TRYING TO GET HOME

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 July 1940, Page 6

TRYING TO GET HOME

ADMISSION BY GERMAN AIRMAN FOLLOWING ON CRASH INTO SEA. ACCURACY OF BRITISH GUNFIRE (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day. 11 a.m.) RUGBY, July 5. A number of German airmen whose machines have crashed into the sea after attempting to raid Britain are being picked up by British naval units. Following is an extract from a British mine-sweeper's report concerning one such incident: — “I saw an enemy, aircraft in the beams of several searchlights over the coast, with anti-aircraft gunfire exploding all round it. A few minutes later I saw the machine rapidly losing height, and tracer bullets could be seen fired in its direction. It eventually crashed into the sea. I immediately steamed full speed in the direction and some time later found three survivors clinging to a collapsible boat. I picked these up. One of them, who spoke a little English, said tne first burst of-fire had put both engines of his plane out of section. He remarked that our gunfire is very accurate and that even if he had had a chance, he would not have come over’ again. He said that he had'had no chance to drop his bombs and had been trying to■ escape and to get home.” HEINKEL SHOT DOWN THREE MEMBERS OF CREW DROWNED. TWO OTHERS TAKEN PRISONER. (B.eceived This Day. 10.20 a.m.) RUGBY. July 5. Anti-aircraft fire gave away the position of a Heinkel 111 bomber which was shot down into the sea oil' the south coast of England by Fighter Command- Spitfires early this morning. The bomber, after being hit and disabled, tried to reach land, but came down on the sea, sinking in a few minutes. Two of the crew went down with it. A third, who was wounded, was drowned in trying to swim ashore. Two others reached land and were taken prisoner.