RAF fighters were engaged in combat over the coast in Dorset and the south-east and further out into the Channel yesterday afternoon as they valiantly and successfully fought off more enemy raiders. The exact number of enemy planes that have been shot down is unclear, though the first indications from Fighter Command suggest that twelve raiders were accounted for.

The visibility over the Channel in the morning was exceptionally poor and there were no attacks, but as the weather improved in the afternoon, enemy planes began to appear at various points along the coast.

Just after two o’clock, 20 enemy aircraft attacked shipping off the Dorset coast. They were intercepted by Hurricanes and Spitfires and first reports suggest that they shot down three Me110s and one D017. One Hurricane was also shot down.

Later on in the afternoon, the Germans mounted an attack on Dover harbour with a combination of stuka dive-bombers and a fighter escort of Me109s. A squadron of Spitfires was scrambled to intercept them and they successfully chased the raiders back towards the French coast.

There was a further engagement over the Channel between a squadron of Hurricanes and German fighters. At least one victory was scored by the squadron but they unfortunately suffered two losses themselves.

The Air Ministry and Ministry of Home Security yesterday issued this statement about the previous night’s raids:

‘During the night, enemy aircraft dropped bombs on a few districts in North-East England, Scotland and Wales.

‘Some houses were damaged, but the casualties were not numerous, although some people were killed.’

Three bombs were dropped on a Corporation housing estate of a town in South West Scotland.

Four houses were demolished. Injured people were attended at first-aid posts and six were taken to hospital. One man died later.