BOMBERS RAID BRITAIN

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 September 1939, Page 7

BOMBERS RAID BRITAIN

REPULSED BY DEFENCE FORCES ACTION REPORTED OVER CHATHAM [BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYBIGHT.] (Recd. September 7, 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, September 6. It is officially announced that, enemy aircraft were reported near the East Coast of England, early this morning, but they did not penetrate the British defence. No damage is reported. The Ministry of Information later stated that anti-aircraft units and fighters repulsed the enemy bombers. One British machine crashed, and another was forced down. The pilot of the first was wounded in the head. The pilot of the second commandeered a car, drove to the air-port, reascended, and re-engaged the enemy. A dog-fight between British and German planes was reported between Rochester and Chatham. Twenty raiders, going towards London, were intercepted by gunfire, and Spitfire machines. It is believed that at least one German was brought down. ■ The alarm was sounded in London at 6.42 a.m. until 9.2 a.m. No planes were seen, and no gunfire was heard. There was no sign of panic. People remained in the cellars for the first half-hour, after which they emerged and went to their offices. Transport was stopped, and people journeyed to the city on foot, carrying “lunch-boxes” as the gas-masks have been nicknamed. Gunfire and earth shocks were reported from east and west of London. It is unofficially stated that German planes were seen and driven off at Chatham. Gunfire was heard and a shellburst was seen south-east of Ilford. An earlier unconfirmed report stated that the sound of gunfire was audible along the Thames suggesting action in the vicinity of the Estuary. Gunfire on the eastern horizon was visible from London roof-tops, last night.