COST OF RAIDS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 247, 26 July 1940, Page 5

COST OF RAIDS.

GERMAN ’PLANES DRIVEN OFF. RIG BATTLE OFF THE COAST. LONDON, July 25. For the first time since the outbreak of the air war against Britain, no raids were reported throughout the night, but seafront residents, awakened by gunfire, watched a convoy in the North Sea twice drive off bombers, which apparently did not hit the ships. An Air Ministry bulletin says that from the early hours of yesterday morning Spitfires and anti-aircraft guns were engaged in beating off the attacks of German bombers, fighters, and mine-laying aircraft on ships and shipping routes round Britain’s coasts..

Twelve enemy aircraft are known to have been destroyed, ten by fighters and two by anti-aircraft guns. Two Royal Air Force fighters are missing, but the pilot, of one is known to be safe:

A squadron of Spitfires fought the day’s biggest air battle when they wore patrolling in the morning off the south-east coast. They spotted 18 German bombers in arrowheads of three, then three Messerschmitt 109’s above and behind the bombers. Then there were another 12. -Messerschmitt 109’s higher still, and, finally a formation of Heinkel 113 fighters. - ; The Spitfire pilots attacked in line astern. The 'Spitfire pilot who attacked one of the Messerschmitts had fired only r a fraction of a. second’s burst’wK'en ‘the Messerschmitt burst into flames. The German pilot was shot out, together with pieces of his aircraft, and what was afterwards, discovered to be a rubber dinghy, the first known to he carried by a Messerschmitt 109, also fell out. ,

Before driving the enemy back over the Channel, the Spitfires had destroyed five Messersohmitt 109’s. Rain and cloud prevented them from seeing what happened to nine others which were hit by their bullets.