TOTAL OF 43

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 304, 1 October 1940, Page 5

TOTAL OF 43

ENEMY LOSSES YESTERDAY. DEFENCES CONSTANTLY ALERT. FEW GET, THROUGH TO LONDON. ♦ (United Press Association—Copyright.) (Received This Day, 12.45 p.m.) LONDON, September 30.

It is officially stated that up to Bp.m. 43 enemy aircraft had boon destroyed. British fighter losses are 16, with eight of the pilots safe. Royal Air Force fighters and antiaircraft defences aa’otg constantly in action to-day, in the course, of Avhicli the enemy made four large-scale attacks on south and south-east England.

The Air Ministry and Home Security communique states: “In the first two attacks, which took place about 10 a.m. and 10.15 a.m. respectively, the enemy crossed the' coast near Dover and penetrated some 40 miles inland, but none of the planes reached London. In the course of these raids bombs were dropped at several places in the southeast, notably at Bexhill and Hastings, and some damage and casualties, some of which were fatal, were caused in each of these towns. About an hour later a third attack was made across the Dorset coast, where the enemy ■ was engaged. Few' of his bombers penetrated any distance inland, and there are no reports ol bombs having been received. “The fourth attack was the largest, and began soon after 1 p.m. About 180 aircraft flew in over Dungeness and again penetrated inland, but were engaged and broken up before reaching the outskirts of London. A few enemy aircraft, however, evaded our defences and succeeded in dropping bombs in the western suburbs. Here damage was done and casualties w r ere caused, but details are not available.”