TERRIFIC FIGHTS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21219, 16 September 1940, Page 7

TERRIFIC FIGHTS

BATTLES OVER LONDON WATCHERS ON ROOFS SCREAMING BOMBS FALL (United Press Asn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Sept. 16, 11.10 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 15 At least 50 planes were engaged in a dog-fight over the Central London area during the second warning this afternoon. Watchers on roofs saw the opposing planes curveting thousands of feet up and the fragments of two raiders, which evidently had been blown to pieces by anti-aircraft fire, falling from a great height. Screaming bombs fell in the Southwest London area, where the raiders encountered violent anti-aircraft fire. Terrific bursts of anti-aircraft fire heralded the German raid at noon. Forty-eight bombers and 24 Messerschmitts roared out of the thick clouds, flying over the Thames Estuary toward London. The British fighters came from all directions and thrilling dog-fights followed. Two bombers were seen hurtling to their doom. The battle progressed in a southwesterly direction. Then the raiders made for home. The bombing, which lasted for some minutes, appeared frenzied. Whistling bombs and high explosives seemed to fall on one of the most exclusive residential areas. London’s third warning followed the appearance of strong formations of German planes, flying to London from the direction of the Thames Estuary. Observers in the south-east district said this was the strongest force of raiders they had thus far seen. British fighters again engaged the Germans, many of whom were heard over the London area, where machine-gunning was clearly audible. People See Bomber Shot Down During the mid-morning’s air raid on the London area many people saw a German bomber shot down over the middle of the city. When the raid warning had been on for about half-an-hour, suddenly the sound of violent machine-gun fire could be heard, and high up in patches of clear blue sky between the clouds the silver flash of an aircraft could be seen. A fierce engagement right over the heart of London was clearly proceeding. Watchers saw a Spitfire dive on to one of a flight of some twenty enemy bombers, and almost at once a trail of black smoke was observed from the bomber’s tail. One of the crew jumped by parachute and immediately after the bomber went into a steep dive, burst into flames, and crashed in the forecourt of Victoria Station. It is reported that after the plane struck the ground nothing but a smouldering mass of wreckage was left of it. Further reports state that a little later, when more machine-gun fire had been heard, another big German machine was seen diving at a steep angle toward the ground over the London area.

The third air raid warning since midnight was sounded at 2.13 p.m., and the warning lasted just over an hour, but the raiders failed to penetrate the Central London area.