Nazi Ship Raider Crashes Near Forth

Northern Advocate, 10 February 1940, Page 5

Nazi Ship Raider Crashes Near Forth

(Received 11 a.m.) LONDON, February 9. German planes attacking shipping on the English and Scottish coasts were engaged by British fighters. An enemy aeroplane crashed near the Firth of Forth shortly after midday, having been shot down by antiaircraft guns. It crashed close to North Berwick. It missed some telegraph wires and struck a fence. Large crowds on the seashore saw two Nazi planes bomb a vessel off the Scottish coast. Another plane bombed and mach-ine-gunned vessels off the English coast. So far, it is believed that no damage was done. A plane machine-gunned and bombed a fishing boat, but scored no hits. Fighters chased off the enemy. Two Others? In addition to the raider downed near North Berwick, two others are believed to have been seriously damaged when they tried to attack shipping off the North-East Coast this morning. They were engaged by R.A.F. Fighter Command patrols and naval antiaircraft fire. Fighter pilots on patrol in Spitfire single-seaters far out to sea sighted a Heinkel climbing steeply towards the clouds. One of the fighter pilots flew into the clouds on the tail of the enemy. Opened Fire, As soon as they emerged into a clear patch, the German gunner opened fire. “I saw red flashes from the rear top gun,” said the Spitfire pilot, who was not hit. . He fired a burst with his own eight guns before the Heinkel disappeared into thick clouds. After making sure that the enemy was not flying above the clouds, he dropped below and continued his patrol. Bullets in Both. Almost at the same time, shortly after noon, two Heinkels were attacked by a patrolling Hurricane fighter off the North-East Coast. When sighted, one was flying north and the other west. Before they reached' the clouds the fighter pilot, turning from one to the other, managed to fire bursts of bullets into both.