London, Dec. 18. the greatest aerial battle of the European War, Royal Air}
Force bombers today shot twelve German Messerschmidt fighting planes over closely guarded Heligoland Bay, close to the Reich's coastline, an Air Ministry communique announced this evening. Seven of the British planes were "unaccounted for" tonight, accor ug to the same communique, which read in detail as follows 'A bomber formation of the Royal Air Force today reconnoitred the Heligoland area with the object of attacking any' enemy warships found at sea.
No warships were encountered at sea, but the bombers met strong German fighter forces. A fierce encounter ensued and twelve Messerschmidts were shot down while! seven of our bombers are not accounted, for at present."
The twelve Nazi fighters brought down by the R.A.F, planes constituted half the German squadron of planes, the Air Ministry announced in a later communique, At the same ime, the Ministry denied reports about heavy aerial fighting alleged to have taken place above the German base of Syl ths morning.
No British direraft were in the vicinity of the German bose, it was pointed out—Havas
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.