DOVER RAIDED

Grey River Argus, 31 July 1940, Page 7

DOVER RAIDED

BY 100 PLANES Enemy Loses 20 TERRIFIC BATTLE ON MONDAY. [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] LONDON. July 29. ( It is officially revealed that Dover! Harbour was attacked in a great airj battle to-day. An Air Ministry communique ( states; Enemy bombers, evicted by fighters, attacked Dover Harbour on the south-east coast this morning. Strong formations of R.A.F. fighters intercepted the enemy. Reports so far received show that our fighters shot down eight enemy bombers and seven fighters. Although several ox our aircraft were damaged ij) this fierce engagement, only one was lost. An eye-witnqss, describing the air battle over Dover, said: Each Gexnan plane dropped a saivo of one big and four smaller bombs. The terrific concussion caused by tne bombs shook houses along the seafront, and shattered windows everywhere. Waterspouts 100 feet high showered spray over the ships. The anti-aircraft gunfire was so intense that th e last wave of bombers were forced to break off their dives, and to fly back out of range. . Another source estimated that 100 planes, including between 50 and 60 dive-bombers; participated in the atIn addition to the successes by one squadron of Spitfires, and one squadron of Hurricanes, five R.A-F. pilots reported that German planes fell into the sea in flames, after attacks. The Air Ministry has now established that 20 enqmy aircraft wer? brought down to-day. Another account states: Attemptino' a surprise attack on Dover harbour. 30 “Junkers 87“ dive-bombers, protected by 50 Messerschmitts, got the worst of it in a half-hour battle. Strong forces of Spitfires and Hurricanes swept up to meet the raiders, and within a few minutes the air was filled with battling aircraft. So harassed were the Nazi airmen that their bombing aim was spoiled, and, in addition, 15 of them were destroyed,' at a cost of one British fighter missing and several damaged. The honours went equally to the Spitfires and Hurricanes, Spitfires from one squadron destroying four Messerschmitts and one bomber, while Hurricanes from another squadron accounted for four bombers and on* fighter. It is now confirmed that, m the morning engagement at Dover, two enemy bombers were shot down by anti-aircraft fire, in addition to those shot down by fighters, making to-day’s total 20. The Air Ministry states: R.A.r. fighters this afternoon shot down an enemy bomber over the Channel coast, and another in the Thames Estuary. ENEMY BOMBERS. OVER NORTH OF ENGLAND RUGBY, July 29 Bombs fell in a north-east town and damaged a school and woman. Several other houses were destroyed. .. Bombs fell in three places in the north-west of England. Monday Night Raids PROPERTY damage. • IN NORTH ENGLAND TOWN. (Received July 30, 10.25 p.m.) LONDON, July 30 The Air Ministry states'— “During Monday night enemy aircraft bombed a town in the northeast of England, damaging private property. , r , “Enemy aircraft also bombed a few of the south-western districts or England, but there were no casualties and Httlo damage resulted “A three-hour raid was carried out. over Wales during the night. There were no casualties ”