AERIAL FIGHTING

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20132, 29 December 1939, Page 11

AERIAL FIGHTING

PLANES OVER SEA NAZI CRAFT DISABLED GERMAN SHIPS BOMBED DIRECT HIT OBSERVED (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 3 p.m. RUGBY, Dec. 27. There were minor encounters in the North Sea on Wednesday between Royal Air Force Coastal Command aircraft and enemy aircraft and surface craft. One of the British aircraft encountered a Dornier bomber and registered several hits with machine-gun bullets. Another British aircraft was in a series of head-on combats with a second Dornier. In the latter stage of the encounter the German bomber was attacked with bombs dropped by the British pilot as he dived towards it. The bombs only narrowly missed the objective. When a third Dornier came on the scene two of the German aircraft flew in a tight circle to bring crossfire from the front and rear guns to bear against their British opponent. This manoeuvre was broken by the steadiness and accuracy of the British gunners, who observed that a number of bursts found their mark on each of the Dorniers.

Each German aircraft that accepted combat was damaged and silenced, but there were no casualties to any of the British aircraft or their crews. Near the German coast one British coastal aircraft sighted two enemy destroyers and four patrol vessels, which he attacked with bombs. Later the same aircraft saw seven more German patrol ships close to their base. The pilot made dive attacks and estimates that he made at least one hit.

A bomb fell astern of a vessel which was seen to be disabled. Other German ships put up a heavy fire against the British aircraft which, however, returned undamaged.