SCATTERED NAZI RAIDING

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 282, 23 August 1940, Page 9

SCATTERED NAZI RAIDING

Old Tactics Resumed | Over Britain

MANY SMALL ATTACKS

Vain Attempts Against

Aerodromes

(British Official Wireless and Press Assn.) LONDON, August 21.

Finding mass raids expensive, the German Air Force today went back to the hit-and-run tactics used in the early days of the war. Early this morning the first enernv bomber made its appearance over the south-east coast of England. Throughout the day German airmen, using the clouds to dodge patrolling Spitfires and Hurricanes, attempted to cross the coast at points from the Isle of Wight to the Humber. Some dropped bombs inland, some were engaged on reaching the coast, and others escaped out to sea immediately they saw British fighters approaching.

A communique issued by the Air ‘ Ministry and the Ministry of Home ' Security this afternoon stated that enemy activity over this country today consisted of a series of attacks by aircraft operating singly or in small numbers. There were many such attacks, including two delivered far inland. It was evident that hi some cases the enemy’s objectives were Royal Air Force aerodromes, but though damage was done to living quarters at ouc aerodrome, such attacks proved otherwise abortive., Towns in the south and east of England and the Midlands were bombed, houses being damaged at several places. The number of casualties was small, though some were fatal. A short attack was made on inhabitants in one residential area by machinegun fire. Thirteen Bombers Down. British fighters today shot down J 3 enemy bombers, stated a night communique by the Air Ministry. One of our fighter aircraft was lost, but the pilot ■’was safe. The enemy activity continued this evening with the same tactics as during the earlier part of the day—aircraft making indiscriminate attacks, on various parts of the country, with some definite attempts 'to attack R.A.F. aerodromes. Two of the enemy aircraft ventured far beyond the coast. Only slight damage was reported from any of the aerodromes attacked, though some casualties were caused. Damage was done to property in a Yorkshire town and in residential districts ou the south coast, both of which suffered a number of casualties, some being fataL- ~ , Enemy planes flew over a south-east town tiiis morning. Several bombs were dropped in a thickly-populated district in the Midlands and also in Two enemy aircraft which bombed a town iu Lincolnshire were both shot down. Their bombs laid caused little damage and no casualties. When attacked by a fighter, a Junker crashed near a south-east town, five of the crew being killed. Another raider dropped bombs on the southeast coast this afternoon and a row of houses was damaged. There were no fatalities.

Bombers twice raided a. holiday resort on the south-east coast. Three bombers in the first raid dropped three bombs near a hotel. Fighters chased the raiders, one of which was seen falling at sea. A bomber in the second raid dropped four bombs in gardens. There were no casualties. A bomb from a raider over a southeastern town converted eight workmen’s houses into a huge crater filled with debris, causing fatalities. A 14-year-old boy assisted his mother to capture a German who baled out from a Dornier near a south-eastern village. Farm workers caught two others and Home Guards took prisoner many Germans who baled out. Woman Saves Train.

A. woman level-crossing keeper acted promptly to save a train in a northeastern raid. A raider came down low, waiting to attack a train. The w’oman telephoned to the next signal-box and had the train stopped, but Spitfires appeared and shot down the raider in a field, where a searchlight crew captured the airmen. When the Germans continued their raids on a small scale this evening, British fighters chased a raider which dropped five bombs and machine-gun-ned the outskirts of a town before it crashed. Some people were killed. Three Spitfires performed breathless aerobatics, which are now known as “the victory roll, ’ after they destroyed a. Dornier over a south-east town. The stricken German plane narrowly missed a clock tower and crashed in a field, killing two ponies. The top scorers of the day were the Spitfire pilots of an auxiliary squadron in the Midlands, who during the morning destroyed two Dorniers and severely damaged two others. In the south of England three Hurricane pilots, Hying at 7000 feet, sighted a Junkers 88 five miles away and immediately gave chase. The Junkers pilot hurriedly unloaded his bombs and attempted to escape, but ended with a crash on land. Lengthy Resistance. Three patrolling Spitfire pilots also sighted a Junkers 88 over Oxfordshire. When he was within 400 yards of the enemy ibomber the squadron leader opened lire and after two bursts the German pilot dodged into a cloud. As he came out the pilot officer flying the second Spitfire delivered an attack from astern. Then the squadron leaderattacked again, but in the attempt to elude his pursuers the German pilot again sought the safely of the clouds. When he came into clear air a second time the third Spitfire pilot was waiting and opened fire at only 50 yards' range. The Junkers’ gunner fought back, fiercely and kept on tiring till the squadron leader carried out a third attack. The Junkers then crashed in Hames. A third Junkers 88 was engaged off the .south coast by three Hurricanes. After delivering an attack from astern the German rear-gunner was silenced. 'The Hurricane pilots then delivered beam attacks and the Junkers caught fire. Two German airmen jumped by parachute. Havoc By Aerial Torpedo. (Received August 22, 8.30 p.m.) LONDON. August 22. The missile responsible for the razing of eight workmen’s houses by the raider over a south-easi, town yesterday is believed Io have been an aerial torpedo. oilier houses wore partially wrecked, but the casualties are reported to be fewer than was first thought