Enemy Aeroplane, Blyth Harbour

Mr. R. J. Taylor
asked the Secretary of State for Air why it was possible for a Nazi airplane to fly over a town for a considerable time during which it was machine-gunning certain places without any protection being offered from the defences?

Captain Balfour
I assume the hon. Member refers to the night of 1st May, when a hostile aircraft was in the vicinity of Blyth Harbour at approximately 23 hours 20 minutes for a period of about 15 minutes. Anti-aircraft guns went into action. The aircraft was illuminated by searchlights, and these searchlights were thereupon machine-gunned by the enemy, but no casualties were caused.