Enemy Raiding Forces

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 80, 1 October 1940, Page 7

Enemy Raiding Forces

LARGE-SCALE ATTACKS ON LONDON

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received October 1, 11.10 a.m.)

RUGBY, September 30

It is stated officially that up to 8 p.m. 43 enemy aircraft were destroyed today (Monday). The British fighter losses are 16, with eight of the pilots safe. R.A.F. fighters and the anti-aircraft defences were constantly in action today, in the course of which the enemy made four large-scale attacks on the south and south-east of England.

A communique issued by the Air Ministry and the Ministry of Home Security states: "In the first two attacks, which , took place at about 10 a.m. and 10.15 a.m. respectively, the enemy crossed the coast near Dover and penetrated some 40 miles inland, but none of his planes reached London. In the course of these raids bombs were dropped at several places in the south-east, notably at Bexhill and Hastings, and some damage and casualties, some of which were fatal, were caused in each of these towns. "About an hour later the . third attack was made across the Dorset coast, where the enemy was engaged. Few of his bombers penetrated any distance inland, and no reports of bombs have been received. "The fourth attack was the largest, and began soon after 1 p.m. About 180 aircraft flew in over Dungeness and again penetrated inland, but were engaged and broken up before they reached the outskirts of London. A few enemy aircraft, however, evaded our defences and succeeded in dropping bombs on western suburbs. Here damage was done and casualties were caused, but details are not yet available." Six out of Sunday's total of 10 enemy aircraft destroyed were shot down by anti-aircraft gunners over the south-east of England. One was shot down before dawn, three during the morning, one during the afternoon, and the sixth at about 10 p.m.