TYNESIDE’S FIRST AIRRAID

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 12 January 1940, Page 5

TYNESIDE’S FIRST AIRRAID

NO BOMBS DROPPED THREE ENEMY PLANES DRIVEN OFF ANTI-AIRCRAFT SHELL SPLINTERS DANGEROUS [U.P.A.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] (Received 12th January, 9.0 a.m.) LONDON, 11th January. The Air Ministry announces that enemy planes crowed the coast near Newcastle shortly after 10 a.m. No bombs were dropped. Fighter patrols and anti-aircraft gunfire drove the enemy out to sea. Anti-aircraft shell splinters slightly damaged a house. It was Tyneside’s first raid. It is reported that three Nazi planes participated. Some residents narrowly escaped falling shrapnel which smashed the glasses from a woman’s face and broke an omnibus window. ACTIVITY OFF COAST A British Official Wireless message says that the Air Ministry announces: “There has been considerable activity off the east coasts of England and Scotland this morning. In addition to the raid at Newcastle-on-Tyne enemy aircraft appeared off the Firth of Forth and the estuaries of the Humber and Thames. They were driven off by antiaircraft fire end fighter patrols. Off the Norfolk coast enemy aircraft made a bombing attack on a merchant vessel. They were intercepted and engaged by our fighter aircraft.’’ SPITFIRE’S DIVE BETWEEN 650 AND 700 MILES AN HOUR CLIMBED VERTICALLY AT 400 M.F.H. (Received 12th January, 9.0 a.m.) LONDON, llth January. The Air Ministry announces that a Royal Air Force pilot dived in a Spitfire at between 650 and 709 miles an hour. The experience was accidental as the result of temporary less of consciousness owing to lack of oxygen at an altitude of 23,000 feet. The pilot was unable to register the top speed, but after pulling the machine from the dive he climbed vertically at 400 miles an hour. THE SYLT ENGAGEMENT AIR MINISTRY’S STATEMENT lßritish Official Wireless] (Received 12th January, 9.40 a.m.) RUGBY, llth January. The Air Ministry has aonounced: “In Merence to numerous reports of In. teftse air activity and bombing in the region of Sylt during yesterday no R.A.F. aircraft were in this area after approximately one o’clock on Wednesday morning. “As already announced there was an air engagement far out to sea, but the Air Ministry has no knowledge of any events which would account for the reports referred to.” EMPIRE AiTtRAINING SCHEME IN CANADA NUCLEUS OF STAFF SELECTED [British Official Wireless] (Received 12th January, 9.40 a.m.) RUGBY, llth January. The nucleus of the staff for the Empire air training scheme in Cenada has been, selected and will leave for Canada shortly. The officers' chosen will include flying instructors, engineers equipment and staff officers to compos* the personnel for the service flying schools, aeronautical schools, head* quarters ahd the other organisations which will make up the scheme.