WAR IN THE AIR

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 107, 27 July 1927, Page 9

WAR IN THE AIR

MOCK ATTACKS MADE RAIDS ON LONDON SPECTACULAR MANOEUVRES By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright LONDON, Monday. In the Royal Air Force manoeuvres the “enemy” has made a series of most daring raids from the east and south in a continuous attempt to break the defence cordon around London. Low clouds aided the attackers, but ail the raiders were quickly detected, thanks to small fighting planes. Within 10 minutes ,ot the first appearance of each of the raiding squadl’ons their direction was traced out, and they were met by superior forces of defending planes. It is not yet known what “casualties” the raiding bombers experienced, but they scored some success upon their targets. These were the Duke of York’s School at Chelsea, and a stox-es depot at Kidbrooke. The “enemy” scored at least one direct hit on the Duke of York’s School from a height of 15,000 ft, the results being registered by a camera obscura. ARTILLERY BARRAGE The methods of defence included an artillery barrage, as well as squadrons of airplanes wox-king in the inner zone.

The defence was conducted from a map-lined room, of which the whereabouts was kept a pi-ofound secret. From there orders were flashed by wireless.

As the position of each attacker was noted a black disc was placed on a map showing its height and the direction in which it was moving. None of the attacking squadrons reached their objective without sustaining several “casualties.” In one case a squadi-on crossed the coast at Havant at 8.14 a.m., attacked the Chelsea area at 9.30 a.m., and at 10.5 a.m. the umpii’e noticed that the machines were only 300 yards from the Chelsea target. This attack was obscured by low clouds, and a patrol squadron failed to intercept It, so the raid was an “enemy” success.

Another raid from Shoeburyaess at 8 a.m. failed owing to low clouds. Such a raider travels one mile while a shell from an “Archie” is climbing to it. This being so, it is difficult to see why any raid should fail. ATTACKERS BEATEN OFF

A squadron which ci-ossed the coast at Bognor at mid-day attacked Chelsea at 1 p.m., and inflicted severe "casualties” on the defending aircraft and others. These attackers were beaten off in the afternoon. Another squadron at 3 p.m. bombed Chelsea from a height of 15,000 ft. A patrol searched for it for two hours without making contact with the raidei’s.

Bad weather defeated the night raids. The defence fighters were in readiness from 10 p.m. to set out at a moment’s notice against the

“enemy,” who was reported to have crossed the coast. Before 11.30 p.m,, however, the raiders encountered low clouds and drizzle, and were forced to give up before approaching the capital. They returned without the Home defence forces taking the air. —A. and N.Z.