AIR MANOEUVRES

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 15 August 1928, Page 7

AIR MANOEUVRES

NIGHT ATTACK ON LONDON.

TESTING THE DEFENCES. SPECTATORS DISPLAY INTEREST. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright.) (Australian Press Association.) LONDON, Aug. 13. Air attacks on London arc in full blast. The zero hour of the manoeuvre's was six in the evening, but before .then the enemy sent formations of bomlbers which wore waiting for the declaration of mimic, war 'dose to the three mile limit. Directly afterwards they converged on London w&th .lightning rapidity and were soon humming over objectives such as the Beckon petrol depot, the Crystal Bailee and the Air Ministry's aerodrome at Nofthweald.

By 6.55 p.rn. the umpires of the Air {Ministry announced that seven mimic raids were in progress and that all the enemy aeroplanes had crossed 'the coast and were engaging in an all-round attack. Six 'fighting squadrons were immediately in the air to meet them. One came in contact With the raiders at Croydon, 'but cloudy and rainy weather was assisting the enemy to conceal the direction of hi's attack's. By eleven o’clock the official opinion was that, out of ten raids two were successful and eight wore intercepted. It was emphasised, however, that the umpires had n'ot yet given their final decision. The anti-aircraft 'gunners, subject to the umpires’ rulings, claimed that they had shot down eight bonVbers out of the 70 attacking. It is estimated that 250 machines of various types were engaged in defending. Throughout the evening, which became fine, 100,000 spectators watched the red lights fia'shing from the, invaders which indicated they wore dropping bombs. At one time 40 ’plane's were over Bromley, and another 36 could be counted near Red Hill, all engaging in battle. After nightfall .the attack was continued by night bombers, but subsequent to “midnight bomb dropping was confined to targets on the outskirts of London, the night 'objectives being •store's and depots at Croydon, .Richmond Park tand Wormwood Serubbs.