DIVED INTO SEA

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21189, 12 August 1940, Page 8

DIVED INTO SEA

FATE OF GERMAN RAIDERS NAZI PLANES SHOT DOWN STORY BY EYE-WITNESS i Official wireless) (Received Aug. 12, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, Aug. 11 An Air Ministry communique issued early this afternoon announced the shooting down of six German aircraft. Another communique is awaited. Unconfirmed statements by an eyewitness concerning today’s battles describe the shooting down of two Junkers dive-bombers within three minutes by British fighters when the Germans attacked a convoy on the south-east coast this afternoon. The first machine is described as preparing to dive when a Spitfire appeared and an exchange of machine-gun bullets resulted in the German diving straight into the sea from a height of 2000 feet. A minute later another Junkers was attacked, and again, according to these accounts, was challenged by a Spitfire and after a short fight among the clouds the German pilot was seen to bale out, his machine crashing on the foreshore rocks. Bombs Among Shipping About thirty Dorniers, with an escort of Messerschmitts, participated in a raid on a south-west coastal town this morning. They dropped forty bombs. Six fell at the highest point in the locality and sent up clouds of earth. Six fell among shipping, but it appears that none scored hits. Left in Flames The Royal Air Force attacks against Guernsey airports on August 9 resulted in the Germans moving their planes to safer quarters, for when the Royal Air Force again raided Guernsey on August 10 there was no sign of the forty or fifty planes seen on the previous day. An Air Ministry communique shows that the Royal Air Force struck more heavy blows against the German war industry communica- | tions. , A large building forming part of i an explosive factory at Cologne was | left in flames and a big fire resulted l from an attack on an electric power | station at Cologne.

The Spanish War Office has issued a decree for the reincorporation in the army of all officers who have voluntarily retired during the past 12 months. The majority are promised promotion when they rejoin.