A DAYLIGHT RAID

Grey River Argus, 22 January 1943, Page 5

A DAYLIGHT RAID

Many Casualties Caused ENEMY LOSES 12 PLANES. [Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.l LONDON, Jan. 20. On Wednesday the Luftwaffe made a daylight raid upon south-eastern England, including the area of London. This was tire first daylight alert in London since October 26 last. The raiders flew inland from the south-eastern coast. They' dropped bombs en route upon the country districts and attacked London. They dive-bombed streets in the London area, and also machine-gunned the streets. The London raiding occurred in the morning, but more raiders came over the south-eastern coast in the afternoon. R.A.F. lighter-planes were ready for the raid. At least twelve of the German fighter bombers which were engaged in the raid wehe destroyed, and many others were probably destroyed or damaged. R.A.F. lighters from one station shot down six enemy machines. The wing-leader of this station himself destroyed two, Another pilot also scored two. Many school children were among victims of a brief but savage daylight raid by the Luftwaffe on the London |area in the morning. The enemy bombers were escorted by a large number of fighters across the Channel. The raiders, after dropping bombs on country districts attacked London. About twelve fighter bombers out of a force of 25 to 30 reached the London area, where they divebombed and machine-gunned a thickly populated district. They divebombed and machine-gunned streets, hitting schools and other buildings. Thirty school children were killed and 12 were injured when a bomb split a London County Council School almost in halves. Pupils were ma-chine-gunned as they left the building. There were numerous casualties at another London school, which was also machine-gunned. Considerable damage was caused to houses. It is feared a number of people were killed, including chuaren, who had returned home for lunch. Rescue squads are still searching the debris for those trapped. A raider machine-gunned shoppers in one London district, also men working in vegetable allotments. Three raiders attacked a train approaching London. Passengers saw the- planes skim over the chimneytops and heard bullets hitting the /rails and ballast. The train stopped and no casualties were reported. A railway station was also the target for a machine-gun attack Several barrage balloons were set on fire by the enemy. R.A.F. fighters engaged the raiaers over London and crowds watched the biggest air battle since the blitz period. The enemy were driven off to the coast. On Wednesday afternoon fighter patrols and ground defences routed* a force of about 20 German fighters over the south-east coa'st. < These raiders broke up after several fights and made off at top speed for the /French coast. One pilot was seen to bale out.