TEAM WORK

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20072, 19 October 1939, Page 5

TEAM WORK

AIR FIGHTERS BRITISH PLANES PUNISHING RAIDERS FIRTH OF FORTH | SEVERE TOLL TAKEN I MAJORITY OF ENEMY I (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 11.15 a.m. RUGBY, Oct. 18. Some fuller details are now available regarding Monday’s enemy air raid in the south-east of Scotland. At least two of four enemy aircraft accounted for in this raid were shot down by British aircraft. Apart from these four brought down by British fighters, anti-aircraft and naval gunfire, several are thought to have been too crippled to complete the passage of the North Sea. No pilot claims to have brought down one of Monday’s raiders singlehanded. Their defeat was a team job. Only one hit was registered by the Germans —-an armour-piercing bullet through the cowling of one of our fighters. It did no damage and is now in the possession of the pilot. Most Surprised Men The most surprised men in the action were two British officers who happened to be flying unarmed in a civil-type two-seater over the Firth of Forth. Seeing a large aircraft diving near them, they thought the pilot ,vas being sportive and dived themselves. Tlie German bomber and British aircraft then suddenly recognised each other. A burst of lire sent the :wo British airmen back home in a hurry and the German bomber, apparently just as startled, disappeared into the clouds. Authoritative naval circles express ‘.he opinion that the German bombing raid on the F:"‘h of Forth on Monday cost the enemy possibly CD per cent of the forces engaged. The Germans claimed that they hit two cruisers, whereas they hit one with a bomb which did not explode, j The Admiralty announces that one i further death has occurred as a result | }f the air raid on the Firth of Forth, i The casualties now number l(i dead ind 40 wounded.