MUCH ACTIVITY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20122, 16 December 1939, Page 5

MUCH ACTIVITY

RAF. OPERATIONS NORTH SEA AREA FIERCE DOG FIGHTS FOUR NAZI PLANES DOWN THREE BRITISH L.OSSES FLYING-BOATS DAMAGED (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 11 a.m. RUGBY, Dec. 15. Yesterday was a day of almost unceasing activity over the North Sea by aircraft of the Royal Air Force. Considerable forces made wide searches for enemy surface craft and submarines. Besides these operations, there was a close reconnaissance of the estuaries and fortified islands of north-west Germany. One of “seeeps”—as reconnaissance flights over the sea are called—extended over the Heligoland Bight, and during this operation a formation of aircraft engaged strong enemy fighting forces, at the same time encountering anti-aircraft., fire from German warships. This formation left its base for the purpose of carrying out a North Sea reconnaissance. Visibility was poor. For about 21 hours our aircraft flew over the North Sea and then, in the distance, they saw what appeared to be warships. A closer inspection revealed a battleship and cruiser making towards the south. Some destroyers and a submarine were also observed. Waves of Fighters The submarine opened fire and then dived for safety. Within a few moments of the warships being sighted our aircraft were engaged by German fighters and then ensued a desperate fight. The contest was not only with the enemy in the air, for the anti-aircraft guns of the ships opened fire. When the gunfire ceased, another wave of fighters attacked our aircraft. Six times this happened, with the guns from the ships firing during short intervals between the fighters’ attacks. The fight lasted for nearly half an hour. For the first 15 minutes it looked as though the Germans were going to escape any real punishment, but then a twin-engined Messerschmitt German fighter fell in flames into the sea. A few minutes later another German fighter met the same fate, and these two were followed by a third and fourth. In the engagement one of our aircraft was shot down and two others are missing. All our other aircraft returned to their base after dark, barely half an hour overdue. During a close reconnaissance of the fortified islands on the northwest coast of Germany our aircraft, in order to obtain the information required, were at times flying just below the cloud base and at less than 100 ft above the inland fortifications / R.A.F. Completes Task Though the sudden appearance of low-flying aircraft 'took the antiaircraft defences largely by surprise, several batteries opened a belated lire, but without success. Enemy fighters also came up to engage one of our aircraft, but the British pilot took cover m the prevailing low clouds and, having eluded the fighter, emerged to continue his interrupted reconnaissance. After circling the islands our aircraft completed their task and returned safely to their bases after a successful reconnaissance of neari.v five hours duration. It is officially announced that the Royal Air Force again patrolled the bases at Borkum, Norderney, ana Sylt last night and in the early hours of the morning. Enemy seaplanes observed at their moorings, were attacked with bombs. A Berlin communique regarding the Heligoland Bight air battle claims that of 20 attackers, 10 were brought down by German fighters. One Germs Kr. plane came down in the sea. Two Dorniers Hit It adds that a single 1-ritish bomber which approached the air base of Borkum yesterday without dropping bombs was driven off by anti-air-craft fire. Two other planes attempted to attack the island of Sylt. All four bombs dropped in the sea. A Berlin wireless broadcast announced a large-scale battle between German chasers and 12 of Brita n’s most modern long-distance bombers occurred in the afternoon between Wangeroof and Spierkeroof. near Wilhelmshaven. 'Six British crfilt were shot down and one German plane came down on the ;en,” states the Berlin version. Further details of two recent engagements between Coastal Command aircraft and two Dprniers over the North Sea show that the second combat was almost an exact repetition of the first. On each occasion the British aircraft fired almost the same number of rounds of ammunition and did almost the same damage to the enemy. Both combats took place at the same height and in both cases a cloud bank provided the enemy with a ready means of escape. Fight Lasts 28 Minutes

In the first engagement the British aircraft were far out from the base near Scandinavian waters and hying low on account of heavy clouds at 1200 ft. The enemy was a nig twinengined Dormer flying-boat. The Royal Air Force aircraft attacked and for 28 minutes fought the enemy in the narrow space between the sea and the cloud. The crew of the heavily-armed Dornier blazed away with all their guns as the pilot sought to outrranoeuvre the pursuit planes, but the British pilots were too quick for the enemy gunners. Keeping well out of the field of fire, they manoeuvred tleir aircraft into position for their own gunners to get to work. Finally, with both rear gunners hit and the. Diesel oil tanks punctured an i the fuel literally streaming fiom the nacelles and sponsons, the enemy gave up the fight and struggled into obscurity of cloud An hour later, ov r 100 miles away. thf» same British er ws encountered another enemy Dornier and again attacked. This time the f.ght lasted ot lv i 0 minutes before the enemy aircraft —the rear gunner hit. and with black oil smoke pouring f rom it —sought refuge in low cloudbanks. Oil and smoke left a trail a full mile long.

It would be surprising if either of the crippled German aircraft were capable of reaching their base.