GERMAN PLANES RAID THE SHETLANDS

Manawatu Times, Volume 65, Issue 2, 3 January 1940, Page 8

GERMAN PLANES RAID THE SHETLANDS

Attempt to Bomb Warship HEAVY TOLL OF ENEMY AIK FORCE SINCE WAR BEGAN United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph —Copyright. LONDON, Jan. 1. Two German planes flew over the Shetland Islands to-day and dropped bombs. One German plan.', in a power dive on to a warship, dropped two bomba. Both missed. Anti-aircraft guns went into action. An air Ministry communique states that it is believed one raider was brought down. The Air Ministry also announced that aircraft of the Coastal Command patrolling the North Sea shot down a German aeroplane. In connectn with the Air Ministry's * innouncement regarding the shootingiown of a German aircraft by Royal Air Force Coastal Command planes, the Air Ministry announced this afternoon that Coastal Command pilots of the R.A.F. scored a swift and decisive victory to-day in one of the first aerial tombats of the New Year. During the afternoon, 130 miles out to sea off the east coast of Scotland, Ihree British aircraft encountered two twin-engined Heinkel aircraft. They mgaged the enemy at once, and a runling fight lasting half an hour ensued. The enemy arcraft were flying ibreast at 1,000 feet when sighted. One prttish aircraft singled out the rightkand Heinkel, which, before its pilot tould manoeuvre out of the angle of |r«, was hit in the fusilage and wings toany times. Shortly afterwards, the port engine and both wings were a pass mass cf flames, and the enemy llrcraft was seen to dive into the sea ►ut of control. As it neared the water, of its crew jumped, using a paraIhute. “Apparently the parachute was unsuccessful. He dropped to the sea and psappeared,” reported the pilot of the pird Coastal Command aircraft, which b*d held a watching brief over the fcombat. , ! Tha other Heinkel, which was pttacked by the other two Eritish airIraft, did not escape scott-free. As its Companion crashed, it turned away, lad, having been exposed to the conrtrated fire of attackers, succeeded making its escape into the clouds, frothing more was seen of the enemy, ind the British pilots resumed their patrol. The Coastal Command stretches from Ae Arctic Circle to the Bay of Biscay and from the western coasts of Europe to some 100 miles west of Ireland. Its aircraft, from the outbreak If war to Christmas Day, had flora iver 3,570,000 miles, accomplished in 12,000 flying hours, during which enemy mbmarines were sighted 107 times and 57 attacks were made on them. Air escorts were provided for 400 convoys. The Bomber Command has made 27 Bass flights over Germany. About 90 German aircraft have attempted to cross the British coast or to operate in British territorial waters. Of these, 23 are known to have been brought down by British aircraft and three by anti-aircraft guns. One crashed. Altogether, 58 German machines have been destroyed since the war began, lix by anti-aircraft fire, one crashed, and 51 by British air action. Among the tasks of the Coastal Command is to provide escorts for the Ashing fleets. The navy has dubbed aircraft a “kipper kites.”