NAZIS ROUTED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 October 1940, Page 5

NAZIS ROUTED

IN DESPERATE EFFORTS TO REACH LONDON FORCE OF 1,000 PLANES EMPLOYED. BRILLIANT WORK BY BRITISH FIGHTERS. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) LONDON, October 2. There have been many astonishing happenings in daylight attacks against Britain, but none more remarkable than today. Within a few hours enemy machines totalling nearly 1,000 desperately attempted to reach central London. Great waves followed one another at short intervals and sought by sheer weight of numbers to overwhelm the defences. They were routed ignominiously. Our fighters were never more brilliant, and time after time broke up the formations. There has been nothing like this whirlwind fighting in and around London since the “blitz” started. Some of the German planes managed to reach the inner area, but time after time the invaders were broken up and driven off. Fighting continued at intervals at enormous heights all day as fresh phalanxes tried to batter a way to London. The extent of the bombing had little relation to the numbers sent over. The R.A.F. ended the day complete masters of the situation. GALLANT DEFENCE SUNDERLAND DRIVES OFF ENEMY FIGHTERS. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 2. A Sunderland flying-boat of the Coastal Command fought a 20-minute battle with three Messerschmitt 110’s off Ushant. It damaged them and drove them off. The flying-boat which belongs to the Royal Australian Air Force, was returning from a long reconnaissance of German shipping movements off the west coast of France, states an Air Ministry bulletin. The three Messerschmitts were escorting two Dornier “flying pencil” bombers. Two of the fighters repeatedly came in on the Sunderland’s beam and one from below. Every attack was beaten off. The Australian gunners saw many bullets strike home before the Messerschmitts broke off the fight. The Sunderland was not damaged.