DAY-LONG RAIDS

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 39, 14 August 1940, Page 9

DAY-LONG RAIDS

Germans Lose 69 Planes

THRILLING FIGHTS

Eleven British Machines Missing

(Official Wireless and U.P.A.) (Received August 14, noon.) LONDON, August 13. The great air battle over Britain continued today with mass attacks soon after dawn on aerodromes and shipping along the south and south-east coast. It is officially announced that 69 German planes were shot down during the day. Eleven British fighters are missing, but five pilots were saved. About 500 enemy aircraft were engaged. An Air Ministry and Ministry of Home Security communique states: "Enemy aircraft approached the coast early this morning at points ranging from the Sussex coast to the Thames Estuary. Bombs fell on several seaside towns, causing a few casualties, but no military damage. Some enemy aircraft crossed the south coast and dropped bombs in the country district of Hampshire, causing a small number of casualties, some of them fatal. R.A.P. fighters attacked the enemy and anti-aircraft guns opened fire. Another commujaique issued at 8.15 p.m. said: "In the course of further enemy attacks this evening bombs were dropped on Southampton. Several fires broke out, but they were soon extinguished. There were very few casualties, though they included some fatalities. Bombs were also dropped on the Isle of Wight and the country, districts of Berkshire and Wiltshire. No casualties are reported in these areas. Several E.A.F. aerodromes in the south-east of England were attacked and at one a number of casualties were caused, including some fatal injuries."

An Air Ministry communique says that full reports of Monday's air'battles show that 62 German aircraft were destroyed. The Germans lost more than 100 airmen, while only 12 of our pilots did not return.