BIGGEST YET

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 273, 20 December 1939, Page 3

BIGGEST YET

FIERCE AIR FIGHTS HELIGOLAND AREA TW KB YH NAZI S I>o WN SISVI9N BRITISH. CRAFT NOB,TiI. SWA ItAIDKHS GEcBAIANS DIMVKN OFF LONDON, Dec. 18. A communique issued by the Air Ministry states: “Royal Air Force bomber formations searching Heligoland Bight, for enemy warships encountered str.ong German, fighter forces. “A fierce battle oils tied in which 12 Mc'sserschmilts were shot down and seven British bombers are unaccounted for.” A German communique claims that 4 1 British bombers participated, AI of which were 1 shot down during a terrific’ buttle. The German communique admits the loss ol two German planes, the crows of which parachuted and adds that the British unit was the largest that has ever attacked Germany. The Admiralty and Air Ministry announce that a number ol attacks were made b,v enemy a i rent It on British and neutral merchant and fishing vessels in the North Sea yesterday. During the morning bombing attacks were made cm the small motor vessel Serenity and the fishing trawlers New Choice, Benelair and Craigie Lea. The Serenity and the New Choice were sunk. The* enemy also attacked! the Craigie Lea with ma-chine-gun fire. Two ol the crew c l 1() wero wounded.

Cfcrman Retreat

Oh the approach of British aircraft the’ enemy made off before contact could be established. A boat containing 10 men from the New Choice was later sighted by aircraft of the (Amstal Command, which directed a drifter to the spot. The crews ol both vessels wore rescued. Further attacks were made during the afternoon on the liner Tuscan Star and the trawlers Dervish, ScatU,n, Arnold Bennett and Dromoi and the Italian vessel Valentino Coda. A number of bombs wero dropped and the second wireless operator in the Tuscan Star was killed by a. fragment of a bomb which burst very close, to the ship.