GERMAN BOMBER

Evening Star, Issue 23565, 2 May 1940, Page 9

GERMAN BOMBER

CRASHES IN ENGLISH TOWN FIVE PEOPLE KILLED SEVERAL HOUSES DESTROYED Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, May 1. A German bomber which was fired on off the Essex coast last night crashed in the residential district of Clacton-on-Sea, a town of 15,000 inhabitants.It is believed to have been a minelayer. There was a terrific explosion, in which five persons were killed, four of them being the German occupants of the plane. NearJy 100 people were wounded, about 50 of whom were taken to hospital, and there may be other bodies buried in the debris. Several houses were destroyed, and altogether about 50 were damaged. The bomber circled over the town for fully half au hour in the darkness, apparently trying to find a place to land. It dropped flares as it lost height, and! finally crashed a few hundred yards from the sea-front. For some minutes after the explosion the blazing petrol tanks made it impossible to approach, but fire brigades and ambulances were quickly on the scene, and the rescue work was soon well in hand. The explosion was heard over a radius of 20 miles. The Air Ministry reports that enemy aeroplanes approached the East Coast at several points late last night. Antiaircraft guns went into action, and one enemy plane crashed in flames, as reported above. CASUALTY LIST MOUNTS HEiNKEL LOADED WITH BOMBS LONDON, May 1. (Received May 2, at 10.50 a.m.) The casualties at Clacton are now six killed and 154 injured. The Heiukel is reported to have been loaded with mines. MANY FAMILIES HDMELESS THIRYT-FOUR PEOPLE SERIOUSLY INJURED LONDON, May 1. (Received May 2, at 11.50 a.m.) The Clacton injured include 34 seriously hurt. There is not a whole house standing in the neighbourhood where the raider fell. Many families are homeless. The explosion lifted some houses a foot from their foundations and threw heavy furniture into the road. The raider carried a cargo of incendiary bombs. COURAGEOUS AIRMEN AWARDS FOR GALLANTRY (British Official Wireless.)' RUGBY, May 1. (Received May 2, at 9.35 a.m.) The award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Flying-officer W. H. Edwards, of New South Wales, adds another name to the list of distinguished dominion flying men. Flying-officer Edwards was the pilot of one R.A.F. aircraft that left to attack Stavanger aerodrome and seaplane base early in April. The weather was so bad that the other aircraft were compelled to abandon the task, but Flying-officer Edwards succeeded in getting through, attacked his objectives, and obtained valuable information. On the previous day he was the pilot of one of a number of aircraft ordered to attack the same objectives. Despite a heavy snowstorm which forced him to fly very low, he reached the target and attacked in the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire. When returning he attacked a Dornier seaplane with his guns and scored hits. Other awards include the Distinguished Flying Cross to Flight-lieuten-ant P. W. Townsend, who, while on patrol over the North Sea, intercepted and shot down an enemy aircraft. This was his third success. REGARDED AS PRIZE DANISH SHIP AT SYDNEY SYDNEY, May 2. (Received May 2, at 12.30 p.m.) The Danish freighter Astoria, which' arrived at Sydney last month', is now regarded as a prize ship, and action is being taken against her and her cargo under a Supreme Court writ. This is the first action in Australia against a prize ship. since the outbreak of war.