STEADY TOLL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 May 1941, Page 6

STEADY TOLL

TAKEN OF ENEMY RAIDERS TWO SHOT DOWN BY BRITISH 1 ■ FIGHTERS. LARGE BOMBER DEALT WITH BY DESTROYER. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.55 a.m.) RUGBY, May 5. An Air Ministry and Ministry of Home Security communique states: “During daylight to day, a small number of enemy aircraft have crossed the south-east coast, but at no point have they flown far inland. Early this morn-, ing, bombs were dropped at one point in the south-east. During the da.y bursts of machine-gun fire were delivered by enemy aircraft at several points. ■ Little damage was done and there were no casualties. Two enemy aircraft have been destroyed by our fighters today. It is now known that in the attack on Merseyside on the night of May 2. another enemy bomber was shot down by anti-aircraft guns, making a total of six enemy aircraft destroyed during that night.” An Admiralty communique states: “A twin-engined German bomber was destroyed last night by H.M.S. Southdown. The aircraft attacked the Southdown with bombs, but caused no casualties on board the destroyer. The Southdown’s anti-aircraft fire was quickly effective. The enemy bomber was seen to burst into flames and crashed into .the sea. The destroyer proceeded on her course.”