CLYDESIDE AGAIN SUFFERS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIX, Issue 21957, 8 May 1941, Page 5

CLYDESIDE AGAIN SUFFERS

Growing Toll By Night Fighters By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON, May 6. Nine German bombers were destroyed in raids over Britain last night, eight by night fighters, making a total of 39 in the first five nights of this month and 201 since the beginning of the year, compared with 95 in the first four months of 1940—the period of intensive night bombing. Two more German aeroplanes were shot down into the Channel in daylight to-day. Fifteen raiders made a low level machine-gun and cannon attack on a country district in the south-east of England to-day. There were casualties. One raider was hit and is unlikely to reach its base. The weight of last night’s German air attack fell on Clydeside, in Scotland, where much damage was done. Merseyside also suffered heavy damage, but elsewhere the raids were on a lighter scale. A short attack was made on Belfast. The areas of the Clydeside damaged in previous raids were again attacked last night. Great gallantry was displayed in rescuing the injured. A number of people were killed when a surface shelter was directly hit Two young ministers are missing from a first-aid post which was hit by a bomb. Doctors, first aid officials and wardens were among the casualties suffered in the raid. Three of the enemy raiders destroyed last night were shot down by one fighter squadron. Two were destroyed within the space of two hours by a squadron leader who is the holder of the D.F.C. This pilot now has 12 victories to his credit, 10 of which were during the daytime. The squadron leader who shot down a Messerschmitt 111 into the sea off Northern Ireland was attacked by two other enemy bombers after his victory. He evaded their fire and landed safely. One of the night’s victories was gained by a New Zealand flight lieutenant. The raider attacked was a Heinkel which was sent diving to destruction with its tail blazing. Another night fighter pilot operating over an enemy aerodrome in northern France saw eight German bombers preparing to land. He singled out one and raked It with fire. It was suddenly lit up by an orange explosion. By the glare he recognised it as a Heinkel 111. It broke up and fell. On the way home the pilot bombed another aerodrome.