NAZI FRENZY

Opotiki News, Volume III, Issue 316, 27 September 1940, Page 4

NAZI FRENZY

BOMBS BY NIGHT LONDON DEFENCES 23 RAIDERS DOWN FOUR BRITISH LOST THREE PILOTS SAFE TRAIL OF DAMAGE (News by Cable.) LONDON, Sept. 25. The Air Ministry in a communique issued at 8.45 p.m. stated it was then known that 23 enemy aircraft w’ere destroyed during raids on Britain to-day, three by anti-aircraft guns. Four British fighters were lost,; but the pilots of three were safe.

Soon after midnight the Nazi Air Minister, Reich Marshal Goering, launched one of the most frenzied httacks yet made on London. Sections o* the raiders sought out an important part of central London and also a famous shopping area. They first rained hundreds of incendiary bombs and circled round the targets. They then dive-bomb-ed; swooping recklessly under the balloon barrage and joined in a series of furious attacks. Valuable stained-glass windows were blown in at an historic central London church. . A bomb blew out the interior of a bank a few yards from the church. Fire bombs in central London started a ring of fires within a radius of a quarter of a mile, six of which were 'blazing simultaneously, enveloping a college, business premises and furniture depositories, in which were highly inflammable goods. Many nearby buildings were evacuated as the fire-fighters work-

ed on through a hail of shrapnel, Shells of Buildings

Daylight found only the shells of the buildings standing in one.wellknown street. The walls continued to collapse in clouds of -dust, debris and smoke.

In a south-west suburb a line of three shops were; wrecked. They were adjoining three wrecked a few nights ago. Particularly , heavy high explosive bombs caused great damage and also many casualties in one of London’s most popular " centres while residential areas elsewhere were again damaged.

An Air Ministry communique says-: ’“The enemy renewed the air attack to-night. The London area was again the main objective, but bombs were dropped in other parts of England, Scotland and Walas and started fires. The majority were soon under control. The bombs damaged many buildings. Several hospitals were again hit. The casualties are not yet known, but some were fatal. In . the south-east of lfngiand and also north Wales fires were started and there were some fatalities. Fires were also started in the north-west, of England and the east of Scotland. No material damage was done. The casualties are unknown.”

Enemy aircraft crossed the Dorset coast to-day and attacked Bristol. Bombs were dropped near the coast and the outskirts of Bristol, causing some damage and killing and injuring a number of people. The enemy was engaged by British fighters at al] points. After air fights over Bournemouth in the afternoon a German bomber crashed, setting fire to a house. Four of the crew of five were killed.

Another German bomber was brought down near Swanage. Five members of the crew bailed out and were captured.