PLANES IN ACTION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 April 1940, Page 6

PLANES IN ACTION

MANY ATTACKS ON ENEMY SHIPS AIR MINISTRY REPORT. FIVE BRITISH MACHINES LOST. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.35 a.m.) RUGBY, April 12. The Air Ministry announced that an extensive reconnaissance by aircraft of the R.A.F. was carried out over the North Sea and Skagerrak today, in search for enemy naval forces. Reports so far received indicate that one formation of bombers penetrated into Kristiansand Fiord and attacked two German warships. Our aircraft encountered heavy anti-aircraft and fighter opposition, and in the course of the engagement five of them were brought down. The full extent of the enemy’s losses is not known, but at least two enemy fighters were shot down in flames, and others were seen to be seriously damaged.

MIGHTY EXPLOSION ENEMY SUPPLY SHIP BLOWN UP. AIRMAN'S DESCRIPTION. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 1.20 p.m.) RUGBY. April 12. Describing the successful bombing of a German supply ship in Danish waters on Thursday night, the captain of one of the British aircraft said it was first detected by a light parachute flare. "II was our last bomb lhal found the target,” he said, ‘‘there was a mighty explosion as if an ammunition store had been blown up or a boiler exploded. We were jerked about 30 feet upwards by the force of the explosion and our tail gunner, when he recovered his balance, reported that sparks and fire could be seen shooting out from the ship.” The captain of this aircraft was also the pilot of the first aircraft to bomb Sylt on the recent raid. His second pilot last night was a young New Zealander, a former wool-buyer, who also has previous exploits to his credit.