BATTLE AT ODDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 January 1940, Page 5

BATTLE AT ODDS

♦ THREE BRITISH BOMBERS ENCOUNTER WITH TWELVE MESSERSCHMIDTS. LOSSES ON BOTH SIDES. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, It a.m.) RUGBY, January 2. The Air Ministry announced this evening that there had been extensive air activity over the North Sea today, and in the neighbourhood of the German coast. During the afternoon, a formation of three bombers encountered a squadron of 12 Messerschmidt long range fighters well out at sea. The formation, although heavily outnumbered, gave battle to the enemy. One Messerschmidt was shot down in flames and two others were driven down, and are likely to have been lost. One of the three bombers has returned safely. A second was shot down during the encounter and the third is missing. SHETLAND RAIDERS LOSS OF PLANE ADMITTED BY GERMANS. (Received This Day, 10 a.m.) LONDON, January 2. An enemy plane over the Shetlands today disappeared when British fighters went up. No bombs were dropped A Berlin message states that the High Command claims that the Shetlands’ raiders yesterday returned with valuable information. It admits that one plane was forced down in the sea.