SOUTH-EAST ENGLAND

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 10, 11 July 1940, Page 11

SOUTH-EAST ENGLAND

ABOUT 150 PLANES TAKE PART

GERMAN BOMBERS SENT SCURRYING

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.)

(Received July 11, 11.30 a.m.)

LONDON, July 10

It is officially announced that eleven German planes were shot down in a series of engagements today. A number of others are reported to have been destroyed. At least five planes were shot down in the biggest air battle yet fought over the south-east of England. About 30 German bombers, escorted by fighters, participated. Antiaircraft guns and Eoyal Air Force fighters sent the bombers scurrying, but the German escorts stayed and engaged the Spitfires. The ensuing battle is described as a terrific attack. It had tAvo phases. Fifteen bombers delivered the first bombardment, defying an intense anti-aircraft barrage and raining down showers of high-explosive bombs. E.A.F. planes soared up to intercept the bombers. After ten minuted other German bombers, flying in five flights of six, were seen flying westwards at a height of 10,000 feet, and they released several salvos of bombs which fell wide of their mark. As the fighters drove off the bombers German fighters which had been hiding in the clouds dived ' doAvn, blazing aAvay Avith their machine-guns. The German fighters fled after sharp exchanges of machine-gun fire. Eye-witnesses report that they saw. ten planes crash into the sea. Spitfires shot down three bombers in three minutes. A bomber and a fighter collided in mid-air. It is estimated that in all 150 planes participated in the engagement. A feAv people were killed and seA^eral injured in a toAvn on the south-Avest coast. Three of those killed lived in the same house. Tavo men Avere killed and several injured AA'hen four bombs AA^ere dropped in the south-east of England. Several persons are reported to have been killed when six bombs fell on a Welsh town. An enemy plane unsuccessfully attacked a lightship on the east coast.