TERRIFIC BATTLE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20129, 26 December 1939, Page 10

TERRIFIC BATTLE

BRITISH BOMBERS CRACK NAZI FIGHTERS WILHELMSHAVEN AREA SMASHING TACTICS FAIL R.A.F. OUTNUMBERED (Kloc. To!. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Oflicinl Wireless.) Reed. 9 a.m. RUGBY, Dec. 23. Details of the air battle over Wilhelmshaven on December 18 are still being sorted out from the mass of information obtained as a result of a study of the reports of individual members of each crew, and a clear picture of the action is beginning to take form. If seems probable that the German Command was very dissatisfied with the results of operations off Heligoland on December 3, in which a formation of Wellington bombers attacked German warships and hit two cruisers. On . that occasion large numbers of Messerschmitt fighters were despatched to intercept the formations, but their attacks were ineffective and they failed to make any impression on the close and strong formations of Wellington bombers. At least one Messerschmitt was destroyed and others were forced down. The ease with which this effective attack was carried out, without any loss to the bombing formation, probably thoroughly alarmed the German Command. Accordingly, in the hope of preventing a repetition of such attacks, they, ordered up as reinforcements a number of crack squadrons, probably from the Western Front. These units had been latterly armed with Messerschmitt 110, very fast twin-engined fighters of the latest type. Attack From All Directions As the British formations entered Heligoland Bight on December 18 they were almost immediately met by enemy fighters, though not at that time in large numbers. These fighters were easily disposed of, and only one attempted the desperate task of closing with one of the bomber sections and was immediately shot down. But as the group of formations approached its objective at Wilhelmshaven the skies began quickly to fill with German fihters of various types, which attacked them from all directions. Fighting quickly became intense as the crack fighter squadrons strained every nerve to find a means to break down the close and tightly-packed sections.

Then, as the bombers came over Wilhelmshaven, they were exposed to the full blast of the anti-aircraft defences of the naval base. The Germans hoped in this way to force the formations to open out, so that their fighters might be able to deal with them individually, and it was only after our bombers had completed their task that the main attack developed in a supreme effort to break up the formations which hitherto had held so strongly together. As' the action developed casualties on both sides began to mount up. Heavy Concentrated Fire

The heavy concentrated fire of the formations had resulted in so many losses to the Messerschmitts that, in a last deseprate attempt to break down the ordered array of bombers, sections of Messerschmitts 110 attempted the most spectacular attacks at great, speed on the beam of this formation, trying to sweep the formations with fire from stern to stem. 'But even this manoeuvre had little success, and many of their aircraft were shot down, the beam attack giving the gunners an excellent target at close range. The defeat of this final effort was the last phase of the action and our air gunners, excited and tired, had the satisfaction of seeing the last of the remaining fighters disappearing towards their own shore. In the opinion of experts, the laurels in the battle undoubtedly go to the Wellington bombers, which resisted a most desperate and, it is conceded, a most courageous and dashing effort to break them up and destroy them. Flying wing-tip to wing-tip, they held together in spite of the anti-aircraft fire and continuous attacks from the battery direction of the enemy’s most modern fighter aircraft. Again and again, enemy fighters daring to come too close were shot down, and the bombers continued on their course unchecked and unshaken. Some fared less well than others and some were lost, fighting to the end with gallantry to which the Germans themselves bear witness. Others fought off their formidable opponents single-handed and ultimately succeeded in crossing 300 miles of sea, even though their aircraft were maimed and the fighting turrets were out of action. Descent to Sea

One aircraft had to leave formation and descend into the sea some distance from the English coast, through a petrol leak. All its guns were out of action and the bottom of the front turret had been blown out and set on fire. The pilot says the gunner put out the fire with his gloved hand, his quick action saving the lives of the crew. The gunner, whose huddled position prevented him from falling into the sea when the bottom of his gun turret was blown away, expressed the greatest admiration of his ser-geant-pilot. “We shall never know,” he says, “how he managed to control his aircraft through such difficulties.” The lead of the formation summed up the great battle: “This was, in fact, the biggest aerial battle ever fought. At a hazard, I should think there were about 80 to 100 aircraft engaged. We were greatly outnumbered and outmanoeuvred, because of the higher speed of the fighters. The crews fired shot for shot and gave better than they got. Most of our crews were under fire for the first time and they have returned confident that on the next occasion the enemy will suffer a far heavier blow. All the crews were surprised at the performance of the German aircraft and their determination to press home the attack. We felt they were- worthy opponents.”