FIGHTING AIRCRAFT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 August 1939, Page 6

FIGHTING AIRCRAFT

MOCK WARFARE OVER ENGLAND RAIDERS GET HOT RECEPTION. "DOG-FIGHT” WITNESSED BY LONDONERS. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY. August 9. Tlii 1 signal for I lie opening of the mock war over Bugland was an announcement by the War Ministry that relations between “Eastland" and “Westland" were very strained. “Eastland" being an imaginary territory somewhere in the North Sea and “Westland” certain areas in the east and south-east of England. Soon after zero hour last night Royal Air Force “Eastland” bombers crossed the French coast and swept back toward the English coastline, where the ground defence and aircraft were ready to receive them. There the ‘Eastland” bombers kept up a continuous series of raids. The aeroplane crews waited in relays to take over their planes as soon as they had refuelled. From one “Eastland” aerodrome Fairy battle planes flying to the French coast and returning at a high altitude in many cases avoided the defending planes. The corps of observers, however, noted nearly evef*y raid and flashed a warning to the anti-aircraft batteries, whereupon the “Westland” air positions immediately sent up their fighters. WEATHER CHANGES. During the flight the weather was in favour of the defenders, but this morning low cloud and rain spread from the west, enabling the “Eastland” planes to pass over the coast and get very close to their targets without being identified. Occasional raids of "Eastland” bases by "Westland” bombers were reported by the look-outs at the aerodromes, and the entire personnel. donning gas masks as they ran, sheltered in gas-proof trenches. Decontamination squads were at work immediately after the raids. An official account of the air exercises states that son after 9 a.m. numbers of raiders began to converge on London. Eight formations moved up the Thames Estuary and some swept up from the south-eastern counties. They met a sturdy defence by fighters and anti-aircraft batteries. Some of the raiders succeeded in circling round London to the west, where they had a hot reception in the neighbourhood of Uxbridge and Surbiton. AN OFFICIAL REPORT. A communique issued by the Air Ministry covering the operations to 3.30 p.m. today stated: — ‘The enemy made 160 raids, concentrating particularly on the Thames Estuary and the home countries. The enemy operated in the worst of conditions, heavy cloud banks and rain belts sometimes being 40 miles in width, “The ‘Eastlanders’ operated at an altitude of from 400 to 10,000 feet, and the light and heavy anti-aircraft guns were continuously working. The southern area alone suffered nearly a hundred raids. 60 fighter patrols effecting a number of interceptions. A heavy raid on Portsmouth was broken up.” Londoners witnessed a thrilling “dog-fight” in which the defenders engaged a squadron of ‘Eastlanders.” Every effort,has been made in connection with the air exercises to reproduce war conditions, and for the great black-out covering 28 counties an appeal has been issued for the cooperation of all, so as to ensure that the authorities get full value from the exercises toward complete preparedness. MISSING BOMBER SEARCH OVER NORTH SEA. LONDON, August 9. Planes and destroyer's are searching for a Wellington bomber and its crew of five in the North Sea. This is the only plane which failed to return overnight. The crew of five of another bomber escaped by means of a parachute before the machine crashed. MESSAGE TO COMMANDS WAR OFFICE APPRECIATION. RUGBY, August 9. The War Office announces that the following message has been despatched to the commands at Home for' communication to all ranks: "The Secretary of War and all members ofi the Army Council wish to record their appreciation of the way in which the whole army and regular reserves, territorial and militia, are carrying out their many tasks in exceptionally trying conditions. "It is to be hoped an improvement in the weather will enable more comfortable circumstances to be enjoyed by all ranks, whose keenness and good spirit have surmounted so many difficulties."