters and dispersed. Bombs were dropped indiscriminately in districts in Kent and Surrey, and slight damage is reported.