AIR-RAID WARNINGS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20074, 21 October 1939, Page 5

AIR-RAID WARNINGS

PLANES OVER SCOTLAND

UNIDENTIFIED CRAFT

HASTY RETREAT BEATEN

(British Official Wireless.) Reed. noon. RUGBY, Oct. 20.

The Air Ministry and Ministry of Home Security announce that a number of aircraft, believed to be German, attempted reconnaissances in the Firth of Forth area during the morning and early afternoon.

Royal Air Force fighters took off to intercept them, but they disappeared before contact was established.

Aid-raid warnings were sounded lover Edinburgh shortly after 11 a.m. and extended to Dundee. The allclear signals were given at about midday, but a second warning was given In Edinburgh some minutes later on the appearance of other unidentified aircraft in the Firth of Forth area. No raid developed and the all-clear signal was given shortly after 1.30 p.m.

The Associated Press reports that German aircraft raided south-east Scotland this morning. The all-clear was given after half a hour. Gunfire was heard and defending planes were seen before the sirens sounded at the Firth of Forth, in Edinburgh, and at other places.

Three bursts of anti-aircraft fire heralded the raid. Within a few seconds British planes appeared low over Edinburgh and then disappeared high overhead. The enemy planes were invisible, but their presence was confirmed.

The public took the raid very calmly. Many declined to shelter, preferring to watch the anti-aircraft fire and .he British planes.

A second warning sounded half an hour later, but the all clear was given within 10 minutes. No bombs were dropped. A warning was also sounded in the south of England in the afternoon, but the all-clear was given within eight minutes. .