Nazis Raid Bristol by Daylight

Manawatu Times, Volume 65, Issue 229, 27 September 1940, Page 7

Nazis Raid Bristol by Daylight

23 RAIDERS DOWNED (British Official Wireless) "UGBY. Sent. 25. "It Is now known that 23 enemy aircraft were destroyed to-day, three by anti-aircraft," says an Air Ministry communique, issued at 8.45 p.m. "One of our fighters previously reported lost is safe. Our losses therefore are four fighter aircraft, the pilots of three of which are safe." A communique on to-day’s daylight attacks by the German Air Force was issued early this evening. "Enemy aircraft,” it says, "crossed the Dorset coast to-day and attacked Bristol. Bombs were dropped near the coast and on the outskirts of Bristol, causing some damage and killing and injuring a number of people. There was also some minor enemy activity in South-East England, but reports indicate that little damage was done and that there were few casualties. The enemy was engaged by our fighters at all points. Eighteen enemy aircraft, including at least uown in these operations.” After air fights over Bournemouth this afternoon, a German bomber crashed, setting fire to a house. Four out of the crew of five were killed.

Another bomber was brought down near Swanage. Five-members of tho crew bailed out and were captured. Bombs fell in the South London area In to-day’s raid. It is officially stated that German planes crossed the Dorset coast in daylight and attacked Bristol, bombing the outskirts. Some damage was done, and a number of people were killed and injured. West Defences Hold Details given by the Air Ministry News Service of to-day’s air battle, which took ptoce mainly over the west of England, showed that the proportion of German bombers destroyed was as heavy as in the attacks earlier in the month over London. The news service states that large German bomber formations were seen over England to-day for the first time since the Luftwaffe’s defeat of September 15. In that battle over London, a very high proportion of bombers wep destroyed, and, as shown by reports received up to 7.30 p.m. to-night, at least 15 of the German planes brought down to-day were heavy bombers and three other fighter-bombers.

Twenty enemy planes were fchot down between Bristol and the English Channel by Spitfire ana Hurricane pilots, and three were shot down by anti-aircraft guns. Four British fighters are lost or musing, but three of the pilots are safe. Big Wedge Formations Between 100 and 200 enemy bombers and fighters flew north-west in a variety of formations just before noon. Fighter pilots saw two wedges of Junkers-88 bombers in tight arrowheads of three, about 40 in each wedge. Mosserschmitt-109 fighters were higher still, flying in steps. H6avy Dornier-17 and Heinkel-111 bombers kept the same close arrowhead formations.

Spitfire pilots of one squadron shot down five enemy planes and probably destroyed several more.

Other Spitfires of the Nizam of Hyderabad’s squadron, who also destroyed five German raiders, spoke of the defensive circles formed by the Messerschmitt fighters when attacked. The bombers, on the other hand, kept to their tight formations, and the Spitfires, diving on them out of the sun from 21,000 feet, had to stand heavy crossfire from the German air gunners. Pilots of a Hurricane squadron, flying high above the clouds, chased a great formation of Hcinkel-lH’s from the mouth of the Severn well out into the Channel. They kept diving in line astern from 22,000 feet, picking off one Heinkel after another until they had destroyed aix and seriously damaged others.