Five Planes Down in Air Battle

Manawatu Times, Volume 65, Issue 3, 4 January 1940, Page 7

Five Planes Down in Air Battle

Fight Over North Sea THREE BRITISH BOMBERS ATTACKED BY TWELVE GERMAN FIGHTERS United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, Jan. 2. Tho Air Ministry announced this evening: “There has been extensive air activity over the North Sea to-day, and iu tho neighbourhood of the German coast during the afternoon a formation of three British bombers encountered a squadron of 12 German Messerschmitt long-range lighters well out at sea. The formation, although heavily outnumbered, gave battle to tho enemy. “One Messerschmitt was shot down in flames, and two others were driven down and aro likely to have been lost. ‘ ‘ One of the three bombers has returned safely. The second was shot down during the encounter, and the third is missing.” An enemy plane which was sighted over the Shetlands to-day disappeared when British fighters went up. No bombs were dropped. Tho German High Command claims that the planes which raided the Shetlands yesterday returned with valuable information. It admits that one plane was forced down in the sea. Actually Germany lost two new and fast Hoinkel planes in the raid, in which an attempt was made to bomb a warship. The loss is semi-officially admitted in Berlin, which ascribes it to unfitness due to a technical defect. The announcement adds that a British plane received several hits and did not reach home.