Allies Gain Striking Air Victories

Northern Advocate, 9 November 1939, Page 6

Allies Gain Striking Air Victories

('Received 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, November 8. ALLIED AIR SQUADRONS HAVE GAINED STRIKING VICTORIES IN COMBATS OVER SEA AND LAND IN THE LAST TWO DAYS.

'German aeroplanes were very active over the North Sea all clay yesterday, but their raids were failures.

The Air Ministry announces that a number of air actions took

place

An enemy aircraft approaching the Shetlands yesterday rooming was driven off by gunfire.

It was then chased away by British aircraft

uSeveral other enemy aircraft were sighted, and two were engaged by Royal Air Force patrols many miles out over the North Be a.

Escaped into Cloud. The enemy aircraft escaped into a cloud, and it is not known whether they are able to return home. All the British aircraft returned safely. Details have been released in Paris of thi’ee separate air fights on Monday.

Nine French chasers engaged 27 Messerschmi'tts and several of the Germans were brought down. The French then sighted another patrol of Messerschmitts over the French lines and pursued them as far as Mersig, shooting down two. All the French planes returned to their bases safely, although some of them were slightly damaged by gunfire.

More other French chasers attacked a formation of nine Mes-

scrschmitts, shooting down two. Naval light forces, including Polish destroyers, engaged in action German aircraft in the North Sea yesterday, says an official statement. There was no damage to any ship. The enemy casualties are unknown. “I’m Humane,” Goering Says.

A message from Berlin says that Field-Marshal Goering, when asked why he had not launched more aerial attacks on British harbours, replied: “I am humane.”

He added: “You should not laugh, I am serious.

“The general situation is exceedingly favourable to Germany. “Of course, we lose an aeroplane or two, occasionally, but if the French are shooting down as many as they say, they are not our aeroplanes.”