R.A.F. RECONNAISSANCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 November 1939, Page 8

R.A.F. RECONNAISSANCE

VISIT TO WILHELMSHAVEN. [BY CABLE—-PBESS ASSN. —COPYBIGHT.] BERLIN, November 18. The official German News Agency confirms that Royal Air Force machines reconnoitred Wilhelmshaven, -but claims that the aeroplanes were headed off before they reached their objective. It also says that German recon-, naissance flights reached Bordeaux and penetrated the British Isles’ beyond the Shetlands and the Orkneys. WARNINGS IN ERANCE. LONDON, November 18. France received its first- air-raid warning to-day when Lille was awakened from sleep at 2 a.m. A second warning was given at 12.20 p.m., and sirens sounded at Poitiers at noon. The; all clear' was sounded an hour later. Clermont and Ferrand had two warnings in the morning and early afternbon, and residents o£ Chatelleiault sought shelter for 45 minutes shortly after noon. No bombs were dropped. The neutral countries reported the presence of foreign machines, and it appears that the German aeroplanes which dropped leaflets over Switzerland afterwards penetrated France, where they flew over Lyons. Leaflets were addressed to French soldiers, saying: “England has spilled the blood of those who have helped her. She takes the glory and blames the others for her cowardice.” Dutch aeroplanes and anti-aircraft guns, without hesitation, attacked and drove Off foreign aeroplanes which were sighted flying westward ovei’ the coast at several points.

It is reported from Copenhagen that the body of a member of the British Air Force, with an unopened parachute, was washed up on the we?'; coast of Jutland.

FIRTH OF FORTH WARNING (Recd. November 20, 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, November 19. An air-raid warning was sounded in the Firth of Forth area early this afternoon, when unidentified planes appeared. STRAIN ON GERMAN AIRMEN LONDON, November 19. Reports from Berlin say that the High Command does not admit the casualties, but emphasises the value of the reconnaissance flights over England arid France, “which demand a great deal of the crews.” GERMAN PLANES OVER HOLLAND (Recd. November 20, noon.) ' LONDON, November 19.Two German flying-boats flew over Holland, states the Hague correspondent of the Associated Press of America. One' fired on _a Dutch pursuit plane, which attacked them. No damage was' done. The Dutch Government has protested against this violation of neutrality. The Government has again protested. A German bomber flew over territorial waters to-day, and returned the fire of a Dutch fighter. ALLIED AIR COMMAND. LONDON, November 18. It is understood that the formation of a unified Air Command under a British officer with status similar to that of General Gamelin in the field, only awaits the choice of the best man for the post. This is an outcome of the meeting of the Supreme War Council yesterday. “THE FLYING FOOL.” NICKNAME FOR N.Z. PILOT. (Recd. November 20, 12.15 p.m.) PARIS, November 19. Fragments of' the Dornier ’plane, the New Zealand pilot Kane shot down single-handed, are being distributed as souvenirs. French troops have conferred Lindbergh’s nickname, “The Flying Fool” on Kane, whose control of his machine is so perfect that he can “sweep off his comrades’ caps.”' A French mess entertained him at a front-line dinner which was attended by the tennis player, Jean Borotra. In the lack of definite information it is assumed that the message refers to Acting Squadron-Leader Edgar Kain, a son of Mr. R. G. Kain, of Wadestown. An earlier message gave his age as 21, and a Daventry announcer described him as tall, beaknosed, and dark, facts which coincide ,with Kain’s son. He joined the R.A.F. in 1936 after taking his A license in New Zealand. Describing the fight, “The Times” said that the pilot fought a brilliant single-handed action at a height of five miles above a Royal Air Force aerodrome in France, bringing one of the latest and fastest Dornier reconnaissance planes down. “PAROLE” AIRMAN

VOLUNTARY RETURN TO ICELAND (Recd. November 20, 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, November 19. The British United Press Reykjavik correspondent says the “parole” airman who brought down his flying-boat in Icelandic waters in September, and returned to England under the impression that he was not under parole, has now voluntarily returned to Iceland, with his wife, and will be interned for the duration of the war. He will be given the greatest liberty.