TARGET PLANE’S ESCAPE

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 195, 16 June 1939, Page 4

TARGET PLANE’S ESCAPE

ANTI-AIR CRAFT TEST' HARMLESS SHELLS USED LONDON, May 26.—-There was consternation' both in naval and air force circles -as a result of the" itattunenfc by the • naval •. - ecu respondent ”;of the Daily j'elegraplutSMr. H. C. Bywater, that he saw the naval anti-aircraft gunj;*. iro.m H..U.S.’s Nelson’, ’-Rodney, Ark Royal, and Shetield lire 1010shells without apparently damaging the wireless-controlled target plane Queen Bee. .Mr. Bywater now explains that his account was misleading because he omitted to mention that only practice shells, which are harmless, were used for reasons of.economy-. Air Force officers emphasise that robot radio-controlled target planes cost £4Q(K). 'Their speed is less than 100 miles an hour, and they ecu Id he brought down in a matter of seconds, hut this was qjply done'occasionally, in the presence of distinguished foreigners, because- it is “an expensive amusement.” Air. Bywater pays a tribute *to the increasing efficiency and accuracy of anti-aircraft guns, and th<j y can keep enemy bombers at such a h.eiglit as to render their attacks innocuous except for fluke, hits. Aply bomber venturing to attack a 1 hip c-r cruiser would run grave I^.'^