FORCED LANDING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 18, 1 November 1940, Page 5

FORCED LANDING.

GERMAN’S UNUSUAL MISHAP. trouble with rubber dinghy (Received This Day, 9.50 a.m.) LONDON, October 31. A German pilot taken prisoner in Kent confesse’d that while he was flying at the height of 25,000 feet he was attacked in the rear by his rubber dinghy, which became accidentally inflated. In an effort to master the dinghy he lost control and went into a spiral dive. On pulling out, the engine stalled and ho had to make a forced landing.—British Official Wireless.

ONLY SMALL DAMAGE.

FEW CASUALTIES IN LONDON.

RAIDERS OVER LIVERPOOL. LONDON, October 31. London is at work again after a very quiet night. Very few Germain aeroplanes were over the city and the damage was slight and casualties very few. The Germans yesterday lost nine aeroplanes. Britain lost five fighters, but one pilot is safe. Last night’s attacks were mainly on the London area, but bombs were also dropped in eastern and north-eastern districts. A few bombs were dropped on a town in the Midlands, and raiders wore over Liverpool. Soon after the first alarm was given in London, heavy gunfire was heard but this was followed by long periods of quiet. Several Messcrschmitts dive-bombed a south-east 'coast town early last night, damaging a working-class district. There were no casualties. A raider bombed- a north-west town and then machine-gunned the streets.

Anti-aircraft batteries came into action within a few minutes of Loudon’s usual alert. One raider evaded the barrage, but dropped no bombs. Others, flying high, followed a few minutes later, but they met with heavy gunfire and were driven ofl. Bombs were dropped yesterday in the north-west of England, where

there were some casualties, some of them fatal.

; London had three alarms during the day, but the raiders were broken up by fighters and driven off. Raiders which crossed the southeast coast machine - gunned motorists, but they were engaged by British fighters and made off with the fightexs in pursuit. A strong force of aeroplanes attempted to cross the south coast. Royal Air Force fighters closed in, and a brief battle followed, after which many aeroplanes were heard returning across the coast. Bombs have been dropped on Leicester Square, Stationers’ Hall, the centre court at V imbledon, and on St. Bartholomew’s Naval School.

Small objects the size of a Mills bomb with wire attached were dropped from enemy aircraft. The public have been warned against handling them.