The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-08-31
Huge Armada Of Nazi Bombers Hit at London
(Continued From Page D

the London area. The town was crowded with shoppers who rushed to shelters. Four or five explosions occurred. Buildings were shawen and a cloud of dust swept over the town. Air raid warning sirens vail ed seven minutes after the last bomb fell.
 From another point in the Lon- don area Frank Pinkerton of the United Press staff reported
 q heard very fierce dogfights overhead A rain of bombs was fall ing in a district approaching the London area. The battling planes were too high to be seen but the sound of machine guns and the marking of cannon was terrific. Before the British fighters arrived anti-aircraft guns blazed. There was a thunderous roll. It was awe inspiring"
 20 Planes Down
 It was estimated that at least 20 German raiders had been shot down by afternoon. It was estimated also that about 800 German planes were involved in today's raids. During the third warning in Lon don approximately 30 German planes appeared over a southeast inland town. They were attempting to reach London but a terrific anti-aircraft barrage met them. Suddenly two squadrons of British fighters ap- peared. The barrage ceased and the RAF downed three German planes.
 The surviving Germans scattered and fled towards the coast. The parachutes of five Germans who had bailed out foated down. Apparently no bombs were dropped. Part of the battle was fought only few hundred feet above ground.
 It was estimated that during tht third alarm here the Germans wert
 able to maneuver for only abou seven minutes. But before they were driven off they dropped loads O bombs.
 T saw anti-aircraft guns shoo . down one German bomber" Pinker
 ton reported. Workers were return l ing at the time from their customar, 3 half day Saturday" l What normally would have beel the start of most peaceful week
 end witnessed instead determine, l attacks by German plans and work ] CTS heard the barking of anti-air g craft guns and the rattle of machin guns.
 Weather conditions were anon ,, the finest of the summer. The six ! ovr London was cloudelss. Counting seven air raid warning
 over London during the past 27 hour the British felt certain that Ger ], many's real aerial blitzkrieg had be r gun.
 Raids today on the London are |, began at 8:27 a. m. . 200 In First Fleet
 There were 200 planes in the fir o fleet, which brought London rusf d hour alarm as Londoners were ( . their way to work. The second fo e lowed in less than two hours. - Waves of German planes tryir e to force a path inland caused u
 second warning. There was a te l, rife burst of anti-aircraft and m; e chine gun fire from all along u r. coast. British fighters swarmed in of the fight and could be seen divil It in and out among the raidil Il planes.
 le A witness at one point said d saw several German planes plum III to earth.
 The first fleet had flown over
 if on parade.
 An air ministery communique sa
 that "one enemy bomber was sh
 down last night and three of o A fighters are missing this morning 4 The ministry claimed that at les
 six German planes had been sh
 down today.
 = One district in the London ar ,n suffered severly from overnig D. raids as result of more than Id score of high explosive bombs whi ed were dropped in one area. A wor
 ing class apartment block was 1t but at the time most of the tenai at were in air raid shelters. f. Incendiary bombs illuminated t r. district and set fire to a hou ed Bombs fell while firemen were figt a. ing the blaze.
 ng Lead Maxi Raiders to Four German planes in diamo Ir- formation led the raiding fleet. f ge hind them came i2 hombers in f' 'e- nations Of three. Over the bomb ne were Messerschitt fighters. stuuti ,e- in the bright morning sky. oc'
 sionaily forming Into single file ell whirling round the bombers. m his came Q wave of many bomhers. is- corted by 30 fighters, and the b
 lof the fleet followed,