REMARKABLE RECORD

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 301, 21 December 1939, Page 7

REMARKABLE RECORD

BRITISH FIGHTER AIRCRAFT IN UNITED KINGDOM NOT ONE SHOT DOWN SINCE WAR STARTED ATTACKERS LOSE HALF THEIR FORCES [ British Official Wireless. J RUGBY, Dec. 19. Not a single British lighter airI craft has been shot down in the ’ United Kingdom since the outbreak of the war, while R.A.F. fighter command aircraft have brought down nearly half the German bomber and reconnaissance aircraft engaged by them during the first two active ! months of the war. During 51. engaget irnts over Bril’ h land or sea in October and November 21 German raiders were destroyed and of these 13 ' were seen to strike the ground or water. It is also known that many more failed to return to GermanyIn all these engagements only 1 one British pilot has been wounded and that slightly. This record is all the more impressive when it is recalled that in ? fighting between British bombers and ’ German fighters five Messerschmitts were shot, down in flames during last Thursday's air battle over the Frisian Islands and more than 12 during the action over Heligoland on Monday. It is officially announced that the New Zealander, Flight-Lieutenant E. J. Hetherington, Timaru, was killed in action. i .1 : official German news agency states that in addition to the 34 British planes brought down at Wilhelmshaven yesterday anti-aircraft fire accounted for a Vickers Wellington bomber and another was forced down into the sea while flying home. The news agency also publishes an unnamed eye-witness’ story of the Heligoland air battle, saying that it lasted about two hours. First-Lieut-enant Schumacher, leader of the Messerschmitt squadron, in an interview with the Zwoelfuhr, says the British lost 40 mach'jies and the battles took place between heights of 900 and 10,500 feet. He himself brought down a British plane, but made a forced landing because of bullet damage. The Zwoelfuhr says Air Marshal Hermann Goering congratulated Lieutenant Schumacher and awarded him the Iron Cross, first class. The storj’ given of the battle by ihe commander of the Gorman fighters is as imaginative as that gu out by the German communique. "When the alarm was sounded 1 decided to jump into my brave Messerschmitt and help my boys,” he said. "The English did not give battle and did not even shoot.” In a further portion of ihe commander's account he admitted that

his plane was hit by bullets. “With my last drop of petrol I landed,” he said. “There were 12 bullet holes in my plane, one dangerously near the engine tank. After me came the others. Hardly one did not rock as it landed-” | A naval trawler landed at a northeast coast port four British airmen picked up from a collapsible boat. It is believed that they participated in the Heligoland battle yesterday and that their plane was forced down through lack of fuel. Heavy detonations wore heard on the Danish border near Sylt at 6 a.m. I It is believed that a British raid was in progress. I A Berlin semi-oflicial statement .says that a second British raid took place on the Frisian Islands last night. Bombs were dropped at random and there was no damage. The planes were driven off by gunfire.