DEAR EDITOR -- With reference to the letter by V J Crawford (Advertiser/Messenger April 23) about a German bomber attack on the Austin Motor Company.

My mother recalls that she and her mother were walking along Longbridge Lane, she was five at the time so it would have been in 1940/41.

She says she saw a low-flying aircraft fly around the area of the Austin works. It was hard to see as it was painted in camouflage, and it followed the railway line and dropped a bomb on the factory.

A few years ago she went with me to the Cosford Air Show and she saw the aircraft which was a Messerschmitt ME 109.

She said she could remember the sound the engine made. The colour of the Cosford aircraft was wrong as it was painted in a different colour scheme. This aircraft was fitted with the original Daimler BCM 2 engine. It later crashed and was called Black 6! It's usual to see ME 109's at air shows fitted with Rolls Royce Merlin engines, like the ones in the battle of Britain films.

The ME 109 was a fighter but was used to carry bombs as well.

I notice that in my small collection of World War aircraft magazines, such as 'Flight' there is no mention of any German air attacks on any targets in Birmingham.

Mark Garton

Mayfield Close

Catshill

Bromsgrove