TWELVE DOWNED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 246, 25 July 1940, Page 5

TWELVE DOWNED

NAZI RAIDERS OVER BRITAIN.

DEFENCE LOSES TWO FIGHTERS,

TOLL OF YESTERDAY’S COMBATS,

(United Press Association —Copyright * (Received This Day, 9.35 a.m.) LONDON, July 24. It is officially stated that fighters and anti-aircraft defene.es shot down a total of eight enemy planes during the day. Two of our fighters wore lost. The Air Ministry later confirmed that Royal Air Force fighters shot down four more enemy ’planes, making the day’s total 12.

FIGHT OVER EAST COAST. TWO ENEMY ’PLANES DOWN. ONE CRASHES IN STREET. (Received This Dav, 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, July 24. . Enemy ’planes bombed a town in the south-east of England this afternoon, causing slight damage and some casualties. ’Planes earlier dropped bombs on the south-west of Scotland. There was little damage and no'ono was seriously injured. Over 60 British and German fighters took part in a battle over the east coast this afternoon, when two German fighters were shot down. The battle occurred when German bombers, escorted by fighters, attacked a convoy in the Thames Estuary. Royal Air Force fighters swooped down while the Germans were bombing tlie merchantmen. The raiders fled. Onlookers saw a British ’plane dive and open fire. One German nose-dived with smoke pouring from its tail. It was smashed to fragments in a narrow street, burying itself 14 feet deep without damaging property. : ' .

SERIES OF ENGAGEMENTS.

SIX RAIDERS BROUGHT DOWN. (Received This Day, 11.25 a.m.) LONDON, July 24. The Air Ministry communique states: Anti-aircraft guns shot down an enemy bomber near the north-west coast early this morning. In a series of engagements near the south-east coast shortly after mid-day, four enemy aircraft were shot down by four fighters and one by anti-aircraft guns. British Official "Wireless.