BRITISH DEFENCES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 November 1939, Page 5

BRITISH DEFENCES

CONTROL OF FIGHTING AIRCRAFT METHODS SHOWN TO DOMINION DELEGATES. OPERATIONS AGAINST ENEMY SUBMARINES. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY. November 4. Details of Britain’s air defence were shown today to representatives from the Dominions and Indian Governments attending the discussions in London. They visited the headquarters of the R.A.F. Fighter Command and were shown over the closely-guarded operations room, whence go out signals controlling the operations of the fighting aircraft. At the headquarters of the R.A.F. Coastal Command the visitors were shown actual messages reporting the progress of an attack on an enemy submarine by a patrolling aircraft. The signals flashed by the pilot from far out over northern waters were in the combat language of the R.A.F. They came in quick succession, as follows: — "From pilot of aircraft Number —, 1948 hours. Am over enemy submarine in position —. Submarine is diving —. Have attacked —. Estimate one hit." Then followed a detailed report:— "I first sighted the submarine on the surface two miles on the starboard bow. The submarine began to dive. I attacked down wind and the first salvo of bombs fell 50 yards ahead. • I turned. The second salvo fell five yards short from the conning tower, which was still visible. The bomb splash and the conning tower appeared to be on the same spot. The sea was very rough and wind was 50 m.p.h. All traces of the submarine were then lost. End of message. Pilot aircraft No. —

The Visitors were also handed a reported discovery of a submarine by an aircraft in the Atlantic. A few minutes later it was announced that the aircraft had called up a destroyer, which had immediately changed her course to deal with the U-boat.