HOT ENGAGEMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21224, 21 September 1940, Page 9

HOT ENGAGEMENTS

GERMANS DRIVEN BACK FIERCE ANTI-PLANE FIRE ALARMS IN LONDON AREA (Official Wireless) (Received Sept. 21, 11 a.mfl) RUGBY, Sept. 20 Although alert warnings were sounded in the London area during the forenoon the raiders which had been reported to be crossing the south-east coast were driven back before reaching the outskirts of London. Press reports state that a protecting screen of German fighters flew below the high-flying enemy bombers of the first wave of about 30 aircraft, which are reported to have broken formation after crossing the Channel, changing direction to avoid the fierce anti-aircraft fire. They proceeded inland, hotly engaged by British fighters. Most of the fighting took place above fastmoving clouds and lasted some 75 minutes, when the battle drifted over the Channel. Watchers state that three enemy aircraft were seen to crash into the sea. A Junkers 88, after being hit by anti-aircraft fire in last night’s raid on London, burst into flames and fell, demolishing a house in Merton Park, a western suburb, whose occupants were in a shelter and were only slightly injured. One of the airmen who baled out was captured three miles away. Another night-raiding Junker fell near Cambridge after being engaged by fighters, and a third was reported down in Essex—the victim of antiaircraft fire.