Mass Raids On South Coast Ports

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 191, 13 August 1940, Page 7

Mass Raids On South Coast Ports

39 PLANES DOWNED Royal Air Force Looses Only Nine Fighters

(British Official Wireless.—Rec 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY. August 12. The Admiralty. Air Ministry and Ministry of Home and Security have issued a communique which states that enemy bombing attacks which began over the Kent coast this morning later extended to the Isle of Wight and Portsmouth, where large forces were employed. The attack on the navy dockyard met with little success. Some bombs were dropped on the outskirts of the dockyard area, setting fire to a store and ™»n«ng minor damage to a jetty. Two small armoured service craft were damaged and subsequently sank. In other parts of Portsmouth the railway station was hit and a number of buildings, including a brewery, set on fire. The casualties caused included some deaths, but these were not numerous, having regard to the large number of bombs dropped. In the Isle of Wight a church and some houses were damaged, but few people were injured. Later reports have also been received of the attacks on the coasts of Kent and Sussex. Bombs were dropped at a number of points and slight damage was caused. Several R.A.F. aerodromes and some houses and other civil property were also hit The casualties in this area were very light, although several cases of fatal injuries are reported. The enemy has been heavily engaged at all points by British defences, which have again inflicted serious losses, with few casualties to themselves. The Air Ministry communique issued at 8.15 p.m. stated: "In to-day's engagements round our coasts the total number of enemy aircraft so far known to have been destroyed is 39. Nine of our fighters are missing. It is now known that 65 German aircraft were destroyed in yesterday's air battles. Latest information regarding the raids, which were made on British coasts, shipping and aerodromes, is contained in an Air Ministry bulletin, which discloses that of 39 raiders brought down. 32 were shot down by R.A.F. fighters and seven by anti-aircraft batteries. This represents the most successful day for the antiaircraft defences since the raids on the south coast began. . For the first time Lewis gunners of a searchlight company in Britain saw their bullets hit and bring down a German raider. crt o ™* time during melt *** lt wa « estimated that there were some . -^ nemv aircraft in «ction over Portsmouth, the Channel and the Thames Estuary.