Three Machines Shot Down; Severe Attack On Sylt Reported; Hindenburg Dam Hit London, Jan. 11. the course of reconnaissance yesterday, a formation of British aircraft, on the outward journey, encountered a number of Jong-range German fighters far out over the North Sea, and a running fight, lasting half an hour, followed. According to the Ministry of Air, one Messerschmitt 110 was seen to crash into the sea, and it is known that another was forced to land in Denmark. One British machine was lost, but the remainder, says the Air Ministry, "having beaten off the enemy, continued to the casterly limit of their reconnaissance and returned safely."
Additional details of the North Sea air-battle disclose that the twin-engined multi-gun Messerschmitts, Germany's latest and fastest fighters, diving with the advantage of the sun behind them, were unable to shake the British formation.
The clash occurred some 200 miles from the English coast.
British planes met the challenge of the faster machines by bringing the concentrated fire of several aircraft to bear on the diving German fighters. Even very heavy attacks from close range were successfully beaten off by the British, keeping "shoulder to shoulder" in tight formation, One British plane was hit in the first attack and dropped astern. A. second attack was immediately. Taunched on this plane which was seen to fall into the set, The score was evened up a few minutes later when a German Aghter crashed into the sea, tinging a great column of spray. At least two other Messerschmitts were damaged but were not seen to crash. Tt is assumed that it was one of these which Inter made a forced landing in Denmark, The action was finally broken off vy the Germans and the British formation pressed the reconnaissance to a depth of a further 130 miles, although several British planes bore signs of the fierce combat, in which hey had partieipated—Reuter.
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