BOMBERS ATTACKED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 70, 25 March 1940, Page 5

BOMBERS ATTACKED

FLEET AIR ARM ONE DISAPPEARS AFTER BEING DAMAGED [ British Official Wirelaw. 1 RUGBY, March 22. An Admiralty Press notice states that on Wednesday at 6.50 p.m. a flight of three Fleet air arm aircraft forming part of a convoy escort made contact with an enemy formation of ten Heinkef 111. bombers. The leader of the Fleet aircraft at once formed his flight into line astern and attacked the nearest enemy machine. The German machines, which had also been in line astern, at once broke formation and commenced to unload their bombs into the Sea and to climb to the shelter of clouds. The pilot of the leading British machine, however, manoeuvred into a favourable position and succeeded in remaining so placed until he had tired all his ammunition. The enemy were then lost I sight of in clouds. Shortly afterwards several enemy aircraft reappeared and endeavoured to press home their attack on the convoy. The British machines were by this time split up, but one aircraft piloted by a petty officer attacked lour enemy machines and succeeded in driving them off. This action ended at 7 p.m. At 7.30 p.m. on the same day another flight of three Fleet air arm aircraft was returning from convoy escort duty when the observer in the leader's aircraft noticed firing to seaward, and it at once turned to investigate. A single enemy machine was seen being pursued by three aircraft of the Coastal Command of the R.A.F, The Fleet air arm aircraft gave chase, but the enemy was lost in the clouds just before the Fleet air arm machines got within range. The chase was broken off and the Fleet air arm flight was returning towards its base when the leader saw German aircraft machine-gunning a merchant ship. He gained position above the enemy unobserved and dived to the attack, closing to within 50 yards’ range of the German. At this distance the slipstream of the large German machine affected the British aircraft and threw its sight off. The British machine at once turned and renewed the attack, pressing it home to close range, and firing short bursts into the enemy with good effect. Quantities of oil poured from the German machine and this smothered the windscreen of the British aircraft. The pilot, however, was able to see that the enemy was climbing slowly towards the clouds with its undercarriage hanging down. Th( attack could not, however, be renewed, as the ammunition of the British aircraft was expended. Then seems to be no doubt, however, tha this was the enemy aircraft referrec to in a German High Command com munique as having failed to retun to its base.