AIR COMBAT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23545, 4 January 1940, Page 7

AIR COMBAT

HELIGOLAND BIGHT GALLANT BRITONS THIIEE AGAINST 12 ONLY ONE RETURNS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received January 3, 5.4G p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 2 The Air Ministry announced this evening that there had been extensive air activity over the North Sea to-day, and in the neighbourhood of the German coast, says a British official wireless message. In the afternoon a formation of three bombers encountered a squadron of 12 Messerschmitt long-range fighters well out at sea, and the formation, although heavily outnumbered, gave battle to the enemy. One Messerschmitt was shot down in flames, and two others wore driven down and are likely to have been lost. One of the three bombers has returned safely, a second was shot down in the encounter and the third is missing. Returned Pilot's Story The gallant fight carried on by the three British aeroplanes against overwhelming odds was subsequently described by the pilot of the one bomber that has returned. Ho said almost the first warning they had of the approach of the 12 Messerschmitt fighters was when they saw streams of tracer bullets. The enemy had not been noticed earlier as; they had swept straight out of the clouds. 11 is machine, the British pilot stated, was attacked by six enemy fighters, several bullets missing the crew by inches. However, the rear gunner of the bomber succeeded in bringing clown one of the Messerschinitts and the front gunner claimed another. Burst Into Flames The first dropped rapidly out of control and finally burst into flames before crashing into the sea. The other was definitelv hit and spiralled toward the sea, while, shortly after, a third enemy dropped out of the fight. In an attempt to avoid his pursuers the pilot of the bomber brought his machine from 1000 ft. to about 20ft. above the sea. He was immediately pursued, but by keeping almost on the surface of the water for about half an hour, he forced the enemy to give up the attack. In Berlin it is claimed that three of the most modern Wellington bombers were brought down in the Heligoland Bight after a brief encounter with Messersclimitts, and that there were no German losses. Visit to the Shetlands An enemy aeroplane over the Shetlands to-day disappeared when British fighters went up. No bombs were dropped. The Berlin High Command claims that the Shetlands raiders yesterday returned with valuable information, but admits that one was forced down at sea. AIRCRAFT OVER BELGIUM BRUSSELS, Jan. '2 Foreign aeroplanes, believed to have been German, flew over Belgium at a great height, resulting in activity by Belgian fighters and anti-aircraft fire. ANOTHER ENVOY "HOLIDAY FROM MOSCOW" (Received January S, 11.15 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 3 It is reliably reported that the French Ambassador to Moscow, M. Naggiar, is shortly returning to Paris on indefinite leave, says the Moscow correspondent of the British United Press. It was stated yesterday that the British Ambassador, Sir William Seeds, was returning to England on a holiday, which Moscow said "might be prolonged," and that the Italian Ambassador had been recalled to Rome. CRUISER AJAX VISIT TO MONTEVIDEO MONTEVIDEO, Jan. 1 It is officially announced that the British cruiser Ajax, on a courtesy call, has been granted permission to stay at Montevideo for <lB hours. It is understood that the warship will arrive to-morrow.