FIERCE AIR FIGHTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21624, 9 April 1940, Page 7

FIERCE AIR FIGHTS

Five Enemy ’Planes Brought Down Alarms At Orkneys United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph Copyright LONDON, April 7. Fierce air combats over land and sea took place at the week-end. Joint reports by the British and French headquarters confirm that five German fighters were brought down near Metz. Headquarters of the Royal Air Force made the following announcement this morning: "A fighter patrol of the R.A.F. encountered a large formation of enemy fighter aircraft in the neighbourhood of Metz. The enemy formation attacked our patrol, and as a result of numerous combats, which were fought at a great height, one Messerschmitt 109 was shot down. Ail our aircraft returned safely.” One of the German aeroplanes, a Messerschmitt, was brought down by the Royal Air Force. Patrolling over the North Sea, R.A.F. machines met a flight of enemy fighters and engaged them. One enemy machine was destroyed, and at least one other was damaged. Two R.A.F. machines failed to return. The German News Agency states that German fighters engaged 24 Wellington bombers 90 miles north of

Sylt this morning, shot down two, and forced the others to retreat. The Germans suffered no casualties. So far, the Air Ministry has not referred to this-encounter. Three air raid alarms, morning, aft moon and evening, were sounded in the Orkneys. Fighters patrolled the area, but no aeroplanes were sighted. The German News Agency admits “enemy flights at a great height over Heligoland and north-west Germany.” It adds that the German Air Force reconnoitred France. A Dornier engaged and eluded four French fighters, thereby demonstrating the inferiority of French aerial equipment. BRITAIN’S FIRST ACE United Press Association -By Electric Telegraph—Copyright LONDON. April 7. The British press continues to describe the activities of Flying Officer E. J. (“Cobber") Kam. the New Zealand ace. during his leave, and all credit him with being Britain's first air ace. The “Daily Mail” states: “Every Briton is proud of him, with five Nazi aeroplanes to his account. They are none the less proud because he is a New Zea Ender, but why the continued anonymity for home-grown heroes? Why is their identity always hidden? A similar reticence in the last war gave the impression that all the aces came from the Dominions.” Flying Officer Kain is at present staying in Peterborough.