LESS ACTIVE

Opotiki News, Volume III, Issue 319, 4 October 1940, Page 1

LESS ACTIVE

NAZI AIR RAIDERS ATTACKS DRIVEN OFF BRIEF DAYLIGHT VISITS ji" NINE MACHINES DOWN LITTLE DAMAGE DONE (News by Cu^.l., RUGBY, Oct. 2. Nine German planes have been shot down since midnight and one British fighter is missing. Several enemy attacks on the south-east coast of England have been intercepted and driven off this morning. An alert alarm sounded twice in quick succession this morning. Residents coming in from East End saw two formations coming in front the Kent coast. Royal Air Force fighters turned the formations from the capital. The Germans were again using large fighter escorts for bombers. One formation comprised 150 planes. A number of yellow nosed Messerschmitts were seen escorting a handful of bombers.

During London’s fifth warning today, large banks of clouds provided the Germans with excellent cover. The German wireless is reviving attempts to give running descriptions of the raids which was abandoned last month after a succession of debacles. It was announced at mid-day that big battles were occurring in the south and centre of England. Several Brief Raids An Air Ministry and Ministry of Home Security Communique states: “Early this morning single enemy aircraft made several brief raids across the* south-east coasts in the course of which a few bombs were dropped at isolated points in the south-west of England, South Wales and Essex. There was little damage and few casualties. “Beginning at about 9 o’clock this morning and continuing throughout the day, there was a scries of attacks on London by forces of several squadrons of enemy aircraft. All these were intercepted and broke up by our fighters'. A few enemy machines penetrated the London areas. Reports indicate that whcie bombs were -dropped they caused little damage and few casualties, although these included some fatalities. A bomb last night burst at the rear of a large hospital in the East End. Over 20 persons including nurses and some patients, were injured, some fatally. A high explosive bomb iu central London killed a roof spotter. F our time-bombs fell in private houses in the south-east of London. Seven high explosive bombs were dropped within a radius of a mile in the East End. There was much damage but no casualties. A German communique claims tjiafc extensive fires and explosions were caused by attacks on London, southern England, and the Midlands yesterday and last night.