The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-03-20

German planes were sighted fly. zng up the Thames Estuary. The alarm followed within a few min-
 Flares Begin to Drop
 Yellow parachute flares began 10 drop over the city. They came ssl pairs. They would remain almost Stationary high above the city for D few minutes and then burst spec tacularlys in Q cascade of yellow hail.
 Machine guns shot savagely at the flares as the tempo of gun fire Increased and incendiary bombs began dropping. The great guns joined in, battery by battery. Soon the sky seemed filed by flares, bursting shells and tracer bullets. There was a great white flash in the sky as the guns struck one raider in the suburbs. Then there W4s an explosion and the sound of hts of a German plane whizzing Through the air. There was silence 42r Q moment and then a cheer nflrst from gun crews and groups es civilians. It was reported that tNree more were downed later. 1Fires soon were burning in Buildings of al sorts, including movie houses and shopes.
 .sFor the first time in many nights tRe searchlights went on, seeking te spot German planes for the gum xers.
 EThe outer areas took the worst Punishment. One crowded working area which was favorite target i9 the early days of mass bombing vhs hard hit.
 V Rows of Homes Wrecked
 wAt some places rows of homes were wrecked and the families Kving in them were buried in the 1Nins. Four bombs straddled one dfght-story apartment house, in vhich were 400 people, including 1efugees from other city areas. Three luxurious homes in one of LCndon's most exclusive strets, sad one in @ street nearby, were destroyed by fire. Priceless paint ings were burned in them. In this agea men and women in evening dsess ran into the street to put out 4fe bombs.
 sTwo high explosives struck one Hospital. The l66 patients were Evacuated by nurses and others of 6e staff under a rain of explosive hembs. Eight wards were wrecked and l2 others put out of action. Five nurses were buried in the debris when a bomb struck an- Csher hospital, and one patient was Filled outright.
 ssThe nurses were dug out by nsembers of the hospital staff, men and women, who dug into the deb- fIs with their bare hands.
 NAs they worked high explosive nomb crashed through the roof of & wir 2 of the hospital, few yards 1som Q group of fire spotters. The epotters unhurt, began at once to ack out the incendiary bombs Which followed.
 A More Wrecks Caused
 EAnother bomb destroyed the 1iirses' home of this hospital.
 A"TfAe nurses did their duty in the Florence Nightingale tradtion," the housG physician said.
 AIn one police station 8 rescue enuad was trapped.
 Soine policemen and two women Nere killed when bomb sliced smother police station in two. HHigh explosive bombs damaged ah auxiliary fire station.
 |. zl.a. aR 1 the Germans were flying over in long single files, the fire department drought out water towers to fight 4res ,n shops and an air raid pre- ceutions center in one district. %The home of a member of the Government was damaged by a bomb.
 @A local newspaper office, saloons, & garage, a school, other buildings and many houses were practically demollshed in one small area where hundreds of fire bombs dropped.