ATTACK ON SCOTTISH OBJECTIVES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 October 1939, Page 5

ATTACK ON SCOTTISH OBJECTIVES

Minor Damage to Ships and Some Casualties at Rosyth FOUR ENEMY PLANES BROUGHT DOWN NO AIR FORCE OR CIVILIAN CASUALTIES THREE PLANES SIGHTED OVER EDINBURGH (By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received This Dav, 9 a.m.) LONDON, October 16. The Air Ministry states that German planes attempted to attack Scottish objectives this afternoon. The Royal Air Force inflicted casualties. It is stated that three planes were sighted over Edinburgh at 12.35 p.m. and that anti-aircraft units opened fire. A Daventry broadcast states that German bombers were seen over Great Britain yesterday for the first time since the war began, when an unsuccessful raid was made on Rosyth. A joint communique issued by the Admiralty, Air Ministry and Ministry of Heme Security states that yesterday morning several German aircraft reconnoitred over Rosyth. In the afternoon at 2.30 o’clock a series, of bombing raids began directed at ships lying in the port and conducted by twelve machines. ' Batteries opened fire and fighter squadrons went up. No serious damage was done. One bomb glanced on the side of a British cruiser, causing slight damage and sinking the Admiral’s barge and pinnace lying alongside. There were ‘ three casualties among the crew and several more on another cruiser nearby. k Another bomb fell near a destroyer returning to port and splinters caused 35 casualties among the men on the destroyer. Only superficial damage was done to the vessel, which, like the others, is ready for sea. Four out of 12 or 14 borhbers were brought down, three by fighters of the R.A.F. The first contact with the enemy was made at May Island, at the entrance to the Firth of Forth, at 2 o’clock, when two German machines were intercepted by Royal Air Force planes, driven down to within a few feet of the water and chased out to sea. Other enemy planes appeared - and one fell in flames into the sea. Shortly afterwards a second raider crashed into the sea and a third was destroyed in the pursuit. Two German airmen were rescued and one has since died. There were no civilian casualties and none occurred in the R.A.F.