ENEMY AIR RAIDS

Grey River Argus, 21 May 1941, Page 6

ENEMY AIR RAIDS

COSTLY ON MONDAY Eight Planes Lost [British Official Wireless]. RUGBY, May 19. An official communique issued on Monday stated: “There has been some enemy 7 air activity mainly oif the east and south-east _ coasts, on Monday but few hostile aircraft have flown inland. In the early morning, bombs were dropped at two places on the south-west coasts. Some damage was done, and a' small number of casualties were caused, some of which were fatal. Five enemy' fighters were destroy'ed by' fighters of the R.A.F. over the Channel on Monday. Four British fighters are missing from patrol, but three of the pilots are safe. In the past 24 hours, eight enemy planes have been destroyed over and around Britain. Two were destroyed when the raids were on a very small scale and bombs were dropped at two points in the south-west of England.

Off the south-east coast, two Mes< serschmitts were engaged by Spit fires and the raiders made an unsuccessful attempt to get back to their bases in France. One w i as destroyed and the other was severely damaged. Four Spitfires patrolling over a convoy in the English Channel, this afternoon, met 10 ME 109’s. In the fight which followed, five Messerschmitts were shot down in as many minutes, without loss to ourselves Two Spitfire pilots got two each, and a third the other. Only one German had time to bale out. This fighi gave the pilots their revenge, for earlier in the day a formation of ME 109’s pounced on two machines of the same squadron and shot them down. Both pilots baled out, and were saved. This squadron now claims 87 victories. It is revealed that the centuriesold Manor House, Farmngham, m Kent, once the home of Captain Bligh of the Bounty, was demolished in a recent raid. The Dreadnought Hospital for seament, Greenwich, which in the past has cared for thousands of- all nationalities, including 5,000 German seamen, was seroiusly damaged in another raid. Nurses carried out 28 patients, and had many beds available for the sailors, two days later. Monday Night Raids NOT HEAVY. (Received May 21, 12.5 a.m.). LONDON, May 20. The Air Ministry reports: There was little enemy air activity ovei] Britain on Monday night. Bombs were dropped at a point in the East Midland/s, inhere there were (some casualties. At a few points elsewhere bombs were also dropped. No extensive damage ;is anywhere reported.