GERMAN RAIDS ON ENGLAND

Southland Times, Issue 24163, 27 June 1940, Page 6

GERMAN RAIDS ON ENGLAND

Five Planes Shot

Down

R.A.F. IN ACTION OVER GERMANY

(United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright)

(Received June 26, 10.30 p.m.) LONDON, June 26.

Enemy raiders flying at a great height crossed the English coast at various points from the north-east and south-east late last night and today also. Scottish coast searchlights and anti-aircraft guns everywhere went into action and British fighters went up.

Explosions were heard in the Midlands, where sirens sounded. Explosions and gunfire were also heard in the south-west. Aeroplanes were plainly heard over a wide area in the south-east of Scotland, also Wales.

High explosive and incendiary bombs were dropped in eastern England. British fighters chased away the raiders to the sea. Bombs were dropped in the south-east of Scotland.

It is officially stated that at least five enemy bombers were shot down in last night’s raids. Reports so far indicate that the damage to property was not serious. Casualties were slight. No serious damage was done to any military objective. RAIbS BY BRITISH

The Royal Air Force yesterday carried out raids in the Ruhr and Holland, attacking oil depots in Germany and aerodromes in Holland, occupied by the enemy. The Royal Air Force last night again intensively bombed the Ruhr and north-west Germany. Both raids were considered highly satisfactory. All the machines returned. The Air Ministry announces: “Yesterday our bombers—although hampered by bad visibility—attacked aerodromes at Eindhoven, Schipol and Wallhaven. These are the bases in occupied German territory from which enemy bombers can set out to attack this country. The operations were continued during the night. “Schipol was again attacked, also the aerodrome at de Kookooy, aerodromes at Mulheim in the Ruhr and Kassel in Westphalia were also bombed. Other formations of our bombers attacked the naval base at Helder where an explosion and fires were caused.

“At Dortmund in the Ruhr, oil depots and marshalling yards were bombed and also targets at Kamen off Dortmund and off Kassel where aircraft works were set on fire. Aerodrome buildings and aircraft works at Deichshausen near Bremen were also attacked. “Other aircraft bombed the Dort-mund-Emms Canal, ' where the _ lock gates and barges were hit. Railway junctions and stations near Emmerich between the Ruhr and the Dutch frontier were also damaged. All our aircraft returned safely from both day and night operations. “One Avro Anson aircraft of the Coastal Command was attacked by four Messerschmitts single-engined fighters while on patrol over the English Channel. In the ensuing engagement one Messerschmitt was shot down in flames and the other enemy fighters abandoned the pursuit. Our aircraft returned safely to its base. “Enemy fighters took off to meet the British bombers, but showed no particular desire to press home the attack. Other operations were also carried out against an Italian aerodrome with successful results. One of the British machines failed to. return.”

BALLOON BARKAGE VICTIM

(British Official Wireless) (Received June 26, 6.30 p.m.)

RUGBY, June 25.

Details are now available of the circumstances in which the balloon barrage claimed its first enemy victim during one of last week’s air raids on England and the barrage crew received congratulations from the air officer commanding. The crew had picked up a Junkers machine by searchlights and later the aircraft dived to within 1000 feet. The barrage crew took shelter until the bomber was heard to turn away. Then hundreds of feet of cable were found lying on the ground. Another nearby balloon barrage site reported seeing the aircraft fall into the sea. This was also seen from an anti-aircraft gun centre.