LITTLE DAMAGE DONE BY RAIDERS

Southland Times, Issue 24164, 28 June 1940, Page 5

LITTLE DAMAGE DONE BY RAIDERS

(United Press Association—Telegraph Copyright) (Received June 27,11.30 p.m.) LONDON, June 27. Enemy bombers raided Britain last evening for the third night in succession. Although the attacks were widespread, the raiders found it difficult to penetrate the defence provided by anti-aircraft fire, searchlights and British fighters. Comparatively little damage was done and the only death was that of an elderly man who collapsed from heart failure. Three enemy machines were shot down.

Describing how he accounted for an enemy bomber off the south-east coast, the pilot of a Hawker Hurricane said that a tremendous concentration of searchlights was striking the face of the clouds and reflecting upwards. As the searchlights swept the sky he sighted three enemy planes flying towards him. The British pilot manoeuvred into position and fastened his machine to the tail of one of the German bombers, which he recognized as a Heinkel ITT. The pilot of the Hurricane opened fire at 4000 feet and after a number of bursts he saw a glow in the bomber. Realizing that they must now be over the sea, the British pilot pumped more lead into the German machine, the inside of which was obviously on fire. “At 500 feet I watched the bomber hurtle towards the sea, but did not see it strike the water,” he said. “I dropped a parachute flare and saw the German aircraft resting on the surface with smoke pouring from its rear.”

Another German raider was brought down on the east coast by a Supermarine Spitfire. The enemy machine exploded in mid-air; evidently a bullet struck the bombrack.

The raids were fairly extensive over south-east England and for three hours German planes endeavoured to pierce the defences. Very little damage resulted in this area. The attacks also embraced north-east Scotland and south-west England. Five bombs were dropped in Wales, but the damage was negligible.