London, Apr. 8. A FIGHTER patrol of the Royal Air Force encountered a largo formation of enemy combat planes in the neighbourhood of Metz yesterday, the headquarters of the British Air Force in France announces, The enemy formation was attacked and numerous combats were fought at a great height. One Messerschmitt 109 was shot down near Boule-y-Moselle. All the British planes returned safely.
During a patrol over the North Sca yesterday afternoon British air scouts encountered enemy fighters, the Air Ministry announces. One enemy plane was destroyed and at least one more is believed to have been damaged. Two British machines failed to return. No official statement was available here last night regarding German claims that two British bombers were brought down in a clash 100 miles north of Sylt.
The air-raid alarm was sounded in the Shetlands today. It is learned that one German plane was seen over the Shetlands mainland, apparently engaged on reconnaisseane. Anti-ait~ craft guns were in action, but bombs were dropped.
The latest reports on yesterday air engagement over the North Sea, about 100 miles north of Sylt island show that German fighters conce: trated their attack on a small section of Wellington bombers, which were ying some distance astern of the main British formation, Four Messerschmitt 110 twin-engit fighters engaged this scolion at a height of 10,000 feet, Diving down from the clouds, they made a series of attacks, concentrating their fire on two Wellingtons at the rear of the formation. "Tt was these two aircraft which failed to return from the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.