MIMIC AIR WAR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23883, 10 August 1939, Page 11

MIMIC AIR WAR

RAIDS ON SOUTHERN ENGLAND TEST OF THE DEFENCES OBSERVER SYSTEM PERFECT . (British Official Wireless) (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) RUGBY, Aug. 8. " War " broke out at 8 o'clock tonight for " Westland "—an imaginary State comprising over 20 counties to the east and southern half of England, including London. The "Westland" fighter squadrons and their ground organisation were anxiously on the watch, as the time and objectives of the first attacks by the " Eastland " bombers were unknown. " Eastland," with 500 of the most modern bombers, was expected to launch wave after wave of its planes across "Westland" frontier, which was defended by 800 aeroplanes, including the world's fastest fighters, reconnaissance machines, and bombers ready to retaliate on the " Eastland " bases. " Westland " also had 15,000 territorials to man anti-air-craft guns and searchlights, 10 squadrons of the London balloon barrage, and 15 groups of observer corps equipped with secret apparatus stretching invisible feelers into the night sky to seek out highflying raiders. .. . This will be the greatest mimic war in the history of the Royal Air Force. . Despite low visibilty and intensive activity on the part of the air raiders the observer system worked perfectly, detecting and reporting all aircraft crossing the coast. Many squadrons of "Westland" bombers made counter-raids on the "Eastland " forces while fighters engaged the enemy. Anti-aircraft batteries counterattacked raids on South London. SEVERAL CRASHES FEARED ONE BOMBER EXPLODES LONDON, Aug. 9. (Received Aug. 10, at 1 a.m.) Two bombers engaged in the Air Force defence exercises are believed to have crashed in the North Sea. A third bomber crashed and exploded at Tollerton, Yorkshire. It is believed that four were killed in the latter crash. Three other Air Force planes are reported to have been forced down in the sea at Felixstowe, while a Bristol Blenheim bomber had a forced landing at Chelmsford. It has been officially stated tint only one Air Force plane is overdue.