47 German Bombers Outed In France

Northern Advocate, 24 February 1940, Page 7

47 German Bombers Outed In France

(Received 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, February 23. A Berlin communique says the Air Force made reconnaissance flights on a large scale over the North Sea, the British Isles and Eastern France. Two German planes have not returned from Britain. Three British planes reached Heligoland Bight, where a Vickers-Well-ington was shot down by a Messerschmitt. Allied fighters and anti-aircraft units in France have shot down 47 German bombers since the outbreak of the war. For the first time all the members of the crew of a British bomber received awards for bravery. The navigator was decorated in December, and the names of the other men were included in the awards announced on Tuesday. The operation which gained the awards for the crew of a British bomber is thus described in a British Official Wireless message:—“Flying over the German lines in September the bomber crew shot their way through a horde of 15 Heinkei fighters and returned to their base in force. “Three other bombers were shot down and one other made a forced landing.” The first officer received the D.F.C., and the gunner the D.F.M., and the navigator the C.B.E. Award for New Zealander. Flying-Officer Kain, of New Zealand, has been mentioned in despatches for his part in bringing down two of the 47 German bombers brought down on the Western Front by fighters and anti-aircraft fine since the beginning of the war. The Royal Air Force in its various theatres of operation, has brought down at least 59 German aeroplanes since the outbreak of the war, and probably others crashed at sea. says the aeronautical correspondent ot “The Times.” The Royal Air Force has lost no fighters near Britain, but has had some losses in France.