NIGHT OF HORROR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24604, 12 May 1941, Page 5

NIGHT OF HORROR

FIRE RAID ON LONDON SWEEPING MASS OF FLAMES ENEMY SUFFERS HEAVILY (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) i ' (Bi.ec. 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 11. London suffered heavily from a full-scale blitz attack last night, enemy raiders showering down incendiaries and r very heavy explosives for over five hours, when the fury of the bombing slackened considerably. The night of horror, ; however, continued until dawn. Sweeping flames leapt from building to building, and many were gutted. Each new blaze sent up fragments of blazing wood, which looked like a hellish snowfall drifting across the streets and buildings. They littered streets and lodged in gables, starting fresh fires. The air was literally filled with fiery particles. An observer said that at its height the raid was the most awe-inspiring, spectacle ever seen in the world's greatest capital. The acrid aftermath of this wanton orgy reveals that at least two of London's most loved churches, one of which was among the oldest, are mere shells, and others are scarred. Many imposing buildings and office blocks were damaged irreparably. The Luftwaffe paid a heavy price, however, for this third attempt to fire the capital. Thirty-three bombers were destroyed, 31 of them by night fighters of the R.A.F. The other two were brought down by anti-aircraft fire. The totals, of enemy machines destroyed at night has mounted rapidly each month since the beginning of the year, and for the first 10 days of May 124 have been shot down. The monthly totals are: January, 15; February, 11; March, 47; April, 90. • . The German radio promised that the raid would be the "biggest ever," and the beginning of the attack certainly seemed to live up to that promise. Householders declared that the raiders swooped almost as low as the rooftops. More and more incendiaries and explosives Came down, and every gun in London seemed to be in action. The rapid onrush of the raiders continued unabated, presumably with the intention of intimidating the fire-fighters and Home Guards. Fire engines, however, sped through the streets regardless of the incessant hail of bombs. The brilliant moon became a mere pale circle in the brightness of the fires. A bomb in a street market caused casualties and trapped those who were sheltering. Other bombs swayed large buildings. A residential district on the outskirts of London suffered badly. ; A direct hit on a Wardens' post killed the chief warden and mjured others, an auxiliary fire station was directly hit, and five hospitals, including a children's hospital, were struck. The number of casualties is considerable. Rescuers are still searching for, those entombed in the debris.

NIGHT FIGHTERS EARLIER SUCCESSES THURSDAY NIGHT'S BAG RUGBY, May 10. R.A.F. fighters had another series of successes'on Thursday night, destroying 13 enemy planes. A squadron of fighters patrolling" an area of the coast ran into a wave of enemy bombers coming in from the sea. One after another the night fighters picked out the incoming, raiders and closed to the attack. In 45 minutes the squadron had sent six crashing down and damaged others. The squadron leader saw three enemy bombers within a few minutes of each other. The first was in flames and was 'being chased by another fighter. The second he shot down himself, and the third got away after a short exchange of shots. Two fell to a New Zealand pilot, who "lias"already w-'on the D.F.C. for night :fighting Successes. He - got his brace last night within 10 minutes of each other. The first went down in flames after its rear gunner had tried desperately to drive off the fighters, then the New Zealander picked up a second raider and after a few bursts from his guns the fuselage exploded and the aircraft caught fire. It dived into the sea miles from the shore. - Another pilot in the same squadron chased a JU 88 in the moonlight for SO miles out to sea, firing at it intermittently all the way. His final burst set it alight and it went down. The leader of another squadron shot down his second DO 17 in two nights. Further South a third night fighter .squadron accounted for two more raiders—one over the sea and one which crashed on land.

REST BROKEN SMALL SCALE ATTACK LONDON, May 9. After a welcome rest while the Luftwaffe concentrated on bombing the areas- immediately concerned in the Battle of' the Atlantic, London had its first raid for nearly three weeks on Thursday night. Terrific znti-air-craft fire greeted the first raiders and the attack did not develop on a big scale. Several people were killed and a number injured when a heavy-calibre bomb fell in an open space.

Mcny houses were destroyed and damaged when waves of bombers attacked an East Midlands town for hours. The casualties are believed to have been light, considering the scale cf the attack. The residential area of an east coast town had two severe attacks, in which showers of incendiaries started many fires. A family was sleeping in an upstairs bedroom when the house received a direct hit. The floor fell to the ground almost intact, carrying the beds with it. The family was not even scratched.

It is claimed in Berlin that German bombers caused widespread havoc in Nottingham on Thursday night Hull was also raided. A German communique admits considerable damage as the result of the R.A.F. raid. Civilian casualties were considerable. The raiders penetrated beyond Berlin and reached the Posen area.

GREAT VICTORY IMMUNITY IN DAYTIME "WINNING EVERY HOUR" (Rec. 11 p.m.) RUGBY, May 10. Over 120 enemy night raiders have been brought down in the first 10 days of this months This fact is recalled by the Minister of Labour (Mr Ernest Bevin), addressing munition workers and trainees. Mr Bevin described the present daylight immunity from air attack as a great victory, judged by the situation as it appeared last year "We are on parade now," he said. " Never mind the croakers and other people. We are winning and winning every hour and all it needs now is greater and greater production in order that we can meet Hitler on his own ground." Calling for greater industrial effort, Mr Bevin said that when parity and beyond had been obtained in every sphere of munitions he " could see the end of thuVbusiness."