FAYING BIG TOLL

Opotiki News, Volume III, Issue 318, 2 October 1940, Page 3

FAYING BIG TOLL

NAZI AIR FORCE LOSS OF 47 PLANES DAY’S BIDS FOR LONDON R.A.F. OVER GERMANY MILITARY OBJECTIVES (News by Cable.) LONDON, Sept. 30. The number of German planes destroyed in to-day ! s daylight attacks on Britain is known to be 47. The British lost 22 machines, but the pilots of 12 are safe. After four daylight raids on London, the German bombers early to-night cautiously circled the outskirts of the city. Only one of the first-corners dared to attempt to penetrate the central defence. The majority of the raiders approached by the familiar north-west route. A comprehensive view of the Royal Air Force operations against the enemy on the nights of Sunday and Monday may be obtained from the official communiques. After extensive operations in which it is obvious that a very considerable bomber force was employed it is stated that three British aircraft are missing. Oil Plants and ’Dromes A communique says: “Last night our aircraft continued to strike at the enemy’s oil refineries, aircraft and munition factories, rail communications and aerodromes as well as the Channel ports. Oil refineries at Magdeburg and Hanover, aluminium works at Bitterfeld, gasworks at Stuttgart, and goods-yards at Osnabruck and Cologne are among the targets attacked in Germany.

A German communique claims that great destruction and fires were caused by German raider's in London, Liverpool, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Leith, and Midlands towns to-day. The Germans say that single enemy planes reached Bradenburg last night. Some bombs were dropped. No military damage was caused, but there were many civilian casualties. The Bremen radio to-day announced that several British planes raided thickly-populated residential quarters of Cologne. Incendiary and explosive bombs caused 16 casualties, including four deaths.