NINE DAYS’ “BAG”

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21220, 17 September 1940, Page 5

NINE DAYS’ “BAG”

NAZIS’ HEAVY TOLL 1100 AIRMEN LOST (United Press Asn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Sept. 16 The Royal Air Force’s greatest single-day victory was scored durfn; air raids yesterday, mainly directed at the London area. It is known that 185 enemy aircraft, 131 of which were bombers, were destroyed, seven of them by anti-aircraft guns and the remainder by British fighters. This total exceeds the previous record of 180 machines in one day on August 15. Twenty-five Royal Air Force fighter aircraft were lost. Twelve pilots are safe. Five machines, temporarily reported missing, later returned to their bases. In the nine days since the “air-blitz” began on Saturday, September 7, the enemy has lost 455 machines and 1100 airmen. The Royal Air Force has lost 101 aircraft and 57 airmen. RAIDS ON LONDON FIVE ALARMS YESTERDAY BOMBS IN SHOPPING CENTRE (United Press Asn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Sept. 17, 11.20 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 16 London had three short air raid alarms this morning. A fourth at 2.15 p.m. lasted until 6.03 p.m., and the sirens sounded for a fifth alarm at 8.15 p.m. Most people in Central London perceived little evidence of reasons for the succession of warnings, although during the early part of the fourth period it was sparsely punctuated by the noise of bombs, antiaircraft fire and machine-guns. Two heavy bombs and a number of incendiary bombs fell near a shopping centre in the London area. There were no casualties. High explosive bombs were also dropped in another district. A church in the south-eastern district received a direct hit last night. There is a larg\ crater inside the church which was extensively damaged. London’s fifth alarm was still in force at midnight. Fewer Casualties Details of last night’s enemy raid on London form the substance of a Ministry of Home Security communique, in which details of today’s air activities are also included. The communique states: : Reports so far received show that the number of casualties in last night’s attacks on London is a little greater than on recent nights but much less than in the first attacks on the capital. Outside London the casualties were very few but some were fatal. It is now known that two enemy bombers were shot down by our fighters during the night. There has been little enemy activity during the day. About 8 a.m. today a force of enemy aircraft crossed the coast of Kent in cloudy conditions but were turned back by antiaircraft fire without encountering our fighters. Later in the day enemy aircraft, singly or in small numbers, crossed the coast at several points. A few bombs were dropped in various parts of the country, but the damage reported is slight and the number of casualties very small.