BUILDING AFTER BUILDING BLAZES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 310, 31 December 1940, Page 7

BUILDING AFTER BUILDING BLAZES.

GALLANT FIREMEN. R.A.F. And Nazis Battle By Light Of Flames, f United Press Association.—Copyright. (Reed, noon.) LONDON, Dec. 30. Royal Air Force fighters last night battled with German planes which subjected one area of London to an intense attack and one o» the greatest fire-raising raids since the outbreak. Serious damage to thie area was caused by a number of fires. Some burned for hours after the "raiders passed" signal had Bounded. Churches, hospitals, and commercial premises were targets for the Luftwaffe,, which left this part of London overhung with great palls of smoke. As building after building went up in flames, an army of firemen, air raid wardens and workers and civilian volunteers, battled with the thousands of incendiaries showered on the district, but as fast ae they overcame one batch the air was filled with the swish and crackle of more Molotoff breadbaskets, dozens of which were dropped in about half an hour.

Then at the very height of the raid, as buildings became flaming beacons, the anti-aircraft barrage dropped and Royal Air Force fighters swept to battle against the Luftwaffe. The fighters appeared to have saved at least one area from many explosives, of which remarkably few were dropped. London roof watchers proved their worth as never before. Buildings in this district which had spotters and their own Air Kaid Precautions personnel, were soon f/eed of incendiary bombs without damage. Spotters also did valuable work in directing firemen to fire-bombs on roofs hidden from the Streets. Regular an<l auxiliary firemen braved intense heat and falling walls. Many had miraculous escapes. Others died at their job. Some were killed and injured when buildings collapsed.