TWO PUT DOWN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20135, 3 January 1940, Page 7

TWO PUT DOWN

HEINKEL PLANES SHETLANDS RAIDER ATTACK ON WARSHIP POWER DIVES FRUITLESS DESTROYED BY GUNS (Elec. Tel. Copyright—-United Press Assn.) tßecd. Jan. 3, noon.) LONDON. Jan. 2. Germany yesterday * lost two new fast Heinkel planes in a bombing raid on the Shetland.?. The Germans tried to attack a warship, on which one power-dived vainly and dropped two bombs, after which anti-aircraft guns destroyed it. The Germans were flying abreast at 1000 ft. when they were sighted. A British machine singled out the righthand Heinkel and detached it and repeatedly hit the fuselage, engines and wings in a running pursuit for 130 miles from the coast. The Heinkel finally plunged into the sea with the wings aflame and out of control. Berlin Admission Tile loss is semi-officially admitted in Berlin, which ascribes it to unfitness due to a technical defect. The announcement adds that a British plane received several hits and did not reach home. Jt also is stated in Berlin that British reconnaissance machines tried to raid the German North Sea coast, but the defenders drove them off.

An enemy plane over the Shetlands to-day disappeared when British fighters went up. No bombs were dropped.

The Berlin High Command claims that the Shetlands raiders of yesterday returned with valuable information. It admits that one plane was forced down in the sea.

A Hague message states that antiaircraft guns fired on unidentified planes over Friesland and the northern islands. The machines made off towards the north-west.