WEDNESDAY'S RAIDS

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 53, 30 August 1940, Page 7

WEDNESDAY'S RAIDS

FOUR MAIN PERIODS SEVEN-HOUR NIGHT ATTACK RECORD OVER LONDON (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright.) LONDON, August 29. Spitfires and Hurricanes three times yesterday broke up and routed strong enemy formations, the first at 8.30 a.m. over the Kentish coast, consisting of 100 bombers and fighters; the second at midday over the Thames Estuary, consisting of 120 bombers and fighters; and the third at 5 p.m. over the south-east coast, consisting of more than 100 Messerschmitts, which dived into clouds immediately . they sighted British fighters, which shot down at least ten.

A considerable number of enemy aircraft, operating, singly or in small groups, attacked many parts of England, beginning at about 9 p.m. and continuing till shortly before dawn.

A single aircraft flew over the London area from time, to time. Some bombs, dropped . at. random, damaged houses, shops, and other buildings, including a church. The resultant fires were brought. under control. There were some casualties, a small, number of them being fatal.

Many incendiary bombs ' and some high-explosive bombs were dropped, the majority falling in country districts without causing damage, but some fell in urban areas, damaging buildings and causing fires. The total casualties from these bombs were small, though some persons were killed.

A number of bombs were dropped in a town in the north-west of England. Raiders in the south-east dropped 20 explosive bombs and many incendiary bombs, and a south-west town had its sixty-second raid when bombs were dropped, but no serious damage was reported. Enemy planes were reported altogether from 13 towns. The raid on London was the longest yet: it lasted for 7 hours. 7 minutes. Bombs were dropped occasionally. An enemy plane which circled for 30 minutes periodically cut off its engine and then picked up again with a series of hoarse coughs and splutters. Incendiary bombs were dropped in suburbs. Searchlights were very active as the raiders continued to fly over London, and at one time at least 100 •beams were concentrated on one pilot. A cluster of three bombs fell in one district. As the raid entered its sixth hour the action became fiercer, and antiaircraft batteries blazed away furiously. The flash of exploding shells could be seen. Four planes appeared to be engaged in constantly swinging in and out of the London area, and one, when caught in a searchlight beam, immediately dropped) several screaming bombs. A raider dropped six high-explosive bombs on a north-east coast town, destroying two churches, damaging houses, and blowing out the fronts of several shops. A woman was killed and other persons were injured, some of them seriously. A bomb damaged a water main in a south-western town, and the water supply was interrupted. A number of houses and industrial property were damaged in a town in the Midlands, where some fatal casualties resulted. Bombs were also dropped on a •number of towns in the north-east and north-west, where industrial property, houses, and other buildings were damaged. The casualties from all these towns were not numerous but included some deaths.

Two heavy explosions were heard in London shortly before the all-clear signal was given.