WAR IN THE AIR

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 263, 24 November 1939, Page 4

WAR IN THE AIR

MUCH ACTIVITY NAZIS OVER ENGLAND PROMPT DEFENCE STEPS LONDON, Nov. 22. Nazi bombers flew over the Shetland island for 1.5 minutes, bombs being dropped. Anti-aircraft fir - drove off the' attackers, which swooped low. It is believed that six Nazi, planes participated in the laid. Enemy aircraft unsuccessfully attacked! shipping in the Shetland area this morning. They were driven off by anti-aircraft gimlirc and then attacked and set fire, by means of a bomb, to a Royal Air Force seaplane which was lying at its moorings. There were no casualties.

British chasers went up in pursuit ol" a. German plane over the Thames estuary. Villagers saw the raider flying so low that it appeared to skim tho roof-tops.' The anti-aircraft firo was tremendous as the plane narrowly missed an orchard and rose over trees with pursuit planes on its tail. Onlookers said it would be a miracle it the raider reached home safely.

Several Enemy Planes Reports from different parts -of tho south coast indicated the presence of several enemy planes to-diay. The Air Alinistry, referring to, a raid on the Humber district, announced that the enemy were observed on tho oast coast alter 7 p.m., flying at various altitudes. Fighters wont up to intercept them and the all-clear signal was given at 8-30 p.m. No bombs were dtopped. . . An official description of last night's raid on the east coast says that British coastal defences fought a machinegun duel with a "German seaplane which dived low and machine gunned the defenders. There wore brisk exchanges for a few ,seconds, alter which, the seaplane disappeared in fog and clouds. A German aeroplane Hew over the mouth of the Thames passing over a town and a number of villages. Antiaircraft batteries came into action, driving the plane to a high altitude. Chased Out to Sea The Admiralty and Air Alinistry announce that the Germans yesterday claimed that reconnaissance aircraft which raided England on Alonday fulfilled their tasks according to plan. One German aircraft, a Keinkell Lit succeeded in reaching tho outskirs of London. Pilots of Royal Air Forte lighters who .chased their raider from the Thames estuary out t<> sea and engaged it, reported that they saw part of the enemy plane fall off as it dived steeply towards the clouds below. It was not known how badly tho Heinkcl was damaged; therefore no claim was made that it had been brought down. Confirmation of the success ol the attack wa s received .when a British destroyer yesterday picked up two German Hying officers and one rating Ironi a rubber boat in the North Sea. The prisoners, two of whom wore badly wounded, were Irom this Heinkcl 111 aircraft, which was shot down by Royal Air Force lighters'at about 1 p.m. on Aloud ay. 'Flu* ileinkel lmd been attempting a photogra pit io reconnaissance over the neighbourhood! of London gjul the Thames estuary.