IHREE formations of German_raiders, numbering at least 70 planes each, attempted to cross the coast yesterday, but were hurled back by British fighters after furious battles that lasted the whole afternoon, "One Messerschmitt crashed in flames.
I saw three more shot down over the Channel.
'A large German bomber badly damaged and attempting to Jand four miles away exploded with a terrific blast that shook the town, as his whole load of bombs were set off, blowing the plane to pieces," writes a United Press staff correspondent.
Later in the afternoon, a formation of 176 German bombers and fighters came out of the clouds in which they were taking cover.
Flying along the coast they encountered Spitfires and Hurrieanes and started one of the biggest air battles I have seen since the war started.
"Five planes went crashing into the Channel. In the course of the fghting T saw two Spitfires dive among 20 Messerschmitts and break up their formation, One bomber few off toward Franco, losing height rapidly.
"When one of the Spitfires tackled another bomber, six Messerschmitts dived to assist their compatriot, But another Spitfire jumped into the serap, scattering the Germans, Each Spitfire then selected a Messerschmitt for his special attention and both sent a Gexman plane hurtling down."
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