Daylight Raids on Britain

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 81, 2 October 1940, Page 9

Daylight Raids on Britain

ENEMY KEPT AT BAY

LONDON, October "I. Formations of German bombers have again been stabbing at the south coast of England today (Tuesday). A communique issued at 6 p.m. said that German planes had made several abortive attacks. For the most part they did not penetrate far inland, and few reports of them dropping their bombs have been received. A small number of aircraft reached London and dropped bombs. These caused several casualties, some fatal, and bombs were dropped at points on the west coast, causing a small number of casualties.

Four Gorman planes were shot doivn, and three K.A.F. planes are missing. Unofficial reports amplify the story. A single raider which approached the Thames Estuary during the morning was turned back by gunfire and chased by fighters. No bombs were dropped.

One fairly largo formation passed over the south-east coast during the morning flying east, but even as it crossed the coast one plane in the formation was seen to fall behind. It was later learned that it came down in the sea.

Monday night's attacks were as usual directed mainly against London. Bombs were scattered over a wide area in the city and suburbs, but the Air Ministry reports that the damage was not extensive and the number of casualties not large. Outside London German attacks started fires on Merseyside, but they Avere quickly brought under control and I there were no casualties or serious damage. In a town in the east Midlands a hit was scored on industrial premises, causing several deaths. In central London it seemed that the German attempts to break through the outer defences were less successful than usual, and it is unofficially stated that British fighters helped to check the raiders. There was anti-aircraft fire, particularly in the north-west, which the Germans used as their first line of approach.