How RAF Dived on Hitler's Crack Warship
Title
How RAF Dived on Hitler's Crack Warship
RAF in 2 Fights: Isle Raided
Description
Four newspaper cuttings.
#1 is a detailed account of the raid on Kiel.
#2 refers to Jack Hanne being missing.
#3 is details on an operation to Sylt and Heligoland.
#4 reports that the pilots should awarded a VC for the raids on Kiel.
#1 is a detailed account of the raid on Kiel.
#2 refers to Jack Hanne being missing.
#3 is details on an operation to Sylt and Heligoland.
#4 reports that the pilots should awarded a VC for the raids on Kiel.
Date
1939-09-08
1940-01-11
Spatial Coverage
Language
Type
Format
Four newspaper cuttings on an album page
Publisher
Rights
This content is available under a CC BY-NC 4.0 International license (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0). It has been published ‘as is’ and may contain inaccuracies or culturally inappropriate references that do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the University of Lincoln or the International Bomber Command Centre. For more information, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ and https://ibccdigitalarchive.lincoln.ac.uk/omeka/legal.
Contributor
Identifier
SHanneJH564212v10005
Transcription
DAILY SKETCH, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER, 8, 1939
27 GERMAN SHIPS RUN TO NEUTRAL PORT
[advertisement] DAILY SKETCH [advertisement]
No. 9,168 FRIDAY. SEPTEMBER 8, 1939 ONE PENNY (2d. in Eire)
HOW R.A.F. DIVED ON HITLER’S CRACK WARSHIP
THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION LAST NIGHT GAVE A FULLER ACCOUNT OF THE BRILLIANT EXPLOIT OF THE R.A.F IN BOMBING THE KIEL CANAL NAVAL BASES AND ONE OF GERMANY’S NEWEST POCKET BATTLESHIPS.
The bulletin stated:-
IT is now possible to give a fairly full account of the first active operation of the R.A.F. successful attack on the German naval bases of Wilhelmshaven and Brunsnuttel [sic], at the entrance to the Kiel Canal.
Although weather conditions were entirely adverse the attack was pressed home with the greatest vigour and daring.
The fighting qualities displayed by the R.A.F. pilots were splendid.
The results they achieved are of the highest importance.
There was heavy rain and visibility was poor. The navigation of the squadrons was accurate and as they approached the naval bases they flew low to make sure of hitting their targets.
THE FIRST ATTACK WAS DELIVERED IN THE EVENING ON A POCKET BATTLESHIP LYING A FEW MILES ON THE EAST SCHILLING ROADS. THERE IS LITTLE DOUBT THAT THE ENEMY WAS TAKEN BY SURPRISE.
ANTI-AIRCRAFT BATTERIES QUICKLY OPENED FIRE. THE BOMBERS CIRCLED AND DIVED OVER THE BATTLESHIP, AND DIRECT HITS BY HEAVY BOMBS WERE MADE.
Following aircraft were flying so low that the damage could be observed.
Naval craft and port batteries kept up intense anti-aircraft fire, and our bombers were attacked by German fighters.
YET THE BOMBING RAID
Continued on Back Page.
LATEST WAR NEWS
Continued from Page 1.
WAS CONTINUED.
Aircraft located another vessel at Brunsbuttel [sic] which was attacked.
Pilots and crews returned to their bases in fine fettle. They were proud to have been chosen to strike the first blow at the German war machine.
From the naval point of view their fine attack will have its affect upon the future course of the war at sea, as the ship hit was one of the most effective units of the German Navy.
The Royal Navy in congratulating the Royal Air Force upon the great skill and gallantry displayed is conscious of the spirit of understanding and comradeship that exists between the two services.
(As the Premier pointed out in the House of Commons yesterday, the Kiel Canal is one of the most heavily defended points in Germany.)
[page break]
Llandrindod R.A.F. Pilot Missing
RAID ON ENEMY BASES
NEWS has been received at Llandrindod Wells that Pilot Jack Hanne, of the R.A.F. (son of Mrs. Floyd, Tremont Road, Llandrindod Wells) is missing after a raid on enemy bases.
This information. reached Llandrindod Wells on Wednesday evening.
Pilot Hanne is a former pupil of Llandrindod Wells County Secondary School and has been in the R.A.F. for some years. Recently he was presented to H.M. the King following one of the earlier raids on Germany.
Mrs Hanne is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jas. Gifford (Llandrindod Wells).
[page break]
THE DAILY MIRROR, Thursday, Jan. 11, 1939.
[circled] JAN. 11 [/circled]
Daily Mirror
No. 11,281 ONE PENNY
Registered at the G.P.O. as a Newspaper.
R.A.F. IN 2 FIGHTS: ISLE RAIDED
PLANES OF THE R.A.F. CLASHED YESTERDAY WITH ENEMY FIGHTERS IN TWO BIG BATTLES, ONE OVER THE NORTH SEA, THE OTHER OVER THE GERMAN SEAPLANE BASE NEAR THE ISLAND OF SYLT.
In the North Sea battle one British plane was lost; one enemy machine was shot down into the sea and another was forced to land, riddled with bullets in Denmark.
The battle was announced by the Air Ministry, who issued this message last night:
“In the course of a reconnaissance today a formation of R.A.F. aircraft on their outward journey encountered a number of long-range enemy fighters far out over the North Sea. A running fight ensued, lasting about half an hour.
“One Messerschmitt 110 was seen to crash into the sea, and it is already known that another was forced to land in Denmark.
“One of our aircraft was lost, but the remainder, having beaten off the enemy, continued to the easterly limit of their reconnaissance and returned safely.”
[underlined] German Claim [/underlined]
German versions of the sky fight, issued by the official German news agency, and announced by radio, claimed that three British planes had been shot down.
“Four German planes of the newest type,” the official German message said, “met a squadron of nine British planes of the Bristol-Blenheim type over the German Bay (Heligoland Bight).
During the pursuit three British bombers were shot down by German planes. The German planes all returned safely to their bases.”
Over Ballum, Denmark, early yesterday afternoon, a German Messerschmitt fighter appeared low in the sky. It landed in a meadow.
[underlined] Plane Seized [/underlined]
People who ran to the machine, a single-seater chaser equipped with a machine-gun, found that the pilot had scrambled out.
He said he had had engine trouble, but the machine had been perforated by British bullets.
The plane was seized by the police.
That pilot was a lucky casualty in the second battle of the day. The first took place as British bombers attacked German air bases on the island of Sylt.
“This was the biggest air battle of the war,” the Danes said.
Guns opened fire at 6 a.m.: German planes were seen taking off one after another from the north end of Sylt, speeding to join air battle over the south side of the island.
The “Hindenburg Dam,” the breakwater highway from Sylt to the mainland was hit and damaged by a British bomb. Three explosions were reported on the German mainland.
The noise of planes, bombs and
Contd. on Back Page, Col. 5
R.A.F. RAID NAZI ISLAND
Continued from Page One
guns, Danish observers said, made it seem that this engagement was heavier than the big air battle over the North Sea on December 18.
The Air Ministry, announcing the raid on Sylt yesterday, said:-
“During last night aircraft of the R.A.F. were again engaged on patrol over enemy seaplane bases, and bombs were dropped near the island of Sylt.
“It is reported from Denmark that damage was done to Danish property adjoining the frontier in the early hours of this morning. Should it be established that British aircraft were responsible full restitution will be made”.
[underlined] On Beach – and Off [/underlined]
People on the Island of Fanoe, a Danish air base just north of Sylt, report that aircraft flew over the island on Tuesday afternoon at ten o’clock at night and again in the early hours of yesterday morning.
One plane was seen flying very low, with the pilot leaning out and gesticulating to the people. In the morning the tracks of an aeroplane were found on the sandy beach, and it is assumed that the plane landed, made some repairs, and then flew off. Military authorities are investigating the reports.
An unidentified aircraft, thought to be German, was seen over an English south-east coast town yesterday.
Foreign messages: British United Press Exchange.
January 11 1940 Tel. Holborn 4321
[page break]
GIVE THEM THE V.C.!
[photograph]
[italics] Daily Express Staff Reporter [/italics]
THE whole country is demanding that the heroes of the British air raid on the German Fleet at the entrance to the Kiel Canal shall receive the highest awards for their gallantry.
Their names are still unknown to the British public because publication might reveal information to the enemy. The time, however, must be nearing when the full details of this enterprise can be told.
It will be a story of undying heroism by Royal Air Force pilots, matched only by the naval raid on Zeebrugge in 1918.
Direct hits with heavy bombs are known to have been made on German battleships. The full effects of the attack are not yet known.
27 GERMAN SHIPS RUN TO NEUTRAL PORT
[advertisement] DAILY SKETCH [advertisement]
No. 9,168 FRIDAY. SEPTEMBER 8, 1939 ONE PENNY (2d. in Eire)
HOW R.A.F. DIVED ON HITLER’S CRACK WARSHIP
THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION LAST NIGHT GAVE A FULLER ACCOUNT OF THE BRILLIANT EXPLOIT OF THE R.A.F IN BOMBING THE KIEL CANAL NAVAL BASES AND ONE OF GERMANY’S NEWEST POCKET BATTLESHIPS.
The bulletin stated:-
IT is now possible to give a fairly full account of the first active operation of the R.A.F. successful attack on the German naval bases of Wilhelmshaven and Brunsnuttel [sic], at the entrance to the Kiel Canal.
Although weather conditions were entirely adverse the attack was pressed home with the greatest vigour and daring.
The fighting qualities displayed by the R.A.F. pilots were splendid.
The results they achieved are of the highest importance.
There was heavy rain and visibility was poor. The navigation of the squadrons was accurate and as they approached the naval bases they flew low to make sure of hitting their targets.
THE FIRST ATTACK WAS DELIVERED IN THE EVENING ON A POCKET BATTLESHIP LYING A FEW MILES ON THE EAST SCHILLING ROADS. THERE IS LITTLE DOUBT THAT THE ENEMY WAS TAKEN BY SURPRISE.
ANTI-AIRCRAFT BATTERIES QUICKLY OPENED FIRE. THE BOMBERS CIRCLED AND DIVED OVER THE BATTLESHIP, AND DIRECT HITS BY HEAVY BOMBS WERE MADE.
Following aircraft were flying so low that the damage could be observed.
Naval craft and port batteries kept up intense anti-aircraft fire, and our bombers were attacked by German fighters.
YET THE BOMBING RAID
Continued on Back Page.
LATEST WAR NEWS
Continued from Page 1.
WAS CONTINUED.
Aircraft located another vessel at Brunsbuttel [sic] which was attacked.
Pilots and crews returned to their bases in fine fettle. They were proud to have been chosen to strike the first blow at the German war machine.
From the naval point of view their fine attack will have its affect upon the future course of the war at sea, as the ship hit was one of the most effective units of the German Navy.
The Royal Navy in congratulating the Royal Air Force upon the great skill and gallantry displayed is conscious of the spirit of understanding and comradeship that exists between the two services.
(As the Premier pointed out in the House of Commons yesterday, the Kiel Canal is one of the most heavily defended points in Germany.)
[page break]
Llandrindod R.A.F. Pilot Missing
RAID ON ENEMY BASES
NEWS has been received at Llandrindod Wells that Pilot Jack Hanne, of the R.A.F. (son of Mrs. Floyd, Tremont Road, Llandrindod Wells) is missing after a raid on enemy bases.
This information. reached Llandrindod Wells on Wednesday evening.
Pilot Hanne is a former pupil of Llandrindod Wells County Secondary School and has been in the R.A.F. for some years. Recently he was presented to H.M. the King following one of the earlier raids on Germany.
Mrs Hanne is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jas. Gifford (Llandrindod Wells).
[page break]
THE DAILY MIRROR, Thursday, Jan. 11, 1939.
[circled] JAN. 11 [/circled]
Daily Mirror
No. 11,281 ONE PENNY
Registered at the G.P.O. as a Newspaper.
R.A.F. IN 2 FIGHTS: ISLE RAIDED
PLANES OF THE R.A.F. CLASHED YESTERDAY WITH ENEMY FIGHTERS IN TWO BIG BATTLES, ONE OVER THE NORTH SEA, THE OTHER OVER THE GERMAN SEAPLANE BASE NEAR THE ISLAND OF SYLT.
In the North Sea battle one British plane was lost; one enemy machine was shot down into the sea and another was forced to land, riddled with bullets in Denmark.
The battle was announced by the Air Ministry, who issued this message last night:
“In the course of a reconnaissance today a formation of R.A.F. aircraft on their outward journey encountered a number of long-range enemy fighters far out over the North Sea. A running fight ensued, lasting about half an hour.
“One Messerschmitt 110 was seen to crash into the sea, and it is already known that another was forced to land in Denmark.
“One of our aircraft was lost, but the remainder, having beaten off the enemy, continued to the easterly limit of their reconnaissance and returned safely.”
[underlined] German Claim [/underlined]
German versions of the sky fight, issued by the official German news agency, and announced by radio, claimed that three British planes had been shot down.
“Four German planes of the newest type,” the official German message said, “met a squadron of nine British planes of the Bristol-Blenheim type over the German Bay (Heligoland Bight).
During the pursuit three British bombers were shot down by German planes. The German planes all returned safely to their bases.”
Over Ballum, Denmark, early yesterday afternoon, a German Messerschmitt fighter appeared low in the sky. It landed in a meadow.
[underlined] Plane Seized [/underlined]
People who ran to the machine, a single-seater chaser equipped with a machine-gun, found that the pilot had scrambled out.
He said he had had engine trouble, but the machine had been perforated by British bullets.
The plane was seized by the police.
That pilot was a lucky casualty in the second battle of the day. The first took place as British bombers attacked German air bases on the island of Sylt.
“This was the biggest air battle of the war,” the Danes said.
Guns opened fire at 6 a.m.: German planes were seen taking off one after another from the north end of Sylt, speeding to join air battle over the south side of the island.
The “Hindenburg Dam,” the breakwater highway from Sylt to the mainland was hit and damaged by a British bomb. Three explosions were reported on the German mainland.
The noise of planes, bombs and
Contd. on Back Page, Col. 5
R.A.F. RAID NAZI ISLAND
Continued from Page One
guns, Danish observers said, made it seem that this engagement was heavier than the big air battle over the North Sea on December 18.
The Air Ministry, announcing the raid on Sylt yesterday, said:-
“During last night aircraft of the R.A.F. were again engaged on patrol over enemy seaplane bases, and bombs were dropped near the island of Sylt.
“It is reported from Denmark that damage was done to Danish property adjoining the frontier in the early hours of this morning. Should it be established that British aircraft were responsible full restitution will be made”.
[underlined] On Beach – and Off [/underlined]
People on the Island of Fanoe, a Danish air base just north of Sylt, report that aircraft flew over the island on Tuesday afternoon at ten o’clock at night and again in the early hours of yesterday morning.
One plane was seen flying very low, with the pilot leaning out and gesticulating to the people. In the morning the tracks of an aeroplane were found on the sandy beach, and it is assumed that the plane landed, made some repairs, and then flew off. Military authorities are investigating the reports.
An unidentified aircraft, thought to be German, was seen over an English south-east coast town yesterday.
Foreign messages: British United Press Exchange.
January 11 1940 Tel. Holborn 4321
[page break]
GIVE THEM THE V.C.!
[photograph]
[italics] Daily Express Staff Reporter [/italics]
THE whole country is demanding that the heroes of the British air raid on the German Fleet at the entrance to the Kiel Canal shall receive the highest awards for their gallantry.
Their names are still unknown to the British public because publication might reveal information to the enemy. The time, however, must be nearing when the full details of this enterprise can be told.
It will be a story of undying heroism by Royal Air Force pilots, matched only by the naval raid on Zeebrugge in 1918.
Direct hits with heavy bombs are known to have been made on German battleships. The full effects of the attack are not yet known.
Collection
Citation
“How RAF Dived on Hitler's Crack Warship,” IBCC Digital Archive, accessed May 13, 2026, https://ibccdigitalarchive.omeka.net/collections/document/37378.