IN THE AIR

Hokitika Guardian, 19 March 1940, Page 5

IN THE AIR

GERMAN CLAIM

FROVED TO BE RIDICULOUS.

(United Press Association—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright).

BERLIN, March 18

The commander of the squadron which was responsible for the bombing' of Scapa Flow claimed that' direct hits were ’'i , egistt4-ed' '’ Übth tho largest bombs ~ battleship.^,. .Hood, ,1111 name J cruiser''lyHes saj'd itliat all! of the Heinkels engaged returned to Germany, some being slightly damaged.

BRITISH STATEMENT

(Per British Official Wireless.)

RUGBY, Min fell: 18

The German High Command claims to have .damaged ‘three battleships and cruisers,” to say nothing of prcofable damage to “two further warships” in Saturday evening’s Scapa Flow raid.

These claims are received with in-terest-in British Naval and Air circles. The German claim to have hofftßed airfields evokes surprise. The dropping of bombs on land, resulting in the death of one civilian, and the injury; of several more, and the destruction of five cottages—presumably in the middle of the “airfield"-—had hitherto been thought to bo consequent on haste and faulty aiming on the part of the Nazi airmen, although the village so attacked is about five miles from the harbour.

iho tactual military advantage gained by the Nazi is seven naval personnel casualties, and slight damage on a warship, while the raiders lost one aeroplane brought down and several damaged. Some, slight is thrown on the Nazi method of assessing the results of air raids when it is realised that the-German machines were accompanied by members of Dr. Goebbels’ “special corps of war correspondents,” one of whom, named Guenther Kleingaertner, was killed,: according to an obituary in the “Yoelkischer Beobachter,” during a raid on England on March 2. It is interesting to note, in comparing the car • with which British and German

ports are compiled, that/ no aeroplane was claimed by the R.A.F. to have been brought down on March 2, as evidence was given by a fisherman that a Nazi bomber crashed in the sea, which was considered insufficient.

NEWS IN .AMERICA

WASHINGTON, March 17

Indicating Germany!’s desire to magnify the importance of the Scapa Flow raid : in American eyes, . the German Embassy has released its despatches from Berlin. In addition, unusually detailed press messages from Berlin are published.

ATTACKS ON PATROL VESSELS

RoGBY, March 18

According to the German wireless, British patrol vessels were attacked by Nazi aircraft on Sunday. Although there is no official confirmation, Agency messages state that two German bombers attacked t.-io Aberdeen cargo vessel “Redhall,* and the trawlers “Mirabelle,” “Avondee” and “Braconlea.”

According to those reports the Geiman bombers ceased their attacks when they met with machine-gun fire, and were finally chased away, by British fighters. No damage was done to any ship except the “Rcdhall,” which was struck by machine-gun bullets. It is now believed that these Nazi bombers would be those referred to in an Air Ministry announcement as having been damaged when driven off.

AIR FORCE CASUALTIES

RUGBY, March 18

The Air Ministry announces the following casualties, which occurred on various dates:—

Killed in action, seven; previously reported died on active service, but now reported died of wounds received in action, three; previously reported missing, and now presumed to ,have been killed, 15; wounded, one’; missing, one; killed on active service, eight; previously reported died on active service, and now reported died of wounds, ten; previously reported missing and believed killed, and now reported presumed killed, two; died of wounds, three; died, eight; wounded, one.

bombs every few minutes

LONDON,. March 18

The German air raiders at the Orkneys came down to a height of 2000 foot when over Kirkwall. Bombs fell every few minutes, scattering debris 40 feet into the air and setting fire to trees and to homes. NO INCREASE.

IN R.A.F. ACCIDENTS.

(Received this dav at 10.35 a.m.) LONDON. March 18. It is revealed that there is no increase in the ratio of R.A.F. accidents through flying hours since the outbreak of the war, despite the high pressure of training and the increased number rtf aerodromes at which there is greater congestion.

GERMAN AIRMEN INTERNED. (Received tb’V dav at 10.35 a.m.) COPENELAGEN, March 18. The two airmen, missing from a .craslicd plane were interned after calling at a. farmhouse and asking for breakfast.